HVAC specialist Derek Cole explains why cooling systems freeze up. A dirty air filter blocks airflow over the evaporator coil, or low refrigerant levels during cooling season can both cause ice buildup. Either problem needs professional service.
What causes my unit to freeze over in cooling? A couple things could be happening when that goes on. The main cause is usually airflow, so you need to check your filter to make sure that it's clean, it's been replaced, it's not stopped up that way air cannot get through. If airflow is restricted in any way, it's going to cause that to freeze over. You'll see kind of like What happens in your freezer when you have too much ice going on there, right? You see that frozen over coil. Same thing happens with your unit. Also, a thing could be happening, especially when you go into cooling season, that you'll notice is it's low on refrigerant. We kind of hit refrigerant pretty hard last episode, so go back and watch that. But if you're low on refrigerant, it will also tend to freeze over, and you'll start seeing that at the outdoor unit. That little line that goes from the outdoor under your house or in the attic, you'll start seeing that freeze over. That's the indication that you're having that kind of a challenge as well. So a couple things going on. Could be airflow, it could be refrigerant. Either way, it's not normal and it should be checked out.
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