3 Simple Ways to Fix a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air flowing from your supply registers abruptly appear warm? Inspect the indoor part of your air conditioner. This piece is housed in your furnace or air handler, if you have a heat pump. If there’s water dripping onto the floor, there might be ice on the evaporator coil. The AC coil in the system may have frozen 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, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is here to support you with air conditioning repair in Memphis 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 halts chilly refrigerant from going to the outdoor compressor, which could hurt it and cause a costly repair.

Then, adjust the fan from “auto” to “on.” This produces warm airflow over the frosty coils to help them thaw faster. Remember 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 better part of a day for the ice to melt, depending on the degree of the ice. While you’re waiting, keep an eye on the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is clogged, it can overflow as the ice melts, possibly causing water damage.

Step 2: Pinpoint the Situation

Poor airflow is a primary explanation for an AC to freeze up. Here’s how to figure out the situation:

Look at the filter. Insufficient airflow through a filthy filter could be to blame. Look at and replace the filter monthly or immediately when you notice dust accumulation.
Open any closed supply vents. Your house’s supply registers should stay open all the time. Shutting vents decreases airflow over the evaporator coil, which could lead it to freeze.
Look for blocked return vents. These often don’t have shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still obstruct them.
Low refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent cause, your air conditioning might also not have enough refrigerant. Depending on when it was installed, it may rely on Freon®. Not enough refrigerant calls for professional assistance from a certified HVAC specialist. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Specialist at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

If low airflow doesn’t appear to be the problem, then another issue is making your AC freeze. If this is what’s happening, just thawing it out won’t fix the problem. The evaporator coil is likely to keep freezing unless you repair the root issue. Call an HVAC tech to check for troubles with your air conditioner, which may include:

Refrigerant leak: AC units continuously use refrigerant, so it shouldn’t get used up. Insufficient refrigerant is a sign of a leak somewhere. Only a technician can pinpoint the leak, repair it, and recharge the system to the appropriate level.
Dirty evaporator coil: If dirt accumulates on the coil, air can’t get to it, and it’s liable to freeze.
Nonfunctional blower: A bad motor or unbalanced fan can halt airflow over the evaporator coil.

The next time your AC freezes up, get in touch with the ACE-certified technicians at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to repair the trouble. We have lots of experience helping homeowners troubleshoot their air conditioners, and we’re certain we can get things operating again quickly. Contact us at 901-235-1196 to book air conditioning repair in Memphis with us today.

---

*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.