Summer’s coming (believe it or not) and here's a typical scenario with the average homeowner: They’re at home, minding their own business, having a bowl of popcorn and watching their favorite TV show, when suddenly he/she hears terrible sound; drip... drip... drip. They look over to see the cat licking at a puddle that's steadily forming on the dining room floor. In a flash: Anxiety, stress, and that ”oh brother!” feeling. How did the leak start?; water heater, leaky toilet, shower, faucet? Not necessarily – the air conditioning equipment may be frozen. This can happen anywhere, from Denver to Thailand, regardless of weather.
Why Air Conditioners Freeze
When a central air conditioner freezes up, what actually freezes is the condenser unit's evaporator coil. This component of the air conditioner transfers (evaporates) heat from the inside to the outside of your Denver area home. There are two primary reasons the evaporator coil may freeze:
- Airflow restriction
- Lack of sufficient refrigerant
Either way, the outcome is that the air conditioner's evaporator coil does not properly disperse the heat, and consequently 'overcools' itself. The result of this super-cooling is condensation (that's water formation), and over time ice forms from that condensation as it cools below the freezing point. Yep, the A/C transformed into an old-school icebox.
What Might You Do When Your A/C Freezes?
- Turn the system completely off at the thermostat, and don’t try to thaw the system by increasing the temperature at the thermostat. It is important that the A/C system is completely OFF.
- Check to ensure that the airflow around your system is unrestricted. Replace the furnace or air handler's filter and replace any return air filters. Open all the registers completely and verify that they are not impeded by furniture or drapery.
- Call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. The air conditioning system needs to be inspected by an ACE-certified professional to ensure there are no refrigerant leaks or damage to the equipment. Simply schedule a Performance Inspection or Repair Diagnostic online, or call to talk to a live person right away.
What Does it Cost to Repair?
This can become a costly repair. When your air conditioner ices over it can lead to a compressor replacement. Replacing your compressor could cost as much as a downpayment on a high efficiency model. Actually, many homeowners are forced to pick between installing a new system vs repairing the old unit. If you act quickly and call a ACE-certified technician, you have better odds of having a less expensive emergency.
Your technician will advise you of the exact cause and how to avoid the issue from repeating in the future. If a leak is present (and that is rare, but possible), the leak has to be repaired or the unit will likely freeze again.