During the summer months in Cookeville, your AC system becomes a central part of your daily comfort. But when something goes wrong and the unit stops cooling as it should, things can heat up fast. One problem many homeowners come across is frozen evaporator coils. When that happens, your AC may blow warm air, shut down, or run continuously without ever really cooling your home.
Frozen evaporator coils may seem like an unusual issue, especially with hot weather outside, but it is a common fault in poorly functioning systems. When coils freeze up, the system cannot properly remove heat from your home. The issue puts a strain on your AC and often signals something deeper going wrong inside your unit. Getting a handle on how evaporator coils work and what causes them to freeze can help you find the problem sooner and avoid expensive repairs.
Understanding Evaporator Coils And What They Do
Evaporator coils are a key part of the cooling cycle inside your AC system. They are located inside the indoor unit and filled with refrigerant. As warm air from your home passes over the coils, the refrigerant absorbs heat, cooling the air before circulating it back through your rooms.
When these coils are working properly, the cooling process feels steady and smooth. But when coils freeze up, the entire system gets disrupted. You are left with poor airflow, inconsistent temperatures, or warm air coming from your vents.
Here are a few signs to look out for if you suspect frozen evaporator coils:
– AC runs constantly without changes in airflow or temperature
– Ice visible on refrigerant lines or inside the indoor unit
– Warm air or no air at all blowing from your vents
– Increased humidity or musty smells near the ducts or indoor unit
Even though ice might seem harmless, frozen coils can damage other parts of your AC. If left unaddressed, the compressor could overwork and fail, leading to a complete system breakdown. That is why understanding what causes the coils to freeze is so important.
Main Causes Of Frozen Evaporator Coils
There are several different reasons evaporator coils can freeze. Some can be fixed with regular upkeep, while others point to system problems that need professional air conditioner repair in Cookeville. Paying attention to the root of the issue can protect your system from major wear.
Some of the most common causes include:
1. Blocked or dirty air filters
Dust and dirt can build up on your air filter over time, limiting how much warm air can reach the evaporator coils. Without warm air moving across the coils, they can quickly freeze.
2. Low refrigerant levels
If the refrigerant is low due to a leak, pressure in the system drops. This causes the temperature inside the coils to fall too much, leading to ice buildup.
3. Poor airflow from blocked ducts or vents
Closed or obstructed vents, dirty ducts, or even furniture placed too close to vents can slow or stop proper airflow, increasing the risk of coil freezing.
4. Malfunctioning fans or blowers
The indoor AC fan helps move air over the coils. If it slows down or stops working, too little air will pass through them, and frost or ice will gradually build up.
5. Thermostat problems
An incorrectly calibrated thermostat might fail to cycle the system correctly, leaving the system running too long and causing excessively cold coils to freeze.
Once evaporator coils freeze, the situation will not correct itself. You need to stop using the AC immediately and move toward solving the cause. Taking quick steps to figure out what is going wrong can prevent serious damage to your system and help restore proper cooling across all the rooms in your home.
Steps to Address Frozen Evaporator Coils
If your air conditioner in Cookeville shows signs of frozen coils, acting fast can minimize damage and avoid bigger issues. The first step is to turn off the AC system completely. Continuing to run it can push the freeze deeper into the unit and risk damaging the compressor, which is far more costly to replace.
Your thermostat should be set to off, and the system’s fan can be set to on. Running the fan may help thaw the ice surrounding the coils. While this step helps with surface ice, it will not fix the underlying cause. That is where professional help becomes necessary. Frozen coils are often linked to deeper mechanical problems that homeowners cannot see just by opening a filter or glancing at the vents.
Once the system is off and the ice begins to melt, do a mental checklist:
– Has the filter been replaced in the last month?
– Are all vents and registers open and unblocked?
– Is the thermostat running on the correct setting?
– Have there been any signs of leaking refrigerant, like hissing sounds or oil residue?
– Is airflow noticeably different in any part of the home?
Even with these simple checks, frozen coils are rarely a DIY repair. It is important to have one of our professionals inspect and service the system. They will locate any refrigerant leaks, mechanical failures, or airflow blockages and perform proper repair before restarting your system. Ignoring the issue or trying to work around it often causes higher power bills and further wear on the unit.
Preventive Measures to Protect Your AC
The best way to avoid frozen evaporator coils in the future is to focus on routine care and tune-ups throughout the year. Summer in Cookeville can put a lot of demand on your system, and even minor neglect can build into frustrating problems. Regular maintenance helps catch coil freezing issues early and keeps your system running clean and efficiently.
Here are a few important steps homeowners can take to keep coils from freezing again:
– Replace your air filter at least once a month during the cooling season
– Keep all return and supply vents free from furniture, rugs, and curtains
– Set your thermostat correctly and monitor for inconsistent cycling
– Watch for rises in humidity or changes in indoor temperature
– Schedule seasonal AC inspections by our technicians
Something as simple as forgetting to change a filter can cause major effects over time. An example we often see is homeowners who move into a home with a reused filter or an incorrectly sized one. They may not notice problems for a few weeks, but by mid-June, their systems are blowing warm air and they have frost inside the case. It is a quick fix with professional maintenance and regular filter changes, but left alone, it leads to major repair work.
Staying Cool and Protected All Summer in Cookeville
Reliable cooling is essential when temperatures in Cookeville start climbing. When your air conditioner runs well, your home stays comfortable without rising energy bills or noisy breakdowns. But a small issue like frozen evaporator coils can grow into mechanical failures if it is not taken care of right away.
If you notice unusual airflow, warm air, or ice around parts of your AC unit, do not wait it out. Take the early signs seriously and get your system inspected. The longer an AC runs with frozen coils, the greater chance it causes compressor failure, refrigerant loss, or system shutdown.
Ongoing maintenance is the safest and most cost-effective way to stay ahead of those problems. You will feel the difference not just with better air cooling, but also with more consistent temperature control throughout your home. Our technicians can spot airflow concerns and fix hidden issues early before they disrupt your comfort. When coils freeze, time matters and so does getting the right help for your air conditioner repair in Cookeville.
When your AC starts showing signs of trouble, Flatt’s Heating & AC is ready to help restore steady comfort in your home with expert solutions like our air conditioner repair in Cookeville and prompt service based on thorough professional inspections. For a quick estimate or to book a service visit, please contact us today.
