Introduction – What to Do When Your Air Conditioner Freezes Up!
Do you know how to troubleshoot when your air conditioner freezes up? When the thermostat registers a temperature that seems impossible given the hot weather outside and your AC fails to respond, don’t panic! You see, there are several reasons why this might happen.
But don’t worry; They are not all complicated. In fact, most of them are probably easy-peasy for someone like you who is reading this article right now.
So keep reading and discover some useful tips on how to troubleshoot when your air conditioner freezes up!
Check the Thermostat
This is the first step in troubleshooting when your air conditioner freezes up. If you check the thermostat and find that it is not set to ‘cool’ then there is no way your AC can come on. If the thermostat is on ‘cool’ but the AC still fails to work properly then you may have a more serious problem to deal with.
If the thermostat is digital then simply switch it off and on again. If it is an analog one then check if it has a ‘hold’ or ‘manual’ button. If it does then press the button to reset the thermostat.
Reset the AC
This next step in troubleshooting when your air conditioner freezes up may sound silly, but it is important. Even if you are 100% sure that your AC is switched on, try resetting it just in case it tripped while you weren’t looking.
Sometimes a power outage can cause your AC to trip. If the AC is off but is supposed to be on, then you may have a more serious problem to deal with. If resetting the AC does not solve the problem, then you may want to check the other possible causes.
Check the Drain and Evacuation Lines
If your AC freezes up in the summer, it is important to check that the drain line is not blocked. The problem is not as common as you may think, but the good news is that it is easy to fix. If you find that your drain line is blocked, simply unblock it.
Be careful though; don’t use a shovel or a clawed tool to do it because you may cause damage to the system. A great solution is to use a water pump to unblock the line. If you do not have a water pump, try pouring hot water down the drain line.
The same thing goes for the evacuation line. It is supposed to be completely clear so that the condensation from your AC does not back up in your home. If the evacuation line is blocked, your AC will freeze up and your home will be at risk of getting ruined by water damage.
The Air Filter May be Blocked
The air filter is a vital part of your AC. It ensures that the air that your AC produces is as clean as possible. When the air filter is clogged, it can significantly reduce the airflow through the AC. This is often the cause of when your AC freezes up.
One good way to find out if your AC filter is blocked is to simply clean it. If you don’t know how to clean it, you can always call a professional AC repair person to do it for you.
If the air filter is clean but your AC is still freezing up, then you may have a more serious problem to deal with.
Check Your Fuses
If your AC freezes up in the winter, you may want to check that none of your AC fuses is blown. Fuses are tiny pieces of metal that are designed to protect your system.
If there is too much current flowing through a certain part of the system, the fuse blows to protect it from getting damaged. If you find that one or more of your fuses is blown, you can easily replace them. Just make sure that you buy the same type of fuse that is already installed in your system.
If all of your fuses are working properly but your AC is still freezing up, then you may have a more serious problem to deal with.
Your condenser may be iced-up!
Your AC condenser is the part of the system that is outside. It is designed to pull heat out of your house and dump it into the atmosphere. When the weather is really hot, the condenser can freeze up. If you find that your AC condenser is iced-up, there are a couple of things you can do.
One is to simply wait for the weather to cool down. This can take a few days or even weeks depending on where you live. If you can’t wait for the weather to cool down, you can try to de-ice your condenser.
Be careful though because this can be a dangerous job if you don’t know what you are doing.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you better understand the different causes of when your air conditioner freezes up. AC units are extremely important for our homes, especially in the summer months.
If your air conditioner is not working properly, it is essential to troubleshoot and try to fix the issue as soon as possible. If one or more parts of your AC system are not working properly, you need to find out which parts are at fault and how to fix them.
The sooner you troubleshoot and fix your AC, the less time you will have to spend in a sweltering house.
