One of the most common cooling system repair calls we get is when an air conditioner is freezing up. If ice forms on your AC unit, it won’t be able to do a good enough job of cooling your home properly. What’s even worse, however, is that this condition will cause your compressor to undergo a lot of stress. The more you run your system in this condition, the harder it will have to work – and increase the likelihood that you will need an expensive repair or even replacement. Here is some information on why this problem occurs and what can be done to fix it.

Common Air Conditioning Problems

  • Dirty Air Filters – The usual culprit when an air conditioner is freezing up is a dirty air filter. In order to operate at peak efficiency, an air conditioner has to have unimpeded airflow. A dirty air filter makes that impossible. If you ever see ice on the outdoor unit, the first thing you should do is check the filter. It’s very simple to change it if it’s dirty – as a matter of fact, you should be changing it monthly during cooling season.
  • Check Your Vents – However, you should also check your air registers, because if vents are closed or blocked that will reduce airflow to the evaporator coil. Even if the registers are working fine, you should still have that coil cleaned by a professional technician on a regular basis.
  • Fan Problems – Another potential cause is a malfunctioning fan. If a far isn’t working properly, air will not circulate as it should.
  • Refrigerant – There is also a chance your system may be low on refrigerant. If this is the case, you need to call an expert for a recharge. However, if your system is substantially low on refrigerant there may be a major leak – and that, of course, would be a big problem.

Get in touch with the professionals with Northern's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® and we’ll do whatever is necessary to fix the problem when your air conditioner is freezing up. The best way to avoid this situation is by having us come out to your home regularly and perform air conditioning maintenance. Call us at (763) 284-8639 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.