Do you need to call the air conditioning repair technician if your unit is freezing up? Chances are you do, but learn a little more about this process before you call so you can make an informed decision.
It never fails. You are enjoying the cool of your home on a hot,
hot summer day, then you hear it: a dripping sound coming from an unknown place. As you search your home, you find a puddle pooling somewhere, maybe in your kitchen. Further inspection shows it is coming from your AC unit. It is time for air conditioning repair service, but just what is the problem? While only the technician will be able to tell for sure, chances are that the culprit is a frozen AC unit.
Why does this happen? When your AC freezes, it is the condenser unit’s evaporator coil that actually freezes. Understanding a little more about how AC units work will help you understand how this occurs.
When you run your unit, heat from inside the home is transferred to the outside of the home through evaporation. The evaporator coil is responsible for this transition. Two things can cause it to freeze. First, restricted air flow can make a problem. Second, lack of sufficient refrigerant in the system can also create a problem.
When the evaporator coil cannot properly dissipate heat, your air conditioning repair technician will tell you that it actually cools itself too much. This causes condensation, and if it is not left untreated, it will allow this liquid to freeze.
Now, when this happens, you may need to call the air conditioning repair technician, but before you do, you might want to trouble shoot a little first. You may be able to clear up the problem on your own.
First, turn the AC unit off using your thermostat. Make sure that it is off, not just turned up to a high enough temperature that it should not kick on. Then, inspect the unit to ensure that no airflow is being restricted. Start by checking all of your registers. If they are blocked or not open completely, make the necessary changes.
If nothing appears to be blocking the airflow, you will need to call for air conditioning repair. If your unit is low on coolant, this is not something you should tackle on your own. Also, if the blockage is happening from somewhere inside the unit, you need to allow a professional to do the job. Trying to do it on your own could lead to problems.
If you are unable to find a situation that is decreasing airflow, chances are high that the problem lies in the coolant. If there is a leak, you need to have it fixed, or you are just going to have the problem again.
Once the technician has found the problem, you will know exactly what caused it. This will help you avoid it in the future, and avoid the need to pay for air conditioning repair again. Remember, there are many things around your home that can be done without a professional, but when it comes to getting inside your air conditioner, you are always better off letting a professional do the job.
