An air conditioner comprises of mechanical parts designed to keep you cool during summer. However, it can be frustrating when your AC's cooling output reduces significantly, causing discomfort in your home. For example, if the evaporator coils freeze, the heat exchange process is impeded, leading to a ripple effect where other components malfunction. 

Therefore, it is imperative that an HVAC services specialist conduct a diagnostic check to ascertain the cause of the coils freezing up. Then, the professionals repair this component for effective heat exchange to increase the AC's cooling output. Below are four reasons your AC coils are freezing up.

Lack of Airflow

An air filter cleans the air of dust, debris, and airborne particles. However, over time, the filters clog with contaminants, restricting the amount of airflow to the coils. Consequently, the coils freeze when they lack sufficient air to extract heat. Moreover, if the seals between the ductwork are broken, the air leaks which reduces the airflow to the coils and causes freezing. Therefore, you should contact an HVAC service technician to clean or replace your air filters, in addition to sealing and fastening the connections for sufficient airflow to the coils.

Dirty Evaporator Coils

Dirt inevitably collects on the coils, although this buildup is faster when you have a clogged air filter. This accumulation on the coils limits the amount of heat absorbed as it causes condensation on the dirt and results in freezing as the coolant circulates. Accordingly, since the coils are prone to dirt accumulation, an AC professional should clean the coils and air filters as well as vacuum the vents regularly for effective heat absorption in order to cool your home effectively.

Low Refrigerant

Even though the refrigerant circulates in a closed system, it can deplete if the lines carrying it sustain a leak. Therefore, low coolant levels undermine heat absorption because its role is to facilitate heat exchange by absorbing and expelling the heat outdoors. As a result, the AC strains, absorbing more heat than it should be and causing the coils to freeze. For this reason, you should hire an AC contractor to patch the leaks and perform an AC regas for the coolant to absorb heat effectively.

Malfunctioning Defrost Cycle

An AC automatically detects ice forming in the AC as temperatures dip too low. In response, the unit pumps heat to counter ice formation. However, if your AC cannot keep itself warm enough to prevent ice from forming, it is experiencing a defrost malfunction. In such a case, to ensure an effective defrost cycle, an AC specialist needs to install a defrost timer and temperature control as a defrost termination switch.

If you notice that the air supply from your vents is reducing, you should contact an HVAC repair expert to check your coils. Besides cleaning the coils for proper heat exchange, they are available to service your system regularly for peak efficiency.

Contact a local HVAC service, such as Plisko Service Solutions, to learn more.