Fast Steps for Fixing a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air flowing from your supply registers unexpectedly seem not cold enough? Inspect the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This piece is located inside your furnace or air handler, if you rely on a heat pump. If there’s water dripping onto the floor, there might be frost on the evaporator coil. The AC coil within the system might have frozen over. You’ll need to defrost it before it can cool your residence again. 

Here’s the steps you should take. If you can’t get the coil defrosted, Strand Brothers Service Experts is here to assist you with air conditioning repair in Austin upheld by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.* 

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

To get started—move the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This halts chilly refrigerant from moving to the outdoor compressor, which could harm it and cause a pricey repair. 

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

It can take under an hour or most of the day for the ice to melt, depending on the degree of the buildup. While you’re waiting, watch the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it can spill over as the ice melts, potentially creating water damage. 

Step 2: Diagnose the Issue 

Poor airflow is a chief cause for an AC to frost over. Here’s how to troubleshoot the situation: 

• Inspect the filter. Insufficient airflow through a clogged filter could be the problem. Inspect and replace the filter monthly or immediately when you notice a layer of dust. 
• Open any shut supply vents. Your house’s supply registers should stay open all the time. Shutting vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which may lead it to freeze. 
• Look for covered return vents. These often don’t use shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still block them. 
• Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent culprit, your system might also not have enough refrigerant. Depending on how old it is, it may rely on Freon®. Not enough refrigerant calls for professional attention from a certified HVAC tech. H2: Step 3: Contact an HVAC Professional at Strand Brothers Service Experts 

If poor airflow doesn’t appear to be the issue, then another issue is leading your AC freeze. If this is what’s going on, merely thawing it out won’t repair the problem. The evaporator coil will probably freeze again unless you fix the root symptom. Contact an HVAC tech to look for issues with your air conditioner, which might include: 

• Refrigerant leak: AC units keep using refrigerant, so it shouldn’t get used up. Not enough refrigerant means there’s a leak somewhere. Only a tech can pinpoint the leak, repair it, and recharge the system to the proper amount. 
• Dirty evaporator coil: If dust accumulates on the coil, air can’t get to it, and it’s likely to freeze. 
• Broken blower: A bad motor or unbalanced fan can stop airflow over the evaporator coil. 

When your AC freezes up, call on the ACE-certified techs at Strand Brothers Service Experts to repair the issue. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners troubleshoot their air conditioners, and we’re sure we can get things running again quickly. Contact us at 512-592-3072 to get air conditioning repair in Austin with us now.