When the temperature in Perris hits triple digits, your air conditioner becomes the most important appliance in your home. But did you know that one of the most common reasons for an AC failure in the middle of a heatwave is the unit actually “freezing over”?
It sounds impossible when it’s 100°F outside, but at Davis Plumbing and Heating, we see it every summer. If you see ice forming on your copper refrigerant lines or your vents are blowing warm air, your system is in trouble.
Why Does a Hot AC Unit Freeze?
There are three main culprits that cause an AC “freeze-up” in the Inland Empire:
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Restricted Airflow: This is the #1 cause. If your air filter is clogged with dust and pet hair, the cold air can’t escape the evaporator coil. The temperature drops too low, and the humidity turns into a block of ice.
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Low Refrigerant levels: If your system has a small leak, the pressure drops. Lower pressure means lower temperatures, which leads to—you guessed it—ice buildup.
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Dirty Evaporator Coils: In the dusty environment of Perris and Lake Elsinore, coils get coated in grime. This prevents the refrigerant from absorbing heat properly, causing the system to malfunction.
What to Do If Your AC Freezes
If you see ice, turn the system off immediately. Running an iced-over AC can burn out your compressor—the most expensive part of the machine. Let the ice melt completely (usually takes 2–4 hours) before calling a technician to find the root cause.
Don’t Wait for the Heatwave
The best way to avoid a 2 a.m. emergency call is a pre-season tune-up. We check your refrigerant levels, clean your coils, and ensure your “Perris heatwave prep” is solid before the sun starts beating down.