Simple Steps for Repairing a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air flowing from your supply registers unexpectedly seem not cold enough? Look at the indoor part of your air conditioner. This piece is located 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 within the system might have frosted over. You’ll need to defrost it before it can cool your house again. 

Here’s the steps you should take. If you can’t get the coil back to normal, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is here to assist you with air conditioning repair in Canada upheld by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.* 

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

To get started—move the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This stops chilled refrigerant from moving to the outdoor compressor, which could harm it and result in an expensive repair. 

Next, move the fan from “auto” to “on.” This makes heated airflow over the frosty coils to make them defrost faster. Make sure to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t start a cooling cycle. 

It can take under an hour or the majority of the day for the ice to melt, depending on the degree of the accumulation. While you’re waiting, watch the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it can spill over as the ice melts, possibly creating water damage. 

Step 2: Diagnose the Issue 

Not enough airflow is a main cause for an AC to frost over. Here’s how to figure out the situation: 

• Inspect the filter. Insufficient airflow through a clogged filter could be the problem. Look at and replace the filter monthly or immediately when you notice dust buildup. 
• Open any shut supply vents. Your house’s supply registers should stay open constantly. Shutting vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which may lead it to freeze. 
• Look for covered return vents. These usually don’t use moveable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still obstruct them. 
• Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent culprit, your air conditioner might also not have enough refrigerant. Depending on how old it is, it may have Freon®. Not enough refrigerant calls for pro attention from a certified HVAC tech. H2: Step 3: Contact an HVAC Tech at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing 

If poor airflow doesn’t appear to be the issue, then another problem is causing your AC frost over. If this is what’s going on, just defrosting it won’t repair the problem. The evaporator coil will probably keep freezing unless you fix the root symptom. Get in touch with an HVAC tech to look for issues with your air conditioner, which might include: 

• Refrigerant leak: AC units keep using refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Not enough refrigerant means there’s a leak somewhere. Only a tech can locate the leak, repair it, and recharge the air conditioner to the appropriate amount. 
• Grimy evaporator coil: If dust accumulates on the coil, air can’t get to it, and it’s likely to freeze. 
• Broken blower: A bad motor or unbalanced fan can stop airflow over the evaporator coil. 

When your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified techs at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to repair the issue. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners diagnose their air conditioners, and we’re sure we can get things running again fast. Contact us at 866-397-3787 to book air conditioning repair in Canada with us now.