An air conditioner’s job is to keep you warm in winter and cool during summer, right? While that is technically correct, when your AC begins to over-cool and even freeze, it can cause a variety of more serious problems. One of them is under-performance. Over cooling can also cause permanent damage to the whole system. So never just ignore it when your air conditioner starts running too cold. There are a few things you can do yourself to troubleshoot the problem, but at some or other stage you might have to get the help of a professional HVAC company.
Determine What Causes The Air Conditioner To Over-cool
1. Start by setting the thermostat a few degrees higher. Then wait a couple of hours to see if there is any change. Also make sure the thermostat isn’t installed near a source of heat (open window where it’s exposed to the sun, furnace, heater, etc.) because this could ‘trick’ it into desperately trying to bring the temperature further and further down.
2. Switch off the air conditioner and make sure it’s unplugged. Then check the condenser coils (normally situated at the back of the unit). Take off the access cover and remove all debris and dirt from the coils. A soft brush and a can of compressed air should do the job. Before replacing the access cover, make sure to also use the same brush to clean the bottom of the unit.
3. Make sure the condensate reservoir is empty. The AC might not work properly when this is full.
4. Check the grilles and vents to make sure there are no obstructions or blockages that could interfere with the unit’s normal performance. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the vents.
Other Possible Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Is Too Cold
Once you’ve gone through the checklist above and you can’t find any obvious reason for the air conditioner running too cold, you will probably be better off with the help of an experienced HVAC technician. The problem could be one of the following:
Freon levels are too low. This might not sound logical, but low freon levels could cause your air conditioner to get so cold that it actually ices up. This is because the evaporator coil inside the unit will get too cold and starts turning condensation into ice. Recharging the freon might or might not permanently solve the problem. If there is, for example, a freon leak the issue will return after a while. WARNING: Freon is a hazardous chemical. Do not try to troubleshoot this yourself. Rather call an air conditioning specialist.
The AC fan Is faulty. If your air conditioner’s fan is not working properly, air will not be circulated through the unit’s ductwork. This irregular airflow will cause cold spots in the system where condensation could be turned into ice.
Your air conditioner has reached its sell-by date. Like everything else, air conditioners sooner or later come to the end of their lifespan. If your unit is older than 10 years, there might just be so many things wrong with it that it’s no longer financially viable to fix. In this case, a trained HVAC technician will be able to give you professional advice on replacing it.
The Secret To Extending The Life Of Your Air Conditioner
If you want your air conditioner to last for many years, make sure it is regularly maintained by an HVAC professional. This will help to prevent many of the issues mentioned above. And when something does go wrong, don’t ask your neighbor’s son to fix it in the cheapest possible way. It will most likely come back to haunt you later. Trust the experts at Hoot to take care of your air conditioner! Contact Us today!