An air conditioner is supposed to provide cool air — but not too cold air. Most air conditioners are engineered to maintain home temperatures as low as 65 degrees but no lower. That’s the reason AC thermostats typically only display temperature settings above 60 degrees. Therefore, if your air conditioner is dropping below that minimum temperature, something’s probably amiss. Here are some of the reasons you might be living with too cold air coming from your AC.
- Coil contamination. The AC evaporator coil installed in the indoor air handler circulates cold refrigerant at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit as it absorbs heat from the household airflow. If the coil surfaces are very dirty, dusty, or otherwise contaminated, however, the coil temperature may drop below freezing. The result: Frost, followed by thick ice, may form on the coil, eventually blocking system airflow through the coil entirely.
- Too many vents are closed. HVAC supply and return vents continuously keep air circulating through the air-conditioner coils. If too many air vents in rooms are closed — or they’re accidentally obstructed by furniture, curtains, or other items — the strangled airflow may cause the evaporator-coil temperature to drop into the freezing zone. Ice forming on the coil will eventually obstruct airflow.
- Refrigerant loss. Low refrigerant pressure in the AC system is usually the result of leakage somewhere in the two coils, the lines connecting the coils, or at specific components such as the compressor. Ironically, the drop in refrigerant pressure initially causes the evaporator-coil temperature to dip below freezing. Airflow is restricted as coil ice forms and critical air conditioner components such as the system compressor strain to maintain thermostat settings. Eventually, the AC may eventually shut down totally.
For experienced advice and/or prompt service to diagnose a too cold air conditioner, contact the professionals at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area