Simple Steps for Fixing a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air emitting from your supply registers abruptly feel warm? Inspect the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This piece is housed in your furnace or air handler, if you rely on a heat pump. If there’s water seeping onto the floor, there might be crystals on the evaporator coil. The AC coil within the unit might have frosted over. You’ll need to melt it before it can cool your residence again.

Here’s the things you should do. If you can’t get the coil defrosted, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to support you with air conditioning repair in the U.S. backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*

Step 1: Turn the Air Conditioning Off and the Blower On

To get started—move the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This prevents chilled refrigerant from going to the outdoor compressor, which could damage it and cause a pricey repair.

Next, switch the fan from “auto” to “on.” This produces heated airflow over the frozen coils to help them defrost faster. Make sure to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t start a cooling cycle.

It may take less than an hour or most of the day for the ice to thaw, depending on the level of the ice. While you’re waiting, watch the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is clogged, it could create a mess as the ice melts, likely resulting in water damage.

Step 2: Troubleshoot the Situation

Bad airflow is a leading explanation for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to troubleshoot the situation:

• • Check the filter. Inadequate airflow through a dirty filter could be the problem. Look at and replace the filter each month or as soon as you notice a layer of dust.

• • Open any closed supply vents. Your home’s supply registers should be open all the time. Sealing vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which could lead it to freeze.

• • Look for blocked return vents. These usually don’t come with adjustable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still cover them.

• • Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent suspect, your system may also be low on refrigerant. Depending on its age, it may use Freon®. Insufficient refrigerant requires pro assistance from a certified HVAC tech. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Specialist at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

If low airflow doesn’t appear to be the issue, then something else is causing your AC freeze up. If this is what’s going on, just thawing it out won’t take care of the problem. The evaporator coil will possibly continually freeze unless you repair the root symptom. Contact an HVAC professional to address problems with your air conditioner, which can include:

• • Refrigerant leak: AC units recycle refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run out. Not enough refrigerant signals a leak somewhere. Only a specialist can locate the leak, mend it, and recharge the air conditioning to the proper level.

• • Dirty evaporator coil: If dust accumulates on the coil, air can’t reach it, and it’s apt to freeze.

• • Broken blower: A broken motor or unbalanced fan could halt airflow over the evaporator coil.

When your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified pros at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to repair the situation. We have lots of experience helping homeowners check their air conditioners, and we’re sure we can get things running again fast. Contact us at 866-397-3787 to schedule air conditioning repair in the U.S. with us right away.