3 Fast Ways to Repair a Frozen Air Conditioner
Does the air flowing from your supply registers suddenly seem warm? Check the indoor part of your air conditioner. This piece is housed inside your furnace or air handler, if you rely on a heat pump. If there’s water dripping onto the floor, there may be frost on the evaporator coil. The AC coil within the system may have frozen over. You’ll need to thaw it before it can cool your house again.
Here’s what to do. If you can’t get the coil back to normal, Stevenson Service Experts is here to support you with air conditioning repair in Dayton backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*
Step 1: Set the Air Conditioning to Off and the Blower On
To begin—set the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This stops chilled refrigerant from going to the outdoor compressor, which could hurt it and lead to an expensive repair.
Next, switch the fan from “auto” to “on.” This creates heated airflow over the frosty coils to help them defrost faster. Make sure to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t start a cooling cycle.
It could take under an hour or the majority of the day for the ice to melt, depending on the amount of the accumulation. While you’re waiting, watch the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is blocked, it could cause a mess as the ice melts, possibly resulting in water damage.
Step 2: Troubleshoot the Issue
Bad airflow is a primary cause for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to get to the bottom of the situation:
- Check the filter. Low airflow through a filthy filter could be to blame. Check and replace the filter monthly or as soon as you see dust accumulation.
- Open any sealed supply vents. Your home’s supply registers should remain open all the time. Closing vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which could result in it freezing.
- Look for obstructed return vents. These typically don’t come with adjustable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still cover them.
- Low refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most typical culprit, your air conditioner may also have insufficient refrigerant. Depending on its age, it may have Freon®. Low refrigerant necessitates skilled assistance from a certified HVAC specialist. H2: Step 3: Get in Touch with an HVAC Tech at Stevenson Service Experts
If inadequate airflow doesn’t feel like the trouble, then another issue is leading your AC freeze. If this is what’s going on, just letting it melt won’t take care of the trouble. The evaporator coil is likely to freeze again unless you take care of the underlying symptom. Call an HVAC tech to address issues with your air conditioner, which can include:
- Refrigerant leak: AC units continuously use refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Insufficient refrigerant means there’s a leak somewhere. Only a technician can pinpoint the leak, fix it, and recharge the air conditioner to the correct level.
- Dirty evaporator coil: If dirt collects on the coil, air can’t reach it, and it’s likely to freeze.
- Malfunctioning blower: A faulty motor or unbalanced fan can stop airflow over the evaporator coil.
If your AC freezes up, call on the ACE-certified Experts at Stevenson Service Experts to fix the trouble. We have years of experience helping homeowners check their air conditioners, and we’re certain we can get things running again quickly. Contact us at 937-503-7896 to get air conditioning repair in Dayton with us now.
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