Prevention for a Frozen A/C Unit

A frozen A/C unit sitting in your yard isn’t just a normal part of the snowy Lorain winter. Ice buildup can damage your outdoor unit’s fan blades, coil fins, and even the coils themselves, reducing the system’s efficiency or worse. A few winterization steps will protect your A/C.

Prepare Your Outdoor Unit

An outdoor condenser unit exposed to rain, snow, and wind is more likely to freeze over than one that’s shielded from the elements. How you wrap your condenser unit matters, though. Avoid plastic, which traps moisture, increasing the risk of rust development.

Instead, cover the unit with breathable material such as a tight polyester mesh or canvas. A specially designed winter A/C cover is your best bet. For better snow protection that will further reduce your chances of ending up with a frozen A/C unit, place a layer of plywood over the unit with brick on each corners to hold the plywood down in strong winds.

If your unit is under a gutter or roof overhang that drips melting snow, periodically check for ice buildup inside the unit. Remove icicles that might hit the unit. These can fall with enough force to cause damage.

When spring arrives, consider building a shelter for your A/C or installing a canopy on a nearby building that can be extended over the unit. To break up strong, freezing winds, plant dense shrubs or build a low wall around the unit at least 18 inches away.

Cool Only When You Need it

In mild spring and autumn weather, make sure you’re not running your air conditioner when the outdoor temperatures fall below 62 degrees. This is especially likely to happen if you leave your A/C on overnight. If you need cooling on milder days, use ceiling fans instead. If your system does freeze, turning it off and letting the ice melt naturally is the safest way to thaw it.

For more tips on preventing a frozen A/C unit and other HVAC problems, contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning in the Lorain area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about preventative maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959. 

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