Does the air emitting from your supply registers unexpectedly appear warm? Look at the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This component is located within your furnace or air handler, if you have a heat pump. If there’s water dripping onto the floor, there could be ice on the evaporator coil. The AC coil in the equipment could have frosted over. You’ll need to melt 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, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help with air conditioning repair in Canada backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*
Step 1: Turn the Air Conditioning Off and the Blower On
First things first—set the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This prevents chilled refrigerant from flowing to the outdoor compressor, which could harm it and result in a costly repair.
Next, move the fan from “auto” to “on.” This produces warm airflow over the frosty coils to force them to melt faster. Make sure to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t begin a cooling cycle.
It can take not more than an hour or the better part of a day for the ice to thaw, depending on the extent of the buildup. While you’re waiting, check the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it could spill over as the ice melts, likely causing water damage.
Step 2: Troubleshoot the Trouble
Insufficient airflow is a main reason for an AC to freeze up. Here’s how to troubleshoot the problem:
- Look at the filter. Poor airflow through a dirty filter could be the culprit. Check and change the filter monthly or once you observe a layer of dust.
- Open any closed supply vents. Your residence’s supply registers should be open all the time. Closing vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which could cause it to freeze.
- Check for obstructed return vents. These often don’t come with shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still cover them.
- Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent suspect, your air conditioner could also have insufficient refrigerant. Depending on how old it is, it may rely on Freon®. Low refrigerant requires skilled support from a certified HVAC specialist. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Specialist at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
If insufficient airflow doesn’t seem to be the problem, then another issue is leading your AC frost over. If this is what’s going on, simply letting it melt won’t take care of the problem. The evaporator coil will probably keep freezing unless you fix the root problem. Contact an HVAC professional to check for issues with your air conditioner, which could include:
- Refrigerant leak: AC units continuously use refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run out. Low refrigerant means there’s a leak somewhere. Only a tech can pinpoint the leak, repair it, and recharge the system to the appropriate level.
- Filthy evaporator coil: If dirt collects on the coil, air can’t reach it, and it’s likely to freeze.
- Broken blower: A faulty motor or unbalanced fan might prevent airflow over the evaporator coil.
When your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified specialists at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning to fix the issue. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners check their air conditioners, and we’re confident we can get things running again fast. Contact us at 866-397-3787 to book air conditioning repair in Canada with us now.
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