Does the air flowing from your supply registers abruptly appear not cold enough? Look at the indoor component of your air conditioner. This component is located in your furnace or air handler, if you rely on a heat pump. If there’s water dripping onto the floor, there could be ice on the evaporator coil. The AC coil in the unit might have frozen. You’ll need to defrost it before it can cool your house again.
Here’s what to do. If you can’t get the coil back to normal, Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air is here to support you with air conditioning repair in San Antonio upheld by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*
Step 1: Turn the Air Conditioning Off and the Blower On
To begin—switch the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This halts cold refrigerant from moving to the outdoor compressor, which could damage it and cause an expensive repair.
Next, adjust the fan from “auto” to “on.” This produces warm airflow over the frozen coils to force them to defrost faster. Double check to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t begin a cooling cycle.
It might take less than an hour or the majority of the day for the ice to thaw, depending on the degree of the ice. While you’re waiting, check the condensate pan below the AC unit. If the drain line is blocked, it can spill over as the ice melts, possibly resulting in water damage.
Step 2: Diagnose the Issue
Bad airflow is a leading reason for an AC to frost over. Here’s how to troubleshoot the problem:
- Inspect the filter. Inadequate airflow through a dusty filter could be the issue. Check and change the filter each month or immediately when you observe dust accumulation.
- Open any closed supply vents. Your house’s supply registers should remain open constantly. Closing vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which might result in it freezing.
- Look for blocked return vents. These typically don’t use adjustable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still cover them.
- Insufficient refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most common cause, your air conditioner might also be low on refrigerant. Depending on when it was installed, it may have Freon®. Low refrigerant requires skilled assistance from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Expert at Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air
If insufficient airflow doesn’t seem to be the issue, then another issue is making your AC freeze. If this is the case, just letting it melt won’t repair the trouble. The evaporator coil will probably continually freeze unless you take care of the root symptom. Contact an HVAC tech to check for troubles with your air conditioner, which could include:
- Refrigerant leak: AC units keep using refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run out. Not enough refrigerant signals a leak somewhere. Only a tech can find the leak, fix it, and recharge the system to the appropriate level.
- Dirty evaporator coil: If dust accumulates on the coil, air can’t reach it, and it’s likely to freeze.
- Nonfunctional blower: A broken motor or unbalanced fan can halt airflow over the evaporator coil.
The next time your AC freezes up, contact the ACE-certified pros at Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air to repair the problem. We have lots of experience helping homeowners troubleshoot their air conditioners, and we’re certain we can get things working again fast. Contact us at 210-404-4233 to book air conditioning repair in San Antonio with us right away.
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