Got a frozen air conditioning unit? It is really unusual to see a block of ice on your outside AC system, especially in the midst of summer. However, the ice on the unit’s exterior is not always visible.
While you would believe something like this is inconceivable during the warmest days of the year, an air conditioning unit freezing in the summer is a common occurrence.
And if you are experiencing this kind of problem, you no longer need to stress yourself out in looking for top-notch air conditioning services in Belmont because Rocket Heating AC Repair is just around the corner, ready to provide you with the help you need, including thermostat installation.
To have a better understanding of how an AC unit begins to freeze, you must first know the fundamentals of central air conditioning systems—everything begins with your evaporator coils.
This pivotal air conditioning component contains extremely cold refrigerant. When the coils are turned on, the refrigerant requires warm air to pass through them. This cools your air while keeping the coils heated enough to prevent them from freezing. The indoor coil takes heat from the interior air and transfers it to the outdoor coil through the refrigerant, which pushes the heat outdoors. The technology really extracts heat from your air indoors and transfers it outside. This is why when you place your palm above the fan on your outside unit, the air feels considerably hot.
However, if something in your air conditioner fails, the entire system will become dysfunctional. If something prevents warm air from passing over the coils, the evaporator coil allows the refrigerant to cool too quickly, allowing it to drop below freezing and frost over. If the refrigerant pressure inside the coils is incorrect, your system’s coils might get excessively cold and soon freeze up. And this can result in a frozen air conditioner unit.
Common Causes Why Your AC Unit Freezes Up
When the temperature outside is extremely high, you rely on your air conditioner to keep you cool. However, just like any other equipment, system faults might arise at some time. While an AC unit might encounter a variety of issues, one of the most prevalent is an air conditioner freezing up. You are not alone if your air conditioner has frozen.
You may be concerned if your air conditioner has become frozen. Fortunately, there may be a quick and low-cost solution. Here are some frequent causes of your air conditioner freezing up:
- Malfunctioning Thermostat
If you find out that your cooling unit has frozen and you are wondering whether it is a major problem to be worried about, the first thing that you need to do is to check your thermostat. This might be the reason why your AC unit works hard, causing the machine to run too long and the coils to freeze over because of overwork. The best thing to do to fix it is to check your thermostat settings.
- Lack of Airflow
If warm air cannot flow through the coils, they will likely freeze. As a result, one of the most common causes of an AC unit freezing is a lack of ventilation. Here are a few examples of problems that might result in inadequate airflow: 
- Bad Motor
If the blower fan stops operating effectively, the air cannot flow adequately through the coils of the AC system. When this occurs, the coils begin to freeze over. If this is the case, you may notice some rattling sounds coming from your air conditioner, suggesting that the blower is malfunctioning.
- Low Fan Voltage
If your air conditioner freezes, it might be due to a voltage problem. Without the right electricity, your unit will be unable to blow air, which may cause your AC to freeze.
- Collapsed or Blocked Ductwork
The ductwork in most homes is what permits cold air to circulate throughout the house. If something is obstructing the duct, air cannot circulate, causing the coils to become clogged and your AC unit to freeze even if everything else is operating correctly.
- Clogged Filter
This filter is responsible for keeping your house, AC unit, and compressor coils clean. When it becomes blocked with dust, it forces your air conditioner to work harder while also blocking appropriate ventilation.
- Low Level of Refrigerants
When the refrigerant in your air conditioner runs low, the pressure in your coils might suffer. As previously said, if the pressure within the coils is incorrect, they will be unable to complete 
their function correctly, causing the AC unit to freeze. This might just indicate that you need to replace your refrigerant, or it could indicate a more significant problem, such as a coolant leak.
A coolant leak results in a constant loss of pressure, which reduces your unit’s capacity to absorb heat and, as we all know, causes it to freeze. While you can try to add extra refrigerant to your system, a leak must be treated by a professional in order to be repaired effectively.
- Blocked Condensate Line
Condensate lines allow moisture accumulation in your device to drain—preventing it from freezing up. These pipes can get blocked, causing the water to freeze and, as a result, the coils to do the same.
- Dusty Coils
If you are using your air conditioner without a filter, with a low-quality filter, or without properly replacing the filter, dust can accumulate in the refrigerant coils. Over time, this creates a layer of dust on the coils, insulating them and eventually causing them to freeze.
Reasons Why Your AC is Freezing
If your air conditioner freezes, you might wonder how something that works so hard during the warmest days of the year could ever ice. Despite the irony of an AC freezing up in the middle of summer, it’s critical to deal with your frozen AC unit professionally and swiftly to avoid any significant problems. Causes of a freezing AC include:
- Bad Motor – Your AC works hard because of a bad motor, causing the machine to run too long and the coils to freeze over from overwork. Double-checking your thermostat settings is one of the easiest ways to fix it.
- Lack of Airflow – The coils will likely freeze if warm air cannot circulate through them. As a result, a lack of ventilation is one of the most prevalent reasons why your AC freezes.
- Low Level of Refrigerants – When your air conditioner’s refrigerant gets low, the pressure in your coils may drop. This might just mean that you have to replace your refrigerant, or it could suggest a more serious issue.
- Blocked Condensate Line – These pipes can get clogged, causing the water to freeze and, therefore, the coils to freeze.
- Dusty Coils – Dust can be collected in the refrigerant coils if you use your air conditioner without a filter or with a low-quality filter. Hence, regularly changing or cleaning it is necessary.
You no longer need to hassle yourself in fixing an air conditioner that’s freezing. Our experts here are always ready to provide you with the help you need; all you have to do is call us here anytime the need arises.