3 Easy Steps for Fixing a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air emitting from your supply registers abruptly feel not cold enough? Look at the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This component is located within your furnace or air handler, if you have a heat pump. If there’s water leaking onto the floor, there may be frost on the evaporator coil. The AC coil inside the system could have frosted over. You’ll need to thaw it before it can cool your home again.

Here’s what to do. If you can’t get the coil frost-free, Falso Service Experts is here to assist you with air conditioning repair in East Syracuse backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*

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

To begin—set the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This halts chilly refrigerant from moving to the outdoor compressor, which could damage it and lead to a pricey repair.

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

It could take less than an hour or most of the day for the ice to thaw, depending on the level of the accumulation. While you’re waiting, keep an eye on the condensate pan under the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it might spill over as the ice melts, potentially creating water damage.

Step 2: Pinpoint the Problem

Low airflow is a main cause for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to figure out the issue:

Exmaine the filter. Insufficient airflow through a dusty filter could be to blame. Inspect and put in a new filter each month or immediately when you notice dust accumulation.
Open any sealed supply vents. Your house’s supply registers should be open all the time. Sealing vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which could result in it freezing.
Look for obstructed return vents. These typically don’t use shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still obstruct them.
Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most common culprit, your air conditioner could also be low on refrigerant. Depending on when it was installed, it may use Freon®. Insufficient refrigerant calls for skilled help from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Contact an HVAC Professional at Falso Service Experts

If low airflow doesn’t feel like the problem, then something else is leading your AC freeze up. If this is what’s occurring, just defrosting it won’t fix the trouble. The evaporator coil will probably freeze again unless you fix the main issue. Call an HVAC tech to address troubles with your air conditioner, which can include:

Refrigerant leak: AC units continuously use refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Low refrigerant is a sign of a leak somewhere. Only a pro can find the leak, repair it, and recharge the air conditioner to the appropriate amount.
Filthy evaporator coil: If dirt accumulates on the coil, air can’t reach it, and it’s likely to freeze.
Malfunctioning blower: A defective motor or unbalanced fan can prevent airflow over the evaporator coil.

If your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified pros at Falso Service Experts to take care of the problem. We have years of experience helping homeowners diagnose their air conditioners, and we’re sure we can get things running again quickly. Contact us at 315-313-6531 to get air conditioning repair in East Syracuse with us today.

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