Easy Steps to Repair a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air emitting from your supply registers unexpectedly appear warm? Look at the indoor portion 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 crystals on the evaporator coil. The AC coil inside the system might have frozen 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 frost-free, A1 Chesney Service Experts is here to assist you with air conditioning repair in Calgary backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.* 

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

To begin—set the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This prevents cold refrigerant from moving to the outdoor compressor, which could harm it and lead to a costly repair. 

Then, switch the fan from “auto” to “on.” This creates warm airflow over the crystallized coils to make them thaw faster. Remember to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t begin a cooling cycle. 

It may take under an hour or the majority of the day for the ice to melt, depending on the amount of the ice. While you’re waiting, watch the condensate pan below the AC unit. If the drain line is blocked, it may spill over as the ice melts, possibly resulting in water damage. 

Step 2: Diagnose the Trouble 

Not enough airflow is a leading cause for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to troubleshoot the situation: 

• Inspect the filter. Low airflow through a filthy filter could be the issue. Check and replace the filter monthly or as soon as you notice dust buildup. 
• Open any closed supply vents. Your house’s supply registers should be open all the time. Shutting vents reduces airflow over the evaporator coil, which might result in it freezing. 
• Be on the lookout for covered return vents. These typically don’t have adjustable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still block them. 
• Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most common cause, your system might also be low on refrigerant. Depending on when it was installed, it may have Freon®. Not enough refrigerant requires professional assistance from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Expert at A1 Chesney Service Experts 

If inadequate airflow doesn’t appear to be the issue, then another issue is causing your AC freeze up. If this is what’s occurring, simply thawing it out won’t take care of the trouble. The evaporator coil will possibly keep freezing unless you take care of the root symptom. Call an HVAC tech to look for troubles with your air conditioner, which may include: 

• Refrigerant leak: AC units keep using refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Insufficient refrigerant is a sign of a leak somewhere. Only a specialist can locate the leak, mend it, and recharge the system to the appropriate concentration. 
• Dirty evaporator coil: If dirt collects on the coil, air can’t flow over it, and it’s likely to freeze. 
• Malfunctioning blower: A broken motor or unbalanced fan can prevent airflow over the evaporator coil. 

The next time your AC freezes up, call on the certified pros at A1 Chesney Service Experts to fix the situation. We have lots of experience helping homeowners check their air conditioners, and we’re certain we can get things working again in no time. Contact us at 587-315-5271 to book air conditioning repair in Calgary with us today.