Frozen AC Pipes in Toronto? Here’s How to Fix Them Fast

Causes Of Frozen AC Pipes

Before we discuss ways to fix frozen AC pipes, let’s first understand some of its key causes.

In this case, “frozen” refers to a buildup of ice within the pipe of the AC. Let that be in mind as we attempt to cover some of the major causes of frozen AC pipes.

1. Low Refrigerant Levels

One of the major causes of frozen AC pipes include low levels of refrigerants. The amount of refrigerant may be reduced due to leakage or improper installation of the system. Regardless of the actual cause, reduced amounts of refrigerant lower the pressure inside the pipes and allow the remaining refrigerant to expand through it once it passes through the evaporator coil. This reduces the temperature drop and consequently freezes the moisture on the coils into frozen pipes.

2. Poor Airflow

Another key cause of frozen AC pipes is poor airflow. Similar to our previous entry, this cause, too, does not depend on the outside temperature. That being said, when the airflow of the surroundings becomes occluded, it does not allow the evaporator to get enough warm air and absorb heat from it, which results in pipes freezing in the AC. Now, the cause that lies for airflow is somewhat specific. Some of the common causes of proper airflow include:

• Clogged Air Filter
• Clogged vents
• Blower Fan Faultiness

3. Dirty Coil

Other than poor airflow, the freezing of your AC pipes could also be as a result of a dirty coil. As the dust, dirt, amongst other debris, start to collect around the AC coil, they may insulate the coils from the air that they must cool. Should this occur, the coils get chilly as they cannot absorb heat as required. This reduced cooling capacity and ice formation results from air condensing and freezing in the coil.

4. Faulty Thermostat

Another key reason behind the freezing of AC pipes is the frozen thermostat. If your thermostat is not working correctly, it continues to direct the air conditioner to run. This can result in the evaporator coil being too chilly. Should this occur, the recycling process of AC would lessen, and without enough recycling, the coil could freeze. This can result in ice buildup on the pipe and harm other system pipes.

5. Issues With Expansion Valve

An expansion valve is an integral aspect of an AC. If there are issues with the expansion valve, it can let excessive refrigerant into the coil. This in turn can lead to coiling much colder, giving rise to the formation of ice and condensation on the pipe. Defects or problems within the expansion valve can be a cause of your AC pipes freezing.

6. Outdoor Temperature

Another major cause for frozen AC pipes, other than malfunctioning in different parts of the AC, is the temperature of the air outside. Air conditioning systems work best within a certain degree of conditions. When the outside temperature gets too low, it creates difficulty for the outdoor unit of your air conditioner to dissipate heat. Thus, when the refrigerant gets too cold by the time it comes back to the interior unit due to insufficient heat being released outside from the condenser coil, it forms ice on the pipes.

7. Defective Frost Control

Frost control is an integral aspect of AC. The defrost control mechanism in the AC reverses the refrigerant flow and avoids ice formation on the outside coil. If the defrost control is damaged or malfunctions, ice can build up on the coil and spread to the refrigerant lines. This further contributes to the freezing of AC pipes.

8. Leaking Ducts

Like frost control, the ductwork is an integral part of an AC that is supposed to distribute cool air throughout the building. The leaks and cracks in ducts allow hot humid air to infiltrate the system. Should this occur, the evaporator coil can become too cold. This is because it works harder to cool the humid air. In this circumstance, the ice can form on the pipes. This ice buildup can then reduce airflow, decrease cooling efficiency, and can cause damage to the AC over time.

9. Blocked Drainage

While drainage and air conditioners may be a bit unrelated, in actual sense, they are connected. This is because when AC is at work, they draw out moisture from the air and create condensates. These condensates need proper drainage to prevent water damage or mold creation. The clogging up or blocking of drainage any way can also result in water building up around the evaporator coil. As a result, the coil can reach too cold of a temperature, and the collected moisture may start to freeze. This, over time, may cause the formation of ice on the pipes, which then disrupts the airflow and further reduces cooling efficiency.

These are some of the key causes of frozen AC pipes. Besides the ones we mentioned here, there can be several other reasons why your AC pipes freeze. That said, the ones we mentioned here do cover the overall gist.

How To Fix Frozen AC Pipes?

Now that you know some of the key reasons why your AC pipe may freeze, let’s explore the steps to fix frozen AC pipes. While the specific process may vary, you can still follow some key steps. Some of these key steps include:

1. Turn Off The AC

The first step in fixing the frozen AC pipes is turning off the AC itself. It does not matter what you do next, but you must turn off the AC before you do anything else. This is because turning off the device while doing maintenance protects both you and the machine. Furthermore, it also allows the ice to thaw naturally. This prevents the air conditioner from further harm.

2. Check Refrigerants Levels

After turning off the AC, you should check the levels of refrigerants. This is because low refrigerant levels often cause pipe freezing. If the refrigerant level is low, you should contact an expert to add refrigerants. Before you decide to add refrigerants, you should contact an expert to check for leaks and fix them. Once you add sufficient refrigerants, it can efficiently take in and release heat without freezing the coil.

3. Improve Airflow

As mentioned, improper airflow is one of the key causes of frozen AC pipes. Therefore, improving airflow is one of the best ways you can prevent the freezing of AC pipes. For this, you can start by changing dirty air filters and ensuring that the blower fan works correctly and does not block the vents. Doing so ensures that the evaporator coil can absorb enough warm air to keep condensation from freezing on the pipe.

4. Clean Coils

Another thing you can do to fix frozen AC is to clean the coils. The evaporator and condenser are frequent. This is because, over time, the evaporator and condenser coils can get insulated, making it difficult to collect and release heat efficiently. Cleaning the coils makes them free of dirt and debris, further enhancing their performance. Furthermore, doing this also allows for efficient heat distribution of the AC and reduces the risk of AC pipes freezing.

5. Check Thermostat

Sometimes, the matter of preventing AC pipes from freezing is not about the AC itself but other installations in the house, such as the thermostat. A thermostat is a device that is responsible for controlling the overall temperature of the house, including the ones around AC. Therefore, you should check that the AC is being cycled thoroughly and regularly by the thermostat to maintain the desired temperature. To prevent any mishaps, such as frozen AC pipes, you should ensure that your thermostat is functioning properly and have it fixed or replaced should there be any need.

6. Inspect Expansion Valve

An AC expansion valve controls the amount of refrigerant entering the evaporators and reduces its temperature for efficient heat absorption and cooling of the surrounding air. Excessive refrigerant can enter if the expansion valve is malfunctioning or stuck open. Should this happen, it can trigger many issues with the AC, including but not limited to frozen pipes. Should this issue occur, you should allow a specialist to examine the expansion valve and address any damage.

7. Consider Outdoor Temperature

Not all causes of frozen pipes are associated with machines and devices; sometimes, the fault lies in ambient temperatures. Therefore, one of the first things you should check out when your AC pipes are frozen is the ambient temperature. If the surrounding temperature is below freezing, which is a common occurrence during winter in Toronto, it can lead to frozen AC pipes. To prevent freezing issues from occurring because of ambient temperature, you can insulate the AC pipes while keeping the surrounding temperature above freezing through the proper use of a thermostat.

8. Test Defrost Control

Fixing frozen pipes is not just about considering outdoor temperature but also about making the best of what you already have. One such method of fixing the frozen pipes that come with every AC is its defrosting feature. When you enable the defrosting mechanism on the AC, it removes the ice buildup on the evaporator coils to maintain efficient airflow and consistent cooling. However, if your defrost mechanism is broken, it can hamper your functioning. Therefore, it is a good idea to test the defrost control occasionally to ensure that you can defrost your AC pipes and coils whenever necessary.

9. Seal Leaky Ducts

Along with defrost control, you should also check for leaky ducts as well. This is because when a duct is leaky, it reduces the airflow over the evaporator coils. This can further lead to a drop in coil temperature, further resulting in the refrigerants inside the AC freezing. All of these result in frozen AC pipes. Because of these reasons, you should always check if the AC ducts are leaky, and if they are, seal them immediately. Doing so also keeps the airflow constant.

10. Clear Drainage

Last but not least, one of the best ways to fix and prevent frozen AC pipes is to clear AC drainage. Water accumulation around the evaporator coils may be due to blocked drainage of the AC system, which leads to frozen pipes. All excess moisture mixes with the low temperatures of Toronto winters to freeze the coils. The good news here is that by clearing AC drainage every once in a while, you can prevent this event from occurring.

These are some of the key ways you can fix frozen AC pipes. Although this list is not exhaustive, it does cover the overall gist regarding the methods you can implement to prevent and fix the AC pipes from being frozen.

Why Choose Everest Drain & Plumbing To Fix Frozen AC Pipes In Toronto?

After having a general gist regarding what causes frozen AC pipes and some of the general ways to fix them, you may have queries regarding whom you should call in Toronto should you fail to fix them yourself. One of the best variants for you is Everest Drain & Plumbing. But why should you address Everest Drain & Plumbing to repair frozen AC pipes in Toronto? Among the main reasons are:

• Our staff has enormous experience in finding and repairing problems with AC pipes efficiently;
• We provide a wide range of services starting from leak detection and up to insulation of pipes for smooth operation of your air conditioner and non-occurrence of problems in the future.
• We offer 24/7 emergency support for quick response to frozen AC pipe problems and minimize further damage and discomfort.
• We locate the source of the problem of frozen pipes with advanced technologies and provide long-lasting, dependable solutions.
• Our licensed and insured technicians assure the best and trustworthy services every time.
• Competitive prices without compromising on quality make frozen AC pipe repair and maintenance affordable.
• Regular maintenance plans are available to prevent future issues and keep your AC system performing optimally.

Conclusion

Canada and, by extension, Toronto are located around the North of the globe. Because of this location, the temperature of this region can regularly fall below freezing. This can further prompt problems such as frozen AC pipes. However, it is not just the temperature that causes frozen pipes. There can be several other causes, such as low refrigerant levels, poor airflow, faulty thermostat, and dirty coils. Luckily, there are many ways to fix frozen AC pipes. Some of these methods include turning off the AC, improving airflow, cleaning coils, and testing defrost control.

In this blog, we discussed some of the key ways in which AC pipes can freeze and how to deal with frozen AC pipes. We hope you found this helpful. If you seek further insights into the various other aspects of plumbing and drainage, do check out some of our other blogs. And if you want the best services to fix frozen AC pipes in Toronto, Canada, look no further than Everest Drain & Plumbing. Thank you for reading till the end.

FAQs on Frozen AC Pipes in Toronto

1. Should I turn off the AC if the pipes are frozen?

There are many things you should and can do if your AC pipes are frozen; among them, turning the AC off is one of the essential things you must do. Continuing to run the AC when its pipes are frozen can damage the compressor and other components.

2. How long should I leave my AC off when frozen?

The specific duration for leaving the AC off depends on your individual circumstances. However, in general, you should leave it off for a minimum of 24 hours, or at least the frozen ice has melted.

3. Can a frozen AC cause damage?

A frozen AC can cause serious damage, particularly to the compressor and internal components. Running it while frozen may lead to costly repairs or even the need for replacement parts.

4. How to prevent AC from freezing?

Preventing AC freezing involves regular maintenance, ensuring proper airflow, keeping filters clean, and sealing any duct leaks to keep air moving smoothly across the coils.

5. Does turning the heat on help to unfreeze the AC?

Turning on the heat can help melt the ice faster by warming the coils. However, it is best to use low heat and monitor the system to avoid causing any sudden temperature shifts.

6. Can I fix a frozen AC myself?

Yes, you can fix a frozen AC yourself in most circumstances. However, if the freezing reoccurs or if you cannot determine the root cause, you must call an expert to fix the frozen AC pipes.

7. How much does it cost to unfreeze AC?

The cost to fix frozen AC pipes in Canada varies based on the specific issues and their complexity. Generally, basic maintenance costs are between CAD 100 and CAD 250. If low refrigerant levels are the problem, a refrigerant recharge can cost between CAD 200 and CAD 600. For more significant repairs, such as replacing a compressor or fixing refrigerant line leaks, costs can exceed CAD 500, depending on the AC model and service provider.