What Causes an Air Conditioner Line to Freeze Up?

Does Colder Sound Good? Not When it’s Your AC Lines 

It may seem illogical, but the freezing of air conditioning lines is an extremely common problem for AC owners. It sounds as though your unit is working fantastically – as hitting freezing temperatures sounds pleasant in hot weather – but the freezing of these lines will cause your machine to run at a lower efficiency — and eventually stop working completely. If you’re looking to avoid this happening or want to fix an issue you already have, then our advice on what causes an air conditioner line to freeze up may be beneficial for you.

Why Are My AC Lines Freezing? 

One of the main reasons why the lines in your AC are freezing is due to the evaporator coil becoming too cold. This should not usually happen and is a product of another problem within the unit. If everything was working efficiently, then the evaporator coil would absorb the heat from the air and cool it. However, through other issues in your system, this process has been impeded, and therefore absorbs less heat and causes ice to form on the coil. Over time, this production of ice on the coil will spread to the lines, therefore causing them to freeze.

Machine Faults to Fix Yourself to Prevent Line Freezing

 If you’re confident with your handyman skills, then there are some issues that you can fix yourself to prevent your air conditioning lines from freezing:

Clogged Air Filter

If the filter is not badly clogged, then you should be able to clean it by washing it with warm soapy water. Afterwards, leave it to dry for a while and put it back in the machine. If the filter is badly clogged, then it will require a replacement part which is easy to fit and source yourself.

Blocked Vents

Whether it’s a supply or return vent, if there is any sort of blockage, then this can cause your lines to freeze as the process of distributing cooled air has been compromised. Simply check for any dirt or objects that could be blocking the vent and preventing the AC from processing air.

This Calls for Professionals! Jobs You Should Not Try Yourself

What’s causing your air conditioner line to freeze up will hopefully be a relatively simple fix, but there are more complicated issues which will need a professional touch. Problems that will require a technician include:

• Low Refrigerant and Refrigerant Leaks
• Slowed or Stationary Blower Fan
• Dirt on Coils
• Compromised Air Ducts

HVAC technicians exist for a reason. They have specialist tools which can diagnose the problem with your unit and effectively repair it without causing damage to themselves, anyone around them, or the property. Furthermore, someone who is not trained is likely to cause more faults within the machine that make it more expensive to fix when you inevitably give in and hire a technician.

If you’re worried about the cost, shop around for a while and see what options become available. Plus, regularly servicing your machine will prevent major problems occurring and cost you less money in the future.