It may seem strange that evaporator coils can freeze when the outside temperature is 95 degrees or more, but a frozen coil is a common issue during the hot summer months. There are a number of potential causes of a frozen evaporator coil.
One common cause is when restricted air passes over the coil, causing the temperature to drop below 32 degrees. The humidity on the coil freezes, resulting in an inefficient or completely inoperative air conditioner unit.
Frozen coils can also be a result of low refrigerant, or Freon, or a dirty filter. You can complete a visual inspection of the filter to determine whether it may be the culprit. If the filter is dirty, then it may be causing restricted air flow; if it is wet, then water is melting off of the coil and missing the drain pan.
What should you do if you have a frozen evaporator coil?
Though the prospect of turning off your AC in the middle of a heat wave can be daunting, it could ultimately save the system coil. It may take as long as eight hours for the coil to thaw, so the earlier the system is turned off, the faster the problem can be resolved. The fan can and should be left on to promote air flow, keep your home as cool as possible, and speed up the defrosting process. As the coil thaws, condensation will be created, so towels will be needed to soak up the water and prevent damage.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
With regular maintenance, issues such as frozen coils during the scorching Texas summer can be avoided. Precision Heating & Air offers fantastic preventative maintenance deals. With the Precision Preventative Maintenance plan, we will perform one summer check and one winter check per year, provide one pound of free refrigerant, and offer a 10% discount on the price of repairs (including parts and labor).