Why do Air Conditioners freeze up?
Air conditioners are very convenient to have. They provide a comfortable means of cooling various sections of your home without the need to cool the entire house. Occasionally, the AC may not be quite as cool as it ought to be but this problem can be resolved. There are various reasons why the cooling is not what it is supposed to be.
The Air conditioners are designed to prevent freezes up from happening. There are three main reasons why an air conditioner would freeze up. These are the following:
1. Insufficient flow of air
2. Refrigerant charge
3. Outdoor temperature
1. Two of most common reasons for inadequate air flow are dirty filters and undersized ducts. This is because a dirty filter restricts the air flow which causes the cooling coil’s temperature to fall beneath freezing. Simply replace the filter, on a monthly basis to solve this type of problem. Second, under sized ducts will make the system freeze. This is due to the restriction in the amount of air flowing over the cooling coil. The result would be the lowering of the coil temperature which will cause the moisture in the air to accumulate on the coil and freeze.
2) The refrigerant system works based on a delicate equilibrium. Therefore, if the system is not charged correctly, the system will fail to operate properly. It is possible for malfunction to result in the poor cooling output or freezing up. Always have a qualified and certified service technician to properly test and charge the refrigerant system.
3) If the night time temperature drops too low, the system will fail to function properly and may result in freeze up. This is because the outdoor unit is unable to function properly when the temperature falls below 60 degrees F. It is recommended that one installs a special control ‘ambient temperature, that allows the air conditioning unit to run properly in cool temperatures.
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