There aren’t many things that instill as much frustration and aggravation as finding out your outdoor HVAC unit has iced over. And, yes, even though we’re in the winter and temperatures have dropped, it’s still possible for your condenser to freeze. To get it fixed, all you’ll need to do is give us a call – but that doesn’t explain why it happened.

As it turns out, there are a couple of primary reasons why your condenser could ice over. Just follow along with this quick explainer from the pros at Weeks Service Company! We’ll do our best to help explain why this might happen, so that you know how to better avoid it in the future.

There’s Bad Airflow

A lack of airflow accounts for a vast majority of AC freeze-ups. However, there isn’t one catch-all explanation for why that happens. That said, there are a handful that can usually explain it. Each one is equally possible, although you can usually eliminate a few of them just by checking something quickly.

  • Blocked/Closed Vents: When the exhaust openings are closed or obstructed, airflow gets backed up, which means your AC can’t get rid of cold air. Voila, frozen unit.
  • Old Air Filter: You should be changing out your air filter every 30 days or so, but if you forget then you could easily encounter this aggravating issue. The results are similar to what happens when you block your vents.
  • Clogged Evaporator Coil: This coil is what expunges the old air from your circulation. When it gets clogged, the air that normally gets expelled has nowhere to go, and it freezes your AC over.

Refrigerant Problem

Refrigerant, or more specifically, freon, is the chemical that runs through your AC system. It’s responsible for cooling and heating the air, and when it leaks, the whole system grinds to a halt. You’ll notice a lack of properly heated or cooled air, and more often than not you’ll see a frozen AC unit.

The only way to fix this is by repairing the leak – adding more refrigerant won’t help. Another potential issue comes from improperly charged refrigerant, which will manifest itself in the same way that a leak would.

Other Potential Causes

Although restricted airflow and refrigerant problems account for the majority of AC freeze-overs, there are a couple of other potential causes. If you’ve run your AC when it’s cold outside, your unit could freak out since it won’t be able to handle the abundance of cold. A malfunctioning blower fan can lead to a frozen unit, and a loose or broken component in the unit itself can do the same thing.

Weeks Service Company: Your AC Experts

No matter what the cause, a frozen outdoor unit isn’t fun. It makes your day-to-day life more difficult, and it makes you want to pull your hair out. Whenever you think you may have this problem on your hands, just give us a shout!

Weeks Service Company’s team of knowledgeable technicians can handle whatever your home throws at you, and we’ll do it right the first time.

Give us a call at 281-738-1362 for more information