Q: Why might my system freezing up?

A: Dirty filters and restricted airflow are possibly the reason why your system is freezing.
Low refrigerant:  Weak solder joints, friction/ vibration, leaking valves, loose fittings. Age, nature and location of leak are determining factors on whether to have the system repaired or replaced.

Dirty evaporator coil: You lose airflow, slowly enough that you probably would not realize it until it freezes up or is not cooling adequately.

Defective blower motor or relay: A blower motor not running at the proper speed or not running at all. It can also be intermittent, starting at full speed and slowing down after it heats up. Or a relay could cause it to start one time and not the next.

Q: When replacing the outdoor unit, should the indoor unit also be replaced?

A: Most likely yes, and here is why:

Matched Systems: Outdoor units are designed to work with matched indoor units for optimum efficiency. This matched system is a coordinated, top-performance team that ensures dependability. Outdoor units may "work" with indoor units other than those for which they have been designed; however, the result is a definite compromise in system performance.

Design Advances: Indoor blower coil units have undergone numerous design advances — especially in the areas of air handling performance, filtering efficiency and operating sound levels. A new outdoor unit also includes the latest advances.

Higher Efficiency: The cooling/heating efficiency ratings that are advertised for an air conditioner or heat pump are based on their performance as matched systems. While changing only the outdoor unit may result in improved efficiency compared to the old system, it will not be as efficient as it was designed to be and your savings will be lower than with a matched system.

Age: If the outdoor unit is 10 years old, likely the indoor unit is just as old and has been subjected to the same amount of wear and tear.

Warranty: A new unit also gives you a new product warranty. Replacing the indoor unit at the same time as the outdoor unit results in peace of mind, knowing the new warranty covers the entire system.

Bargain: At first glance, replacing only an outdoor unit may appear to be a bargain. But when you consider the lower cooling and heating efficiencies, decreased reliability and high cost of ownership that results, it's not such a bargain. Replacing an entire system costs more, but you get more efficiency, reliability and comfort.