Here at Air-Tech HVAC Corp, we’d like to properly inform homeowners in South Florida so they are fully equipped with the correct knowledge and understanding about air conditioners to prevent them from freezing up. Despite the irony of an AC freeze in the summertime, air conditioners freezing up is a common issue that happens quite often.

Ever wonder how something that works all day during the hottest days in Margate, Florida can be prone to freezing up? We will discuss this further and provide you with the 3 basic common reasons and what to do about it.
Early tell-tale signs you might be facing a freezing problem
A sudden decrease in AC performance.
An unusual amount of condensate drainage.
AC System running continuously.
Reduced airflow from vents.
Uncomfortably warm temperatures indoors.
Common Reasons why your AC is freezing up and what to do about it/how to fix it
Blocked airflow:
In order to keep the airflow in your home moving enough to not disrupt your air conditioning functionality, you have to ensure that your air filters aren’t dirty and becoming clogged. This can restrict the airflow in your home.
Resolution:
If you’ve discovered that your air filters are clogged, your AC is already blocked. You will now begin the thawing process by turning off your air conditioning unit and allowing it to defrost for about (1-3) hours. Then you will want to turn on the fan for about an hour. This is the time you will use to replace and discard any blocked/dirty air filters. Once this process is complete your AC system should be back to normal working order. Generally, keeping your AC clean and providing regular preventative maintenance is a great way to prevent any air flow problems or any other issues.
Refrigerant leaks or mechanical problems:
Similarly to the human body, air conditioners are full of moving parts that can become stuck, broken, or clogged. Fans can stop moving, refrigerant lines can kink, filters can become clogged, and things can leak. Refrigerant is an essential part of ensuring a regulated temperature throughout your AC. Any of these above-mentioned may cause a drop in pressure allowing the refrigerant to expand too much and become too cold. Too low of a refrigerant level is also known to cause freezing up. While some of these problems are easier and cheaper to fix than others, in the case of a coolant leak, any fix is likely to be a temporary fix. At this time you may consider investing in a new AC system.
Resolution:
Leak repairs and any mechanical problems go a bit beyond a short guide to AC freezing. It is best to address these issues with a trained professional who knows how to handle refrigerants. If you suspect any refrigerant leaks or mechanical failures to be the cause of a malfunctioning AC system, you may want to contact an HVAC company and have a professional come out and take a look. Although refrigerants are safe to use in the home, they’re best handled by a professional who knows how to keep it contained.
Cool summer nights:
Here in Broward County, some summer nights may be colder than the optimum threshold can account for, this can throw an AC out of whack for sure. Air conditioners are calibrated to operate within a certain set of optimum temperature thresholds so anything below 60° may cause your AC to freeze up.
Resolution:
As a family-owned and operated company in South Florida, we deal with these issues all throughout Broward County, Miami Dade County, and Palm Beach County frequently. Of course, having a programmable thermostat can automatically get ahead of the problem by shutting down the AC when temperatures reach below 60°. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat you may want to keep an eye out for the current temperatures nightly and open up the windows to allow some fresh air to flow throughout your home while giving your AC system a little break. Here at Air-Tech HVAC Corp., we are here to assist you with all of your a/c needs and related issues while finding the correct customer solutions needed.
Comments