How to Fix a Frozen Air Conditioner
Summer’s coming (as hard as it is to believe right now) and here’s an often cited scenario with the average homeowner: They’re sitting in their house, minding their own business, enjoying a bowl of popcorn and watching their favorite TV show, when they notice that awful sound; drip… drip… drip. They turn their head to see the cat licking at a puddle that’s steadily forming on the bathroom floor. Suddenly: Worry, stress, and that ”oh brother!” feeling. What caused the leak?; water heater, leaky toilet, shower, faucet? Not necessarily – the central air conditioner is frozen solid. This can happen anywhere, from the U.S. to Thailand, regardless of climate.
Why Air Conditioners Freeze
When a central air conditioner freezes up, what actually freezes is the condenser unit’s evaporator coil. This component of the air conditioner transfers (evaporates) heat from the inside to the outside of your the U.S. area home. The two main reasons why the evaporator coil may freeze:
- Airflow restriction
- Insufficient refrigerant
Either way, the result is that the air conditioner’s evaporator coil does not properly transfer heat, and consequently ‘overcools’ itself. The net effect of this super-cooling is condensation (that’s water formation), and over time ice forms from that condensation as it cools below the freezing point. In other words, the A/C just turned into an old-school icebox.
What Might You Do When Your A/C Freezes?
- Turn the system completely off at the thermostat, and do not increase the thermostat temperature as a way to melt the frost on the coils. Just make sure the A/C system is completely OFF.
- Check to ensure that the airflow around your system is unrestricted. Replace the furnace or air handler’s filter and replace any return air filters. Open all the registers completely and verify that they are not obstructed by furniture or drapery.
- Call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. The air conditioning system needs to be inspected by an ACE-certified professional to ensure there are no refrigerant leaks or damage to the equipment. Simply schedule a Performance Inspection or Repair Diagnostic online, or call to talk to a live person right away.
What Does it Cost to Repair?
This can become a pricey repair. When your AC ices over it can lead to a compressor replacement. Replacing your compressor can cost as much as a downpayment on a brand new air conditioner. Unfortunately, many homeowners are forced to decide between installing a new system vs repairing the old unit. If you act quickly and call a ACE-certified technician, you have better odds of having a less expensive repair.
Your technician will diagnose the situation and how to avoid the issue from repeating in the future. If a leak exists (and that is rare, but possible), the leak has to be repaired or the unit will likely freeze again.
