Why is My HVAC Unit Frozen?

3 Common Reasons Why Your HVAC Is Freezing Up

HVAC maintenance

3 Common Reasons Why Your HVAC Is Freezing Up

Frozen outdoor HVAC unit covered in ice, illustrating common HVAC issues related to freezing, relevant to HVAC maintenance and repair services.

If your HVAC unit is covered in ice, you're most likely wondering why and whether or not it's safe to operate. Turning your HVAC off at the earliest sign of cold will assist to reduce the deterioration as the device doesn't recognize it is icy, it will remain on to try to run even if ice is present. If the system is left running, the motor will be too pressured and might get damaged.


While a frozen HVAC is extremely inconvenient, it's a relatively typical problem that property owners handle at some point in time. In this blog, we share a few common reasons why HVAC systems literally freeze.


Reduced Cooling Agent Degrees

One of the most frequent causes of a frozen HVAC system is low cooling agent degrees. If there isn't enough cooling agent distributed with the coils at any point in time, it can trigger the condensation that usually forms on the outside of the coils to actually freeze. This results in a spiral in which ice formation speeds up the loss of refrigerant, ultimately leaving the system incapable to operate at all.


Restoring the system's cooling agent can fix this issue, but if the refrigerant loss was due to a leak, repairing the leakage is the only method to ensure the system won't malfunction in the same way again.


Dirty or Clogged Air Filter

If you can't remember the last time you changed your HVAC filter (or if you're not sure where your filter is located), this may be the cause behind your frozen HVAC system. Filters control the airflow into your unit, and when your HVAC isn't getting enough air, it also isn't receiving enough outdoor warmth to keep the coil condensation from freezing.


Dirty or Broken Coils

An air conditioning unit that's functioning effectively will create condensation droplets on the system's coils. The condensation droplets trickle right into the pan below, where it evaporates. If the drip frying pan is unclean, this water can back up and cover the coils, which will damage them when the water freezes. If the coils themselves are unclean or clogged, they can additionally prevent condensation from vaporizing in the way it should.


If your unit is super cold or getting icy, don't wait too long to call a professional HVAC Specialist. Our specialists are professionally trained to identify any type of issue you are dealing with and can offer a long-term solution, helping you save money from potential damage.

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Customer Testimonials

See what our happy customers have to say about their experience with Best Owner Direct HVAC & Electrical and why they continue to choose us for their home comfort needs.

    Been using them for years after the owner Kevin showed up so fast when our furnace went out one year. Been a fan since! Now, Danny is so great to work with, also. So friendly, knowledgable, fast. You guys are the best!

    Jessie M.

    Danny came out on a Saturday to diagnosis and fix my mom’s hvac unit.   He was able to quickly determine what the problem was and had all the parts to complete the repair right then.  His communication was clear and did a really good job helping us understand what caused the issue.  I would definitely recommend him and will be calling his company with any needs in the future. Thanks again!

    Michael R.

    Fantastic customer service! I had a furnace issue, called late morning and they fit me in for diagnostic right away. Technician was extremely knowledgable, walked me thru everything he found - unfortunately needed a new furnace (was 24 years old anyways), got it scheduled and installed within 24 hours as everything was in the warehouse (probably got lucky on what we needed). Overall excellent customer service, from scheduling to diagnostic, to installation. Highly recommend.

    Brad D.

    WOW! So impressed with so many aspects of this company. We had an animal die under the house in and could smell it coming out of the vents. When I called around, pest control was weeks out and Best Owner Direct was able to come the next day. Our technician, Danny was absolutely INCREDIBLE! Very professional, kind and made sure we had the problem taken care of the same day so we could breathe again! I look forward to continuing to work with them in the future for our HVAC needs.

    Todd & Tiffany F.

    Daniel was excellent, attentive to detail and committed to completing all tasks other installers overlooked. He worked tirelessly into the evening making sure everything was working properly with a water heather install, and he had a great attitude all along.

    Alma H.

    Excellent customer service, great communications answering all of our questions, left the site clean, and very respectful of our space within the house. Arranged to have someone come from the office later in the week to explain how the thermostat works.

    Vinod S.

    BOD is fast, efficient and affordable life save for my client who is purchasing a home with an old HVAC. Best Owner came quickly to help her asses the cost to replace it, and I will continue to recommend their services!

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