Air conditioning systems play a major role in our lives especially in the hot months of the summertime. It is important to maintain a properly working air conditioning system so that once summer comes it is working well. Many homeowners take the proper steps to maintain their unit each season but there is still one problem that can occur during the hot summer months: Freezing. An air conditioner can freeze up easily in the summer time especially if temperatures are hotter than normal. There are many different factors that can cause a unit to freeze up and below we will discuss why this happens and what you can do to prevent it from happening. Airflow is a major factor that can attribute to a freezing problem. The airflow of your unit should never be restricted and if it does become blocked then it can cause the evaporator coils to become dirty and this will cause the coils to drop to below freezing temperatures. The coils will then collect humidity from the air and then the coils will freeze.

It is important to keep this from happening so make sure you change your air filters regularly and keep an eye out for dirty coils. Refrigerant is another important factor with an AC unit. The refrigerant is what helps the unit provide cool air throughout the home. If the unit is running low on refrigerant then the unit can freeze up. If you are getting low on charge you will need to contact a professional to level out the amount you have. Another problem is the outdoor temperature. If you run your air conditioning on a moderately cool day it can freeze up. Air conditioning systems are usually not created to work in outdoor temperatures of under sixty degrees, so when the weather dips, turn off the AC. These are just a few important steps that homeowners should take to keep their air conditioning unit from freezing up. It is important to have your unit inspected every year, especially around the summer time, when you unit will be working the hardest. When you have your unit inspected, speak with the technician.

Ask him to explain to you what to look for when it comes to freezing and how you can prevent it. This way, you will be well prepared if you come across a freezing problem and hopefully you will be able to handle it! My outside unit is on the north side of my house and under an area that water drains to. I have put up gutters and placed a small roof above the unit, but still the coils freeze up during winter. I'm looking for more ideas to help with this freezing problem, and ways to defrost it quicker, like rock salt, defrosters, etc. Would these methods damage the coil? Keep salt away from the unit. Salt will attack and totally decompose the fins and will create electrolytic corrosion in the joints between aluminum and copper leading to destruction of the system. Icing during operation in a damp climate is normal, it's supposed to have a defrost cycle it runs through to remove the ice. Heat Pump Operation: Heat pumps work on the standard phase change refrigeration cycle.

In summer time for AC mode, the inside unit acts as the refrigerant evaporator and the external unit as the condenser. bad smell in ac in carThis is reversed in the cool season for heating, the external unit basically cools the outdoors in order to extract heat from the air and gives it up by condensing the refrigerant in the inside unit.how to keep ac unit from freezing up Heat Pump Defrost cycle: Since you're cooling already cool air that contains some water vapor, it's natural for frost to build up. hybrid heat and air conditioningIn extremely damp climates, the fins can actually clog. To take care of this ice buildup, the heat pump system uses its shuttle valve to momentarily go into AC mode, shuts off the air circulation fan and extracts some heat from the house to be given up when the refrigerant condenses in the external units coils.

Operational failures that cause extreme icing: Older systems run this defrost cycle off a timer, newer ones have temperature sensors to determine frosting and the heating necessary to clear the coils. Failures in these can stop the defrost cycle from being run. You can also have the shuttle valve relay fail or the shuttle valve freeze into the heat position which prevents the cycle reversal needed to do the defrost. For Heat Pump systems that run as flooded evaporator type systems, low freon levels will cause extreme icing of the evaporator. This can cause the internal unit to become a solid block of ice during the AC season and for the external unit to do the same during heating season. DIY Remedies: You've taken care of one major problem, keeping water from entering due to roof drain-off. The unit must also be in a location that allows for water to drain away. Ponding allows for excessive water vapor in the atmosphere and is to be avoided. A drainage system that removes this would be a good idea.

So if you've taken care of drainage, it's probably time to have your local HVAC tech come out and give it a through inspection to figure out what's failed. I have been installing on average 10 new heat pump systems per year for the last 25 years. Every year there seems to be one customer that likes to stand next to their new heat pump when it is 40 degrees Fahrenheit and raining. Yes, when it is heating your home by removing heat from the air outside it will begin to build ice up on the coils. This is normal and will be removed when the system determines the ice needs to be removed. Please back away from your new heat pump and allow it to do its thing!Browse other questions tagged outdoor heat-pump freezing or ask your own question.When the refrigerant inside a central air conditioning unit falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, humidity that surrounds the coils freezes. The coils become encased in ice and the air conditioning unit fails to cool the home properly. Once you’ve thawed the coils, you have several options before calling a repair person to fix the unit.

Just be sure to turn off the air conditioner first. Running the unit with the coils iced over can strain the compressor and cause it to fail. Thawing Although you may be tempted to help the thawing effort by removing chunks of ice by hand, resist that temptation. The coils and cooling fins in the evaporator portion of the central air conditioner are easily damaged. Ice clings tightly to these components, and forcefully removing it can bend fins or rupture coolant lines. Instead, turn off the air conditioner but keep the blower running. This forces warmer air across the evaporator, which hastens the thawing process. Thawing may still take several hours. Quick Fixes Restricted airflow can cause air conditioners to work harder, which results in iced coils. Check the air filters first. If they are dirty or clogged, replace them with clean ones. Another cause of restricted airflow occurs when too many supply registers are closed. Check all the rooms in the house and ensure the registers are open.

Clogged and dirty cooling fins in the frame that surrounds the coils might strain the system enough to cause icing. If outside air temperatures fall below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, most central air conditioners do not work properly. Consider shutting the system off when temperatures fall below 60 degrees. Refrigerant A low refrigerant level is a common cause of iced air conditioner coils. Call a qualified service technician to check and refill refrigerant. Air conditioning repair people understand how to work with the pressurized refrigerant system and will be able to quickly determine which type of refrigerant your system needs. Air conditioning coolants can freeze skin tissue on contact, so personal safety is another consideration. Refrigerant loss is caused by leaky systems or it may occur over time in older units. A service professional can check for and repair leaks. Contactor After thawing the coils, the air conditioner may take a long time to cool the living space again. Once the space reaches the temperature you set on the thermostat, the central air unit should automatically shut down until temperatures rise enough to warrant the air conditioner to cycle again.