Does the air emitting from your supply registers unexpectedly seem warm? Inspect the indoor part of your air conditioner. This component is located within your furnace or air handler, if you rely on a heat pump. If there’s water dripping onto the floor, there may be crystals on the evaporator coil. The AC coil inside the equipment may have frozen. You’ll need to thaw it before it can cool your residence again.
Here’s the steps you should take. If you can’t get the coil defrosted, Strogen's Service Experts is here to help with air conditioning repair in Rochester upheld by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*
Step 1: Set the Air Conditioning to Off and the Blower On
To begin—move the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This stops chilly refrigerant from flowing to the outdoor compressor, which could damage it and result in an expensive repair.
After that, adjust the fan from “auto” to “on.” This produces heated airflow over the crystallized coils to make them melt faster. Remember to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t begin a cooling cycle.
It can take less than an hour or the majority of the day for the ice to defrost, depending on the level of the buildup. While you’re waiting, check the condensate pan under the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it may spill over as the ice melts, likely causing water damage.
Step 2: Troubleshoot the Issue
Bad airflow is a prime cause for an AC to frost over. Here’s how to get to the bottom of the issue:
- Exmaine the filter. Insufficient airflow through a dirty filter could be the culprit. Inspect and change the filter monthly or as soon as you notice dust accumulation.
- Open any closed supply vents. Your house’s supply registers should be open all the time. Sealing vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which may result in it freezing.
- Check for obstructed return vents. These often don’t use shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still cover them.
- Insufficient refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent culprit, your air conditioner might also have insufficient refrigerant. Depending on when it was replaced, it may have Freon®. Not enough refrigerant requires professional help from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Pro at Strogen's Service Experts
If inadequate airflow doesn’t seem to be the trouble, then something else is making your AC frost over. If this is what’s going on, simply letting it melt won’t take care of the problem. The evaporator coil is likely to keep freezing unless you fix the underlying symptom. Get in touch with an HVAC pro to check for issues with your air conditioner, which can include:
- Refrigerant leak: AC units continuously use refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Not enough refrigerant means there’s a leak somewhere. Only a technician can pinpoint the leak, mend it, and recharge the air conditioning to the correct concentration.
- Filthy evaporator coil: If dust builds up on the coil, air can’t flow over it, and it’s likely to freeze.
- Broken blower: A faulty motor or unbalanced fan can halt airflow over the evaporator coil.
If your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified technicians at Strogen's Service Experts to take care of the trouble. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners troubleshoot their air conditioners, and we’re confident we can get things working again fast. Contact us at 603-923-4570 to schedule air conditioning repair in Rochester with us right away.
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