Does the air coming from your supply registers unexpectedly feel not cold enough? Look at the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This part is located inside your furnace or air handler, if you use a heat pump. If there’s water leaking onto the floor, there may be crystals on the evaporator coil. The AC coil in the equipment might have frosted over. You’ll need to melt it before it can cool your residence again.
Here’s the steps you should take. If you can’t get the coil back to normal, Strand Brothers Service Experts is here to help with air conditioning repair in Austin 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 prevents chilly refrigerant from flowing to the outdoor compressor, which could hurt it and lead to an expensive repair.
After that, switch the fan from “auto” to “on.” This produces warm 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 trigger a cooling cycle.
It can take under an hour or the majority of the day for the ice to melt, depending on the extent of the accumulation. While you’re waiting, check the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it can create a mess as the ice melts, possibly resulting in water damage.
Step 2: Troubleshoot the Problem
Bad airflow is a main reason for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to troubleshoot the situation:
- Check the filter. Insufficient airflow through a dirty filter could be the issue. Look at and replace the filter once a month or immediately when you observe a layer of dust.
- Open any sealed supply vents. Your residence’s supply registers should stay open always. Closing vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which could cause it to freeze.
- Be on the lookout for obstructed return vents. These often don’t use shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still obstruct them.
- Low refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent cause, your air conditioner might also have insufficient refrigerant. Depending on its age, it may have Freon®. Low refrigerant requires skilled assistance from a certified HVAC specialist. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Expert at Strand Brothers Service Experts
If insufficient airflow doesn’t appear to be the issue, then another issue is leading your AC freeze up. If this is what’s occurring, simply defrosting it won’t repair the issue. The evaporator coil is likely to freeze again unless you fix the underlying cause. Contact an HVAC specialist to look for problems with your air conditioner, which may include:
- Refrigerant leak: AC units recycle refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Insufficient refrigerant is a sign of a leak somewhere. Only a tech can find the leak, mend it, and recharge the air conditioner to the appropriate level.
- Grimy evaporator coil: If dirt builds up on the coil, air can’t get to it, and it’s liable to freeze.
- Broken blower: A bad motor or unbalanced fan may stop airflow over the evaporator coil.
The next time your AC freezes up, get in touch with the ACE-certified professionals at Strand Brothers Service Experts to take care of the issue. We have lots of experience helping homeowners troubleshoot their air conditioners, and we’re certain we can get things operating again in no time. Contact us at 512-592-3072 to get air conditioning repair in Austin with us right away.
---
*Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.