Simple Steps for Fixing a Frozen Air Conditioner

Does the air flowing from your supply registers unexpectedly seem not cold enough? Inspect the indoor part of your air conditioner. This piece is situated inside your furnace or air handler, if you rely on a heat pump. If there’s water dripping onto the floor, there might be frost on the evaporator coil. The AC coil inside the system might have frosted over. You’ll need to thaw it before it can cool your house again. 

Here’s the steps you should take. If you can’t get the coil defrosted, Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air is here to assist you with air conditioning repair in San Antonio backed 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 prevents chilled refrigerant from moving to the outdoor compressor, which could harm it and lead to an expensive repair. 

Next, switch the fan from “auto” to “on.” This makes hot airflow over the frozen coils to make them thaw 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 most of the day for the ice to melt, depending on the degree of the accumulation. While you’re waiting, keep an eye on 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: Pinpoint the Issue 

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

• Inspect the filter. Insufficient airflow through a clogged filter could be the problem. Inspect and replace the filter monthly or once you notice dust accumulation. 
• Open any sealed supply vents. Your home’s supply registers should stay open constantly. Shutting vents decreases airflow over the evaporator coil, which may lead it to freeze. 
• Look for covered return vents. These often don’t use moveable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still block them. 
• Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent culprit, your air conditioner might also be low on refrigerant. Depending on how old it is, it may rely on Freon®. Not enough refrigerant requires pro attention from a certified HVAC tech. H2: Step 3: Contact an HVAC Tech at Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air 

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

• Refrigerant leak: AC units recycle refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run low. Not enough refrigerant means there’s a leak somewhere. Only a pro can locate the leak, repair it, and recharge the air conditioner to the appropriate amount. 
• Filthy evaporator coil: If dust builds up 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 professionals at Aramendia Plumbing, Heating and Air to repair the issue. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners diagnose their air conditioners, and we’re certain we can get things running again quickly. Contact us at 210-404-4233 to get air conditioning repair in San Antonio with us now.