To some homeowners, seeing the evaporator coil frozen when the temperature outside is over 90 degrees, is strange. The interpretation of some people is since the coil is frozen, it means the indoor air is being cooled.

The most unfortunate thing is that frozen evaporator coils may point towards something totally wrong with your AC. Ignoring the problem may cause damage to your compressor. However, the good news is that problems pertaining to frozen evaporator coils can be fixed quite easily if attended to early. Otherwise, the damage may necessitate expensive repairs.

Signs Your Evaporator Coil is Frozen

The following are some of the signs which tell your AC could be suffering from evaporator coils that are freezing up.

• Ice forming around the outdoor refrigerant line
• Condensation and moisture around the air handler
• Full or overflowing condensate drain pan. You may also want to check for a clogged drain pipe.
• Ice or condensation around the evaporator coil

When you see any of the above signs on your HVAC system, you should not take it for granted, but notify your HVAC technician to come and inspect your system so that the problem can be addressed as soon as possible.

The first step when you notice freezing around your evaporator coils is to turn off the unit right at the source. This will then allow you to inspect the possible causes and fix them.

Causes of Frozen Evaporator Coils

In case you do not know as yet where your evaporator coil is located, check in your indoor air handler system. The blower fans in the air handler are responsible for blowing air over the evaporator coils which in turn absorb the heat and humidity through the refrigerant to the outdoors. The following are the main causes and solutions to freezing evaporator coils.

Dirty Evaporator Coils

When dirt and dust builds up on your evaporator coil, it puts an extra strain on the system and this leads to inefficiency in conditioning your air. This puts the evaporator coil at a high risk of freezing. Experts advise periodic cleaning of the coils so that they can absorb heat properly. You can sort this out by scheduling annual professional maintenance.

Refrigerant Issues

Since the refrigerant runs in a closed system with no chances of leakage, you shouldn’t replace it unless it is clear that its level is falling. Refrigerant leaks may be occasioned by regular wear and tear which may go unnoticed for longer periods of times. When your system is low on refrigerant, it strains to cool your home and this may lead to freezing.

Airflow Problems

Improper air flow coming in from the blower can cause the evaporator coil to freeze. There are so many reasons behind interrupted air flows some of which include dirty air filter, damaged ductwork, dirty air handler and heat pump as well as closed vents and blocked return grills.

If you are living in humid climates such as Florida, your evaporator coil may have to double its efforts so that it can get rid of the humidity in your indoor air. Don’t tamper with the system if you are not familiar, instead call your HVAC service provider.