Quick Steps to Repair a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air coming from your supply registers unexpectedly feel warm? Inspect the indoor component of your air conditioner. This piece is housed in your furnace or air handler, if you use a heat pump. If there’s water seeping onto the floor, there might be ice on the evaporator coil. The AC coil within the equipment may have frozen over. You’ll need to melt it before it can cool your home again. 

Here’s what to do. If you can’t get the coil frost-free, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is here to support you with air conditioning repair in Edmonton that includes a a 100% satisfaction guarantee.* 

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

To get started—switch the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This halts cold refrigerant from moving to the outdoor compressor, which could damage it and lead to an expensive repair. 

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

It could take under an hour or the better part of a day for the ice to defrost, depending on the degree of the accumulation. While you’re waiting, keep an eye on the condensate pan below the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it could spill over as the ice melts, likely resulting in water damage. 

Step 2: Diagnose the Situation 

Low airflow is a chief cause for an AC to frost over. Here’s how to get to the bottom of the issue: 

• Check the filter. Insufficient airflow through a dirty filter could be to blame. Look at and put in a new filter each month or as soon as you see dust accumulation. 
• Open any shut supply vents. Your home’s supply registers should stay open constantly. Closing vents reduces airflow over the evaporator coil, which might lead it to freeze. 
• Be on the lookout for blocked return vents. These often don’t come with adjustable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still block them. 
• Low refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most common culprit, your air conditioning might also be low on refrigerant. Depending on its age, it may rely on Freon®. Low refrigerant requires skilled support from a certified HVAC tech. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Specialist at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning 

If inadequate airflow doesn’t seem to be the issue, then another problem is leading your AC freeze up. If this is what’s going on, simply letting it melt won’t take care of the trouble. The evaporator coil will probably freeze again unless you fix the root issue. Contact an HVAC technician to address issues with your air conditioner, which could include: 

• Refrigerant leak: AC units keep using refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Low refrigerant indicates a leak somewhere. Only a pro can pinpoint the leak, repair it, and recharge the air conditioning to the appropriate level. 
• Grimy evaporator coil: If dust builds up on the coil, air can’t flow over it, and it’s likely to freeze. 
• Nonfunctional blower: A bad motor or unbalanced fan can halt airflow over the evaporator coil. 

If your AC freezes up, contact the certified professionals at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to fix the trouble. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners check their air conditioners, and we’re certain we can get things running again in no time. Contact us at 587-404-0790 to schedule air conditioning repair in Edmonton with us today.