3 Fast Ways to Repair a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air emitting from your supply registers abruptly feel not cold enough? Inspect the indoor portion 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 could be crystals on the evaporator coil. The AC coil in the unit may have frosted over. 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 frost-free, Norrell Service Experts is here to help with air conditioning repair in Birmingham that includes a a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*

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

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

After that, switch the fan from “auto” to “on.” This produces hot airflow over the crystallized 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 might take less than an hour or most of the day for the ice to defrost, depending on the extent of the ice. While you’re waiting, keep an eye on the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it could overflow as the ice melts, potentially creating water damage.

Step 2: Pinpoint the Issue

Poor airflow is a chief reason for an AC to frost over. Here’s how to figure out the problem:

  • Inspect the filter. Inadequate airflow through a dusty filter could be to blame. Inspect and put in a new filter monthly or as soon as you observe a layer of dust.
  • Open any closed supply vents. Your home’s supply registers should remain open constantly. Sealing vents reduces airflow over the evaporator coil, which may lead it to freeze.
  • Look for obstructed return vents. These typically don’t come with shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still block them.
  • Insufficient refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most common suspect, your system could also not have enough refrigerant. Depending on its age, it may use Freon®. Insufficient refrigerant necessitates professional help from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Contact an HVAC Professional at Norrell Service Experts

If insufficient airflow doesn’t appear to be the issue, then something else is causing your AC frost over. If this is what’s going on, merely letting it melt won’t take care of the issue. The evaporator coil will probably continually freeze unless you fix the main symptom. Contact an HVAC pro to address issues with your air conditioner, which can include:

  • Refrigerant leak: AC units recycle refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Low refrigerant indicates a leak somewhere. Only a tech can find the leak, repair it, and recharge the air conditioner to the appropriate concentration.
  • Filthy evaporator coil: If grime collects on the coil, air can’t flow over it, and it’s likely to freeze.
  • Nonfunctional blower: A broken motor or unbalanced fan might halt airflow over the evaporator coil.

When your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified techs at Norrell Service Experts to repair the issue. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners diagnose their air conditioners, and we’re sure we can get things working again fast. Contact us at 205-267-0023 to book air conditioning repair in Birmingham 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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