5 REASONS WHY YOUR AC IS FREEZING AT

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5 REASONS WHY YOUR AC IS FREEZING AT NIGHT
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• Now that temperatures are heating up, we are
  starting to see an increased number of calls from
  homeowners with air conditioner freezing as their
  problem. We usually get the call after the
  homeowner goes outside to see why their AC is not
  cooling and discovers that the outside unit of
  their air conditioner freezing up into a solid
  block of ice. Regardless of the type of air
  conditioner, most cases of air conditioner
  freezing can be attributed to a handful of causes.

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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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INSUFFICIENT AIR FLOW
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• If there is not enough air flowing through your
  air conditioning system, your evaporator coil
  will eventually freeze up and cause your AC unit
  to freeze up and stop working. The most common
  cause of this is a dirty air filter. Dirt can
  also collect on the evaporator coil itself
  causing it to become clogged. This typically
  happens if the AC system was allowed to run
  without a filter or if the filter used was
  extremely dirty, too small for the system, or of
  poor quality. Air flow problems can also be
  caused by a faulty fan or closed or blocked ducts
  and vents.

LOW REFRIGERANT
If you find yourself having to add refrigerant to
your air conditioner once or twice a season, it
is a safe bet that you have a leak somewhere
within the system. Leaks can develop as parts
vibrate or rub together over time or when joints
or fittings become loose. A leak can cause the
pressure within the evaporator coil to drop.
Moisture then collects and freezes on the coil.
The ice continues to build from the inside to the
outside of your air conditioner until it can no
longer function.
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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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AIR TEMPERATURE
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• The outdoor air temperature needs to be within a
  certain range in order for an air conditioner to
  run effectively. Even an AC that is in perfect
  working order may not run well if the outside air
  temperature is too low. When the AC is allowed to
  run when outside temperature is too cool, the
  pressure inside the system can drop and cause
  home AC freezing up. This is a common problem
  here in Colorado, especially during late spring
  and early summer when daytime temperatures can be
  quite warm but the nights are still very cool.

DEFECTIVE BLOWER MOTOR
Your air conditioner may freeze up if the blower
motor is not running along with the rest of the
system. One sign that you may have a defective
blower motor is that the outside portion of your
air conditioner will run, but the indoor portion
of the system does not work at all.
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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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STUCK CONTACTOR
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• A small part on the outside portion of your air
  conditioner called a contactor can become stuck.
  This allows the outside unit to run continuously
  so that it will eventually freeze up. You can see
  if this is the problem by turning your air
  conditioner off at the thermostat. If the outside
  unit continues to run even when the thermostat is
  off, you most likely have a contactor that is
  stuck. The only way to turn off the system in
  this situation is to shut it off at the circuit
  breaker.

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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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HOW TO PREVENT YOUR AC FROM FREEZING
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• Most causes of air conditioner freezes can be
  prevented with basic maintenance and regular
  tune-ups. We recommend that homeowners in
  Loveland, Fort Collins, Longmont and the
  surrounding areas change the filter in the air
  conditioner on a regular basis. Depending on the
  type of filter that you have, filters should be
  changed every one to three months. You may want
  to do this more frequently if you have had recent
  construction in your home or have pets since
  these can increase the amount of particulates in
  the air. You should also consider turning off
  your air conditioner and opening up your windows
  if the nighttime temperature is forecasted to
  drop below 60F.
• At Swan, we also offer local residents an
  affordable AC tune-up package. Our technicians
  will clean, inspect, and test more than 20 of
  your air conditioners operating and safety
  features to ensure that your AC runs reliably and
  efficiently for years to come.

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Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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WHAT TO DO IF YOUR AC FREEZES
Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc.
599 W. 66th St. Loveland, CO 80538
info_at_swanhomecomfort.com 970-355-3555

• If your air conditioner keeps freezing up, you
  should turn it off immediately. Not only does
  continuing to run your AC not do any good, but it
  can cause substantial damage to the system. Other
  than checking for a dirty air filter, diagnosing
  and repairing the problem should be left to an
  HVAC professional. Trying to clean, replace, or
  repair any of the other components yourself can
  cause further damage and even void your
  manufacturers warranty.
• Dealing with a frozen AC also requires a certain
  amount of patience. Just like an iceberg, the ice
  that you see on the outside of your AC unit is
  just a part of the problem. If there is ice that
  you can see, then the inside of your air
  conditioner is a solid block of ice that can take
  several hours to melt even in the heat of summer.
  Once you are able to turn on your air
  conditioner, it can take several more hours for
  the inside of your home to reach a comfortable
  temperature.
• At Swan Heating Air Conditioning, Inc., your
  familys comfort is our number one priority. Call
  today to schedule your annual AC tune-up. Our
  professional and highly-trained HVAC technicians
  are also available 24 hours a day for all of your
  emergency air conditioning repair needs.

Copyright 2018 Swan Heating Air Conditioning,
Inc.
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