3 Quick Steps for Repairing a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air emitting from your supply registers unexpectedly appear not cold enough? Look at the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This piece is housed inside your furnace or air handler, if you have a heat pump. If there’s water leaking onto the floor, there might be frost on the evaporator coil. The AC coil in the system may have frozen. You’ll need to defrost it before it can cool your house again.

Here’s the things you should do. If you can’t get the coil back to normal, Wesley Wood Service Experts is here to help with air conditioning repair in West Chester backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*

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

First things first—switch the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This stops cold refrigerant from flowing to the outdoor compressor, which could hurt it and lead to a pricey 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 start a cooling cycle.

It can take not more than an hour or the better part of a day for the ice to melt, depending on the amount of the buildup. While you’re waiting, watch the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is clogged, it may create a mess as the ice melts, possibly resulting in water damage.

Step 2: Pinpoint the Issue

Not enough airflow is a prime cause for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to get to the bottom of the issue:

  • Check the filter. Poor airflow through a filthy filter could be the issue. Check and put in a new filter each month or as soon as you see dust accumulation.
  • Open any shut supply vents. Your house’s supply registers should stay open constantly. Closing vents decreases airflow over the evaporator coil, which can lead it to freeze.
  • Look for covered return vents. These typically don’t come with adjustable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still cover them.
  • Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most typical suspect, your air conditioner may also have insufficient refrigerant. Depending on how old it is, it may use Freon®. Low refrigerant requires pro support from a certified HVAC tech. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Tech at Wesley Wood Service Experts

If low airflow doesn’t feel like the problem, then another issue is making your AC freeze. If this is what’s going on, simply defrosting it won’t repair the problem. The evaporator coil will probably keep freezing unless you repair the root problem. Get in touch with an HVAC technician to look for issues with your air conditioner, which can include:

  • Refrigerant leak: AC units keep using refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run out. Not enough refrigerant indicates a leak somewhere. Only a pro can locate the leak, repair it, and recharge the system to the correct concentration.
  • Dirty evaporator coil: If dirt collects on the coil, air can’t reach it, and it’s apt to freeze.
  • Broken blower: A faulty motor or unbalanced fan might prevent airflow over the evaporator coil.

When your AC freezes up, call on the ACE-certified technicians at Wesley Wood Service Experts to repair the trouble. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners check their air conditioners, and we’re certain we can get things running again quickly. Contact us at 484-401-7577 to book air conditioning repair in West Chester with us now.

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*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.

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