Why is my air conditioner freezing up in the summer?

An AC that freezes during hot weather usually has an airflow problem or a refrigerant issue. When the evaporator coil gets too cold, moisture turns to ice—and the system can’t cool your home. Addressing the issue quickly helps prevent damage and restores performance.

TL;DR

• Ice on your AC isn’t normal: It usually means restricted airflow or a refrigerant problem.
• Turn the system off immediately: Running a frozen AC can cause major damage.
• Common causes include: dirty filters, blocked ducts, blower failures, or low refrigerant.
• A professional inspection is required: Most freeze-up causes can’t be fixed without a technician.

Air conditioner freeze-ups are a perplexing and inconvenient problem. ACs tend to freeze up during the peak heat of the summer months, and it can be bizarre to see your air conditioner frozen with the summer heat beating down on it. Can this be fixed? Yes – and it’s important to get it fixed as soon as possible, because as ice continues to build it up it could cause permanent damage to the system.

What Causes AC Freeze-Ups?

Freeze-ups can be caused by a number of different problems with your home’s air conditioning system:

Insufficient air flow:

Anything that restricts air flow can cause the temperature of your AC’s evaporator coil to drop below freezing. Humidity in the air can then collect on the coil, which will cause ice to build up and diminish the system’s cooling capacity. Some things that can seriously impede air flow include dirty air filters, collapsed or undersized ducts, dirty ducts, damaged blower motors, or build-up on the evaporator coil.

Problems with the System’s Refrigeration:

Refrigerant leaks or low levels of refrigerant can cause the pressure of your AC’s evaporator coil to drop, which will allow moisture in the air to freeze and accumulate on the coil.

What To Do When Your Air Conditioner Freezes Up

If you notice your AC system does not seem to be working well, one of the first problems you consider should be ice build-up. Immediately turn your air conditioner off completely to let it defrost.

Then call us immediately for emergency AC repairs. We can provide repairs to any make, model, or type of air conditioner, and we’ll always guarantee our work.