How to Fix a Frozen Air Conditioner 

Summer’s coming (we promise) and here’s an often cited scenario with the average homeowner: They’re relaxing in their living room, minding their own business, enjoying a bowl of popcorn and watching their favorite TV show, when they notice that awful sound; drip… drip… drip. They look over to see the cat licking at a puddle that’s slowly forming on the kitchen floor. Suddenly: Anxiety, stress, and that ”oh brother!” feeling. What caused the leak?; water heater, leaky toilet, shower, faucet? Nope – the air conditioning equipment may be frozen. This can strike anywhere, from the U.S. to Thailand, regardless of summer heat.

Why Air Conditioners Freeze

When a central air conditioner freezes up, what actually freezes is the condenser unit’s evaporator coil. This component of the air conditioner transfers (evaporates) heat from the inside to the outside of your the U.S. area home. There are two primary reasons the evaporator coil may freeze:

1. 1. Restricted air flow

2. 2. Low refrigerant

Either way, the result is that the air conditioner’s evaporator coil will be unable to properly dissipate heat, and in effect ‘overcools’ itself. The impact of this super-cooling is condensation (that’s water formation), and eventually ice forms from that condensation as it cools below the freezing point. In other words, the A/C just turned into an old-school icebox.

What Should You Do When Your A/C Freezes?

• • Turn the system completely off at the thermostat, and do not increase the thermostat temperature as a way to melt the frost on the coils. Just make sure the A/C system is completely OFF.

• • Check to ensure that the airflow around your system is unrestricted. Replace the furnace or air handler’s filter along with any return air filters. Open all the registers completely and confirm that they are not impeded by furniture or drapes.

• • Call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. The air conditioning system needs to be professionally inspected to ensure there are no refrigerant leaks or damage to the equipment. Simply schedule a Performance Inspection or Repair Diagnostic online, or call to talk to a live person right away.

What Does it Cost to Repair?

This can lead to an expensive repair. When your unit freezes over it can lead to damage to the compressor. Replacing your compressor could cost as much as a downpayment on a high efficiency model. In fact, many homeowners are forced to choose between installing a new system vs repairing the old model. If you move fast, follow the instructions, and call a ACE-certified technician, you stand a better chance of getting a less expensive repair.

Your technician will quickly analyze the problem and how to avoid the issue from repeating in the future. If a leak exists (and that is rare, but possible), the leak has to be repaired or the unit will likely freeze again.