Quick Steps for Fixing a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air emitting from your supply registers suddenly appear not cold enough? Look at the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This piece is situated in your furnace or air handler, if you use a heat pump. If there’s water seeping onto the floor, there might be ice on the evaporator coil. The AC coil inside the equipment could have frozen. 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 frost-free, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to help with air conditioning repair in the U.S. that includes a a 100% satisfaction guarantee.* 

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

First things first—set the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This prevents cold refrigerant from flowing to the outdoor compressor, which could harm it and result in an expensive repair. 

Next, move the fan from “auto” to “on.” This creates hot airflow over the crystallized coils to make them defrost faster. Double check to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t start a cooling cycle. 

It may take under an hour or the better part of a day for the ice to defrost, depending on the amount of the buildup. While you’re waiting, keep an eye on the condensate pan below the AC unit. If the drain line is clogged, it might create a mess as the ice melts, likely creating water damage. 

Step 2: Diagnose the Trouble 

Bad airflow is a leading reason for an AC to frost over. Here’s how to figure out the situation: 

  • Exmaine the filter. Inadequate airflow through a dusty filter could be to blame. Inspect and put in a new filter each month or immediately when you observe a layer of dust. 
  • Open any shut supply vents. Your house’s supply registers should be open constantly. Shutting vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which can cause it to freeze. 
  • Check for obstructed return vents. These usually don’t come with shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still block them. 
  • Insufficient refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most common suspect, your system could also be low on refrigerant. Depending on its age, it may use Freon®. Insufficient refrigerant calls for pro help from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Contact an HVAC Expert at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 

If insufficient airflow doesn’t feel like the issue, then another issue is causing your AC frost over. If this is what’s going on, merely thawing it out won’t fix the problem. The evaporator coil will possibly continually freeze unless you repair the main symptom. Call an HVAC pro to address problems with your air conditioner, which can include: 

  • Refrigerant leak: AC units continuously use refrigerant, so it shouldn’t get used up. Low refrigerant means there’s a leak somewhere. Only a tech can pinpoint the leak, mend it, and recharge the system to the appropriate concentration. 
  • Dirty evaporator coil: If dust collects on the coil, air can’t get to it, and it’s likely to freeze. 
  • Broken blower: A bad motor or unbalanced fan may stop airflow over the evaporator coil. 

When your AC freezes up, get in touch with the ACE-certified professionals at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to fix the issue. 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 get air conditioning repair in the U.S. with us today.