Next, check the air filter. Low system airflow is one cause of coil icing, and a clogged filter definitely reduces airflow. When system airflow drops below specs, refrigerant circulating through the coil can't extract sufficient heat energy. Refrigerant temperature plunges into the range below 32 degrees.
As the coil continues to condense water, ice inevitably forms on freezing coil surfaces. If the filter appears extremely dirty or clogged, install a new filter.
Wait for the ice to melt off the coil, then restart the system. If icing recurs, shut down the system and call in professional help. Another possible reason for low or no airflow could be an extremely dirty blower or malfunctioning blower fan. Further diagnosis and repair by an experienced service tech is indicated. Image via Wikimedia Commons Facebook. Despite the ironic happening of an AC freeze in the summertime, air conditioners freezing up is something that happens a lot.
Not many homeowners are equipped with the knowledge and understanding about air conditioners to prevent this problem on their own. A sure sign is to check the supply registers. Is it warm? Open the panel and check for ice. However, seeing ice is pretty-well a guarantee that your AC is frozen.
First, we must understand that temperature is how much energy a molecule has. The same works in reverse, cold air is comprised of low energy molecules. When it is compressed, the molecules get excited and heat up.
The point of an air conditioner is to expand the refrigerant inside the evaporator coil so that it cools down, so when it leaves the air conditioner, it cools the air inside your home and effectively removes the hot air from inside the house. However, if something in the air conditioner malfunctions, the whole system gets disrupted. This causes the evaporator coil to allow the refrigerant to cool too much, causing it to fall below freezing and ice over. So, how can you prevent something in the cooling equation from going terribly wrong?
Set the thermostat to only run the blower or fan. This circulates air around and through the coils to dry them quickly. Once the coils are dry, your system should operate normally.
Simply put, when your air conditioner suffers from poor airflow, the evaporator coil gets too cold. As the refrigerant passes through, the chemical reaches temperatures as low as 10 — 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
During normal operation, warm, unconditioned air passes over the coils. The ice even travels along the refrigerant lines. As humid air, which we have a lot of here in Birmingham, meets the coils and condenses, it freezes even faster. Now you know what to do when your AC unit freezes up and why it does it.
How to stop it from happening in the first place? Here are some preventive measures you can take to keep your HVAC system from freezing over.
A dirty air filter is a top cause of a frozen HVAC system. The air filter cleans the air circulated into your home. Over time, it clogs with dirt, pollen, dust, and other allergens.
This restricts the airflow and the HVAC coils freeze. Typically, we recommend you check your filter monthly. If the water is stuck in one place because of a clogged pipe, it can freeze. This is especially true if the obstruction happens near the evaporator coil, the coldest part of the AC.
A blocked condensate line can cause the water, and subsequently the coils to freeze. Your thermostat works with your AC by regularly checking the temperature and controlling how hard the AC has to work to keep the building a consistent temperature.
If a broken thermostat senses the wrong temperature, or controls the AC improperly, it could cause the unit to run too long and wear out the system. You might suspect this if you have trouble keeping your building at a steady temperature, or if it frequently runs too cold. Refrigerant is the chemical that runs through your AC coil, changing pressure and temperature in order to absorb heat.
If it leaks, the lack of pressure will make it absorb more heat than it should. This makes the refrigerant lines, and then the coils, freeze over.
Not only is leaking refrigerant bad for the environment, in some places it is illegal to leave refrigerant lines leaking. You might even be able to tell which of the five causes resulted in your problem.
0コメント