Baltimore is in the full swing of summer! It’s prime time for pool time and picnics, but it’s easily the worst time to find your air conditioner has failed. Despite the heat, Supreme Service Today sees plenty of frozen AC units this time of year. Many of our customers don’t even know that it is happening – they just know their air isn’t getting any cooler.
No matter how cool you like to keep your home, you shouldn’t see ice on your AC unit. If you do, you’re in for a surprise breakdown at any moment. Instead of getting caught off guard, read on to find out why your air conditioner is freezing up and how you can prevent it.
The Icy AC Culprit
Simply stated, the reason air conditioners ice up is lack of air flow. Because the coils inside your air conditioner must be cold enough to cool down the air around them, your unit needs warm air moving through to keep the coils from freezing entirely. If you’re noticing ice on your unit, it’s important to know that there are multiple ways airflow can become restricted in your unit.
Dirty Coils
The coils are a very important component of your air conditioning system, and the fact is that it doesn’t take a great amount of dirt to start causing problems. You will first notice that your home isn’t being cooled like it once was, and the energy consumption will increase dramatically as the unit struggles to cool.
Because the coils are inside your unit, this isn’t a DIY fix. The tools and chemicals used to properly clean coils are highly specialized and require training, and the coils themselves are very easy to damage.
Clogged Filter
Reduced airflow due to a clogged air filter can cause the same energy inefficiency and overworking of the entire AC unit that dirty coils will cause. Luckily, this is an easy fix! Most homeowners can – and should – replace their air filters about once a month during the summer.
Damaged Blower
When dirty coils and clogged filters are not properly maintained over the long term, homeowners often wind up with a damaged blower. Since there’s rarely an easy fix for this problem, total replacement may be your only option. Call your technician to talk about repair options, and the possibility of replacement.
Refrigerant Problems & More
If you’ve ruled out the other potential problems, your frozen air conditioner may be related to your refrigerant charge or even another mechanical component failure. When you’ve exhausted the options above, it’s definitely time to call a trained technician. You’ll need someone to diagnose your icy problem, and help you determine whether you’re better off repairing the problem or purchasing a new system.
The Bottom Line
If your air conditioner goes unchecked and freezes up, the resulting ice on your unit can cause serious and expensive damage. While insurance will usually pay for air conditioners damaged by mother nature, they don’t often cover normal wear and tear or problems caused by lack of maintenance.
Instead of dealing with a broken AC unit in the midst of summer, sign up for the Supreme Service Today agreement! We take care of routine maintenance, so you don’t have to. Give us a call at (410) 522-1764 to set up a plan to keep your AC in top shape, year-round.
