Fast Steps to Fix a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air flowing from your supply registers abruptly seem not cold enough? Inspect the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This piece is located inside 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 may have frosted over. You’ll need to melt it before it can cool your house again. 

Here’s the steps you should take. If you can’t get the coil frost-free, Calverley Service Experts is here to help with air conditioning repair in Fort Worth upheld by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.* 

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

To get started—move the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This stops chilled refrigerant from going to the outdoor compressor, which could harm it and result in a pricey repair. 

Next, switch the fan from “auto” to “on.” This makes hot airflow over the frozen coils to make them melt faster. Make sure to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t start a cooling cycle. 

It can take not more than an hour or the majority of the day for the ice to melt, depending on the degree of the accumulation. 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, possibly creating water damage. 

Step 2: Diagnose the Issue 

Not enough airflow is a primary 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 change the filter monthly or immediately when you observe a layer of dust. 
• Open any shut supply vents. Your residence’s supply registers should stay open constantly. Shutting vents reduces airflow over the evaporator coil, which may lead it to freeze. 
• Look for covered return vents. These often don’t use adjustable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still obstruct them. 
• Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent culprit, your air conditioner may also not have enough refrigerant. Depending on how old it is, it may have Freon®. Not enough refrigerant calls for professional attention from a certified HVAC tech. H2: Step 3: Contact an HVAC Professional at Calverley 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, simply defrosting it won’t repair the issue. The evaporator coil will probably keep freezing unless you fix the root symptom. Contact an HVAC professional to look for issues with your air conditioner, which might include: 

• Refrigerant leak: AC units keep using refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Not enough refrigerant means there’s a leak somewhere. Only a pro can locate the leak, repair it, and recharge the air conditioner to the appropriate amount. 
• Dirty evaporator coil: If dust accumulates on the coil, air can’t get to it, and it’s liable to freeze. 
• Broken blower: A bad motor or unbalanced fan can stop airflow over the evaporator coil. 

The next time your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified specialists at Calverley Service Experts to repair the issue. We have lots of experience helping homeowners diagnose their air conditioners, and we’re sure we can get things working again fast. Contact us at 817-380-5647 to schedule air conditioning repair in Fort Worth with us now.