What You Need To Know About Your AC Working During The Day But Not At Night?

Life is easier when the air conditioner is functioning, especially during the sweltering summer months. However, what happens if the air conditioner breaks down at night?

Professionals claim that an air conditioner freezing up is the cause of why it doesn’t operate at night. This is caused by a number of things, including poor airflow and cold outdoor conditions.

In this post, we’ll go into more detail about the factors that cause your air conditioner to freeze at night. We’ll also cover freezing prevention strategies and how to defrost your air conditioner if that becomes required.

Why Doesn’t Your AC Operate At Night?

As was already indicated, the air conditioner breaks down at night because some of its components ice over.

When there is airflow circulating inside the appliance, freezing occurs. Once frozen, these AC components take a while to defrost, causing serious harm to the entire system.

Of course, it’s also possible that something else is going on and the air conditioner itself isn’t functioning properly. The most typical causes of an AC unit failing at night will be covered in this section.

Inadequate Airflow

As mentioned before, an inadequate amount of airflow from the air conditioner might result in a unit freeze. Dust and dirt are the most prevalent reasons of limited airflow.

Dust and dirt can cause parts of the system to become blocked, which over time will seriously injure the AC unit.

The filters should ideally be checked frequently to see if they require cleaning. However, if they become too soiled, you will typically need to replace them.

Low Refrigerant Levels

The refrigerant is what transforms warm outdoor air into chilly air for your enjoyment. So it’s very likely that there is a leak if you discover that your air conditioner is having trouble blowing chilly air.

This needs to be addressed right now for a few reasons. One reason is that low refrigerant levels would make your air conditioner work harder. It would then further reduce the interior of an AC unit’s typical temperature, causing it to freeze over.

The other reason is that a refrigerant leak could seriously harm your family’s health. Long-term health concerns from this chemical can result from prolonged exposure. In this case, speak with a specialist as soon as you can.

Air Temperature Outside

The majority of homeowners are ignorant of this. Most air conditioners can only function effectively in particular temperatures.

There can be a problem down the road if the outside temps are lower than what the AC unit’s instructions advises. Low outside temperatures can result in a decline in AC unit pressure that can cause the system to freeze over.

Unmoving Contactor

A jammed contactor is another potential cause of your air conditioner’s malfunction. This can be found on the outside of your air conditioner.

Turn off the thermostat to see if this is the issue. You have a jammed contactor if your AC unit’s exterior continues to run.

The system would then have to work harder as a result, finally freezing up.

Check to see if your thermostat needs to be replaced to prevent inaccurate readings. If not, you might need to relocate it closer to the center of your house and away from drafts.

How Can You Stop Your AC From Freezing?

We’ll go over some fundamental advice on how to keep your air conditioner from freezing up in this section. Here are just a few ideas that can simplify your life and save costly repairs in the future.

Examine the filters

This will eventually cause the entire system to freeze if left untreated. You would need to disable it using the circuit breaker in order to turn it off.

Condenser Coil Blocked

The AC system is easily breached by dust and debris. It’s typical for there to be a blockage when that happens.

If water is allowed to build up, it will stick to the dust and debris, freeze, and obstruct the airways.

Thermostat Problems

Occasionally, the issue is not with your air conditioner. If everything is functioning as it should, the thermostat might be the problem.

A broken thermostat may instruct your air conditioner in the wrong way. One of the things that most homeowners frequently neglect is this. It’s crucial to examine whether your filters are clogged. This is due to the system’s inability to effectively circulate heated air.

The evaporator coils will gradually freeze over if warm air cannot move freely. To ensure maximum effectiveness, it is important to check the filters at least once every three to six months.

Evaporator Coils Should Be Cleaned

Evaporator coils require cleaning much like filters do. This is because dust and other material can attract water, which then freezes. This would result in blockage, which would cause the system to freeze.

You can also do this to inspect the evaporator coils. You need to take care of any leaks or cracks very away.

Do not worry about how long it will take to replace an evaporator coil. A link to this search is provided below. After reading this article, be sure to go there.

Clean Out The Drip Pan

All of the extra moisture produced by your air conditioner is collected in the drip pan. However, there may also be cause for concern.

Depending on how often you use your AC unit, remember to empty the drip pan at least once every month. If not, the water buildup could freeze, which would be extremely difficult for your air conditioner to handle.

AC Preventive Maintenance Schedule

It’s recommended to plan regular AC maintenance if you want to increase the lifespan of your AC unit and stop the emergence of issues like freezing. You can maintain your HVAC system’s peak performance by doing this.

How Can I Defrost An AC Unit?

Check the drip pan first, then start the defrosting process for your AC unit. Check that it is empty to prevent further issues.

Next, switch to the fan setting and turn off the air conditioner. This provides time for the frozen coils to thaw. Additionally, the fan’s heated air accelerates the process.

After giving your AC unit enough time to thaw, be sure to wipe away any extra moisture. Before turning the appliance on, empty the drip pan one again.

Sometimes all your air conditioner needs is some downtime to recharge before it can perform at peak efficiency once more.

It’s time to bring in the pros if defrosting the AC unit doesn’t work. It may be necessary to replace some parts; in that case, it is preferable to leave it to the professionals.

In Conclusion

Your air conditioner is freezing up, which is why it doesn’t operate at night. This can be caused by a variety of problems, including low outdoor temperatures and insufficient airflow.

However, it’s also conceivable that your thermostat is broken, which would make your air conditioner stop working at night.

It’s best to arrange yearly maintenance for your air conditioner and to catch any problems of this nature early.