In the event that heat energy is not able to be absorbed into the refrigerant, things start to go wrong. Most often, this occurs because the return air—the heat energy-filled air inside of your home—is unable to get to the line. As a result, the refrigerant in the line begins to get colder with no heat to absorb.
The line gets cold enough that the condensation on the outside of the line—which normally drains away harmlessly—freezes over, leading to a literal block of ice. Essentially, anything that blocks airflow to the evaporator coil can lead to a frozen evaporator coil.
Here are some of the most likely culprits:. This prevents it from getting the airflow it needs to properly move heat, which means that the system could then freeze over. This will force the warmer air in your home over the ice to defrost it. You should never be tempted to use a blow dryer or a heating pad as this will cause the ice to melt far too quickly.
If these steps resolve your air conditioning issue, then you can turn the unit back on and allow it to run as normal. Request Service Name. Dirty air filters can also can spread dirt and clog up other parts of your system, including the coils themselves. If your evaporator coils collect too much dirt or debris, the heat exchange process can become obstructed. Dirty coils will be unable to properly absorb the heat from the air, causing the condensation to become too cold and freeze.
Ironic though it may seem, having low refrigerant in your system can actually lead to frozen evaporator coils. Low refrigerant causes the system to overwork, which can lead to the condensation on the coils freezing. Therefore, if you have low refrigerant, the problem is either a refrigerant leak in your system or an insufficient charge. Similar to how the coils freeze when there is restricted airflow, they can also freeze if the air temperature is too low that your system is trying to cool.
Since the coils work by absorbing heat from the air, lack of such heat can lead to the condensation on the coils freezing over.
Condensation forming on the evaporator coils is a natural part of how they function. However, if the drain pipe is clogged or otherwise hindered, too much condensation may develop on the coils, which can then freeze. While many evaporator coil problems will require professional inspection and repair , there are some things you can do on your own.
The first thing you should do is to let the coils thaw by turning the AC system off. Depending on the particular situation, the coils could take up 24 hours to thaw on their own. If you notice that the air filter is clogged or dirty, that might be the cause of the problem. Simply install a new filter, wait for the system to thaw completely, and resume function. The gaseous refrigerant travels to the condenser coils where it changes back to a liquid again and releases the heat it contains.
This process is how cool air is produced in both central air conditioning units and heat pumps. In standard central air conditioning systems, the evaporator coil will be part of the inside components. In a heat pump, the evaporator can be in either the outside or inside unit, depending on whether or not the equipment is providing heating or cooling for your home.
Outdoor coils serve as the evaporator coils when the heat pump is generating heat. A coating of ice on the evaporator coils will prevent the coils from working properly. Since they are no longer in contact with the surrounding air they will not be able to absorb that heat, and air coming out of the supply vents will be warm.
This will interfere with the creation of cool air for indoor comfort. For such a project, it is best to contact your local HVAC professional. Your technician will generally:. After the technician has completed these steps and the ice has melted, turn the air conditioner on, and the system should be functioning properly once again.
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