To begin with, let us understand what AC freezing or AC coil freezing is. In simple terms, this is what happens when water condensation on the coils collects, and the temperature drops so low that the water freezes on the unit, making it non-functional, and putting additional pressure on the compressor. This also puts stress on the blower fan and makes it overheat, eventually causing complete failure in your AC unit. This makes it a very dangerous situation for Air Conditioning Sydney, and you should get it fixed as soon as possible.
There are two main types of coils in the system, condenser and evaporator coils. Both of these are subject to freezing, and though the reasons for condenser freezing and evaporator coils freezing are similar, there are some subtle differences:
Evaporator coils are part of the indoor unit of the AC and are responsible for providing cool air, while the condenser coils are the heat dissipaters that are on the outside unit of your home. Both are used for heat exchange, albeit for the opposite purposes. When the heat exchange properties of the coils are compromised due to dust settling, lack of airflow, blocked lines or a myriad of other reasons, it results in cold air accumulating for too long, chilling the moisture out of the air and onto the coil.
Reasons for Freezing
Ac coil freezing is primarily caused by insufficient airflow. This doesn’t let warm air circulate freely through the system, allowing cold air to let moisture condense on the coils.
Refrigerant leaks and lower internal pressure can also be a cause of coil freezing as the thermodynamic equilibrium shifts towards a temperature drop, causing the refrigerant lines and eventually the coils to freeze over.
Besides these causes, there can be various reasons causing freezing, like a broken fan, blocked condensate lines, malfunctioning thermostats, and various mechanical and technical errors. Unlike other malfunctions, this can be caused by a failure in any system of the AC, which cannot be diagnosed without a professional HVAC technician inspecting your system.
The most typical ways to identify if you have frozen coils are a lack of cooling, despite the AC functioning normally, and a lot of moisture and condensation collected around your AC. you can then check if there is visible ice forming on your indoor or outdoor coils just by a visual inspection.
If you suspect a frozen coil problem in your AC, you should immediately shut off the system to prevent compressor failure. It would be best to give the system time to thaw, which may take anywhere from an hour to a day. You can check for any leaking water or seepage that may be collecting as the ice thaws. The system needs to be unfrozen. Otherwise, the technician of commercial air conditioning may not be able to work and identify the cause of the issue.
The best remedy for AC coil freezing is a regular and preventive system of maintenance to prevent expensive problems from occurring down the line, like compressor failure, that will not be covered even under a warranty.