Why Is My Air Conditioner Frozen?

It’s Summer, the temperature is in the 90’s, you’ve got the cool air cranked. You happen to look out the window only to discover your air conditioner caked in ice. It sounds bizarre, but it happens. How is it possible for your air condtioner to be encased in ice while the hot sun is beating down? Well, there are several common problems that can cause an air conditioner to freeze -up and I will address them below.Insufficient air flow- If air flow to your unit is restricted, it can cause the temperature of your system’s evaporator coil to drop below freezing. The humidity in the air will collect on the coil and ice will begin to build up. This will diminish your a/c’s cooling capacity. Some causes of restricted air flow are: dirty air fliters, collapsed or undersized ducts, damged blower motors as well as dirt build-up on the evaporator coil.
Refrigeration problems- Low levels of refrigerant can cause pressure drops in your a/c’s evaporator coil. This will allow moisture in the air to freeze on the coil and continue to collect ice.
Outdoor air temperature-Most air conditioning systems don’t function well when the temperature is below 60-degrees. If night-time temperatures are too low, your system can freeze-up also.
If you see ice on your air conditioning unit, there’s a problem. If you notice a decline in your system’s ability, freezing-up is the first thing you should expect. This is a problem you should address immediately because continued ice accumulation can cause permanent damage to your a/c unit. If you do see ice on your unit, turn the system off and allow it to totally defrost. Then you can check for air flow problems like dirty filters. This just reqires a simple filter change. If a dirty air filter is not the issue, call MTB Heating and Air. A technician will locate any air flow or refrigerant issues and fix the problem, so you can stay cool and prevent damage to your air conditioning system.