Boca Raton, Florida, usually has a hot temperature where anything rarely freezes. Nevertheless, residents in the region are used to having their air conditioners run for several hours daily. Therefore, many homeowners become baffled when they see frozen particles over their air conditioning unit and instantly look for the Boca Raton ac repair.
If in such a situation, this article will take you through why your air conditioner may freeze. You will also learn how to fix the damage and the best ways to prevent it from reoccurring. Let’s start with the causes:
Causes of an Air Conditioner Freezing Up in Boca Raton
Your air conditioner is freezing up due to faulty components. This can also happen due to obstruction from the position of the AC to other objects around it. Finally, the weather may cause your air conditioner to freeze up. Read more about these causes in the paragraphs below.
Restricted Airflow
One main reason your air conditioner can freeze up in Boca Raton is a restriction on the airflow. This happens in two ways. The first is when the outdoor unit’s cool air is obstructed from entering the room and gets stuck on the unit. The other option is when there is no warm air from inside the room to regulate the temperature of the coils.
The big deal with restricted airflow is that it can cause a lot of damage to the air conditioner. The component at most risk is the condenser, which is very expensive to repair or replace. To prevent greater damage to your air conditioner, read more on factors that can cause restricted airflow. They include:
Dirty/Clogged Evaporator Coils
A dirty or clogged evaporator coil will prevent free airflow between the air conditioning unit and the room. Your air conditioner’s evaporator coils can become clogged by dirt and debris from the atmosphere. This dirt prevents air from flowing over the coils into the ducts, making pipes freeze.
Dirty Filter
The air filter must always be optimal for the air conditioner to work well. However, this part of the unit becomes dirty easily with dirt, dust, and debris. The consequence is a decrease in the performance of the air conditioner. It can also lead to the air conditioner freezing up. Clean the air filter and turn the fan on to thaw the ice.
Faulty Fan
The fan in your air conditioner works to regulate the temperature around your air conditioner. If the fan becomes faulty, condensation will build up on your unit. This, in turn, causes the unit to freeze up and reduce the cooling capacity.
Damaged Blower Motor
The blower motor needs to be running at regular capacity at all times. If it stops running or reduces its speed, it can cause the air conditioning unit to freeze up. Usually, a technician will check the blower motor and fan during a routine checkup.
Faulty Thermostat
The reason your air conditioner froze up might be related to the condition of your thermostat. If your thermostat is broken, it will hinder air transmission between the outdoor and indoor units.
Thus, the thermostat will send the wrong message about how much air is needed inside the outdoor unit. This prevents enough air from circulating over the coils to clear condensation. All these lead to the air conditioner freezing up despite the weather.
Condensation Drainage Problems
Your air conditioner freezing up is all about the condensation on the coils. So naturally, condensation is formed when the warm air from inside and the cold air from outside meet inside the unit. This byproduct is let out through the drainage to ensure that the unit continues to work optimally.
If the drainage becomes ineffective for any reason, it can lead to the unit freezing up. Furthermore, when ice forms around the coils, it will reduce the cooling capacity of your air conditioner. In addition, it can cause damage to other parts of the air conditioner. Hence, the various condensation drainage issues can lead to restricted airflow and unit freezing.
Low Refrigerant
Apart from the restricted airflow around the unit, your air conditioner may freeze due to low refrigerant levels. Therefore, check your refrigerant level whenever you see your air conditioner freezing up. If the refrigerant in your air conditioning unit is low, there won’t be enough cooling capacity to remove the heat from the air indoors.
This starts a chain of reactions, which can cause the air conditioning to freeze. Firstly, low refrigerant leads to the unit being unable to cool the rooms. Then, the cold air from outside causes condensation to form on the coil. Over time, this leads to the coils freezing and other reactions such as the unit breaking down.
If you can check the refrigerant level yourself, you are closer to knowing why your air conditioner is freezing up. You should use a professional technician’s services to help you if you cannot. Erica's Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Restoration provides expert air conditioning services for people in Boca Raton and its environs.
Low Outdoor Temperature
Although this is not common in Boca Raton, it is also possible for your air conditioner to freeze up due to the low temperature outside. During the worst of winter nights, ice can form around your outdoor unit, especially if it is not well protected against the weather. When this happens, you can try some fixes yourself or call a technician over to take a look.
How to Fix Air Conditioner Freezing
After what causes an air conditioner to freeze up in Boca Raton, the next thing is to know how to do Boca Raton ac repair correctly. Even if you lack technical knowledge, you can temporarily try some tips to solve the problem. If you still cannot thaw the ice from your AC, call a Boca Raton ac repair.
Turn the Air Conditioner Off
The first thing to do when you notice ice forming over your air conditioner is to turn the unit off. This first step will prevent the continuance of the ice buildup. The existing ice on the air conditioner may melt off after a while. If that takes a long time, you can turn your thermostat to a heat setting and leave it for some hours.
The fan will draw heat from the warm air inside to thaw the ice on the frozen coils. Then, you can have your air conditioner back on after three to four hours.
Change the Air Filters
One of the few things you must be able to do as a homeowner in Boca Raton is to change your air conditioner’s air filters. This part of the unit gets dirty easily and needs to be changed often. If you cannot do it alone, you should have an arrangement with a technician who can come to your home to change it when necessary.
Changing your dirty air filters will prevent your air conditioner from working unnecessarily hard to cool your home. Since the dirt obstructing the airflow is now removed, the cool air from outside can go straight into the home. The warm air from inside also moves out easily, and there is no way for condensation to build up on the coils.
Fix Affected Components
We have explained various parts of the air conditioner that may cause restricted airflow when faulty. Fixing the affected component will remove the ice from your air conditioner and prevent it from freezing up in the future. Steps you have to take here include removing water that has built up in the drain pan, fixing the thermostat, fan, blower motor, evaporator coils, or any other part that may be causing the problem.
Contact a Professional
Finally, the best way to combat your air conditioner freezing up is to hire a professional to take a look at it. Air conditioning technicians are certified experts and know more about AC than you do. By entrusting one to fix your air conditioner, you ensure that your AC gets professional servicing.
AC technicians like the team at Erica's Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Restoration know the common causes of this problem. The team understands the best ways to fix it without further complications. So if you live in Boca Raton or any of our service areas, you should reach out to our team of expert AC technicians.
Ways to Prevent Air Conditioner Freezing Up in Boca Raton
Knowing how to fix your air conditioner freezing up is good. What is better is to know how to prevent the issue. Some practices can help you achieve this goal. We have explained some of them below:
Do Regular Maintenance
As a homeowner in Boca Raton, Florida, you must take better care of your air conditioner than most people in other parts of the country. The year-long humidity in this region demands that you have your technician come over at least twice a year to check your HVAC unit. During these routine checkups, the technician can detect and fix faults early.
Change the Air Filter Regularly
You can prevent your air conditioner from freezing in hot weather by changing your air filter regularly. The recommended time for changing your air filter is between one and three months. One month is advisable for regular air filters, while premium filters should be changed quarterly.
Check the Refrigerant Level
Air conditioners last for several decades, and refrigerants last for most of these years. Some people never had to add refrigerants, but your unit may not be the same. Check your refrigerant level during maintenance routines.
Check all Components Regularly
Maintenance checkups of your air conditioner are not just about the air filters, coils, and condenser. You need to check all the components of the outdoor and indoor units to ensure that nothing is amiss. If any parts need a repair or replacement, do so immediately to prevent a minor fault from degenerating into something major.
Reach Out to Our Experts for Boca Raton AC Repair
Your air conditioner should not freeze up for any reason if it is working normally. Ice forming across the coils means something is amiss, and you must find it as soon as possible. The common culprits include air filters, evaporator coils, condenser drains, blower motors, fans, thermostats, and refrigerants.
Call Erica's Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Restoration to send a team of expert technicians to conduct the Boca Raton ac repair. You can also contact us through our website.
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