Simple Steps to Repair a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air coming from your supply registers unexpectedly appear warm? Inspect the indoor part of your air conditioner. This piece is situated inside your furnace or air handler, if you have a heat pump. If there’s water dripping onto the floor, there might be crystals on the evaporator coil. The AC coil within the equipment may have frozen over. You’ll need to thaw it before it can cool your home 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 help with air conditioning repair in the U.S. backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*

Step 1: Set the Air Conditioning to Off and the Blower On

To begin—switch the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This stops chilled refrigerant from flowing to the outdoor compressor, which could harm it and result in a costly repair.

Then, switch the fan from “auto” to “on.” This produces heated airflow over the crystallized coils to force them to melt faster. Make sure to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t trigger a cooling cycle.

It could take not more than an hour or the majority of the day for the ice to melt, depending on the degree of the accumulation. While you’re waiting, keep an eye on the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it might spill over as the ice melts, likely causing water damage.

Step 2: Diagnose the Problem

Low airflow is a main cause for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to get to the bottom of the problem:

• • Inspect the filter. Insufficient airflow through a clogged filter could be to blame. Inspect and replace the filter once a month or once you notice a layer of dust.

• • Open any sealed supply vents. Your residence’s supply registers should remain open constantly. Shutting vents reduces airflow over the evaporator coil, which might lead it to freeze.

• • Check for blocked return vents. These often don’t have shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still block them.

• • Insufficient refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most common suspect, your air conditioner may also be low on refrigerant. Depending on when it was installed, it may have Freon®. Low refrigerant calls for skilled attention from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Expert at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

If poor airflow doesn’t feel like the trouble, then something else is leading your AC frost over. If this is the case, merely defrosting it won’t repair the issue. The evaporator coil will possibly freeze again unless you fix the main issue. Contact an HVAC pro to look for problems with your air conditioner, which can include:

• • Refrigerant leak: AC units keep using refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run out. Low refrigerant indicates a leak somewhere. Only a pro can locate the leak, fix it, and recharge the system to the appropriate concentration.

• • Grimy evaporator coil: If grime collects on the coil, air can’t get to it, and it’s liable to freeze.

• • Nonfunctional blower: A bad motor or unbalanced fan might halt airflow over the evaporator coil.

If your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified professionals at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to repair the issue. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners check their air conditioners, and we’re sure we can get things operating again quickly. Contact us at 866-397-3787 to book air conditioning repair in the U.S. with us now.