Fast Steps to Fix a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air flowing from your supply registers abruptly appear warm? Look at the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This piece is housed in your furnace or air handler, if you have a heat pump. If there’s water leaking onto the floor, there could be ice on the evaporator coil. The AC coil within the unit could have frozen over. You’ll need to melt it before it can cool your house again.

Here’s the steps you should take. 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. upheld by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*

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

To begin—move the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This halts chilly refrigerant from flowing to the outdoor compressor, which could harm it and cause an expensive repair.

After that, move the fan from “auto” to “on.” This produces warm airflow over the frosty coils to help them thaw faster. Make sure to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t start a cooling cycle.

It could take not more than an hour or the majority of the day for the ice to defrost, depending on the degree of the ice. While you’re waiting, check the condensate pan below the AC unit. If the drain line is blocked, it could overflow as the ice melts, possibly causing water damage.

Step 2: Pinpoint the Issue

Poor airflow is a primary explanation for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to troubleshoot the issue:

• • Inspect the filter. Poor airflow through a dirty filter could be the culprit. Inspect and change the filter monthly or once you notice a layer of dust.

• • Open any sealed supply vents. Your home’s supply registers should be open constantly. Shutting vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which can result in it freezing.

• • Look for blocked return vents. These often don’t use shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still obstruct them.

• • Insufficient refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent suspect, your air conditioning could also be low on refrigerant. Depending on when it was installed, it may rely on Freon®. Insufficient refrigerant requires skilled assistance from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Contact an HVAC Pro at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

If low airflow doesn’t seem to be the trouble, then another problem is making your AC freeze up. If this is the case, simply letting it melt won’t repair the problem. The evaporator coil will possibly freeze again unless you fix the underlying problem. Get in touch with an HVAC tech to look for issues with your air conditioner, which might include:

• • Refrigerant leak: AC units recycle refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Not enough refrigerant indicates a leak somewhere. Only a technician can pinpoint the leak, mend it, and recharge the air conditioner to the appropriate amount.

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

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

When your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified techs at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to fix the trouble. We have lots of experience helping homeowners troubleshoot their air conditioners, and we’re sure we can get things working again quickly. Contact us at 866-397-3787 to schedule air conditioning repair in the U.S. with us today.