Does the air flowing from your supply registers abruptly seem hot? Check the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This part is located in your furnace or air handler, if you have a heat pump. If there’s water leaking onto the floor, there could be frost on the evaporator coil. The AC coil in the equipment might have frozen. You’ll need to defrost it before it can cool your home again.
Here’s what to do. If you can’t get the coil defrosted, Barlow Service Experts is here to assist you with air conditioning repair in the Wasatch Front region backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*
Step 1: Set the Air Conditioning to Off and the Blower On
First things first—move the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This prevents chilled refrigerant from flowing to the outdoor compressor, which could hurt it and result in an expensive repair.
After that, switch the fan from “auto” to “on.” This creates heated airflow over the frozen 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 could take not more than an hour or most of the day for the ice to thaw, depending on the degree of the buildup. While you’re waiting, check the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is clogged, it might spill over as the ice melts, potentially causing water damage.
Step 2: Diagnose the Issue
Poor airflow is a leading explanation for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to figure out the problem:
- Look at the filter. Inadequate airflow through a dirty filter could be the issue. Check and change the filter once a month or as soon as you observe dust buildup.
- Open any sealed supply vents. Your home’s supply registers should be open always. Closing vents decreases airflow over the evaporator coil, which could lead it to freeze.
- Check for blocked return vents. These typically don’t come with shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still cover them.
- Not enough refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most common suspect, your air conditioning might also have insufficient refrigerant. Depending on how old it is, it may use Freon®. Not enough refrigerant calls for skilled assistance from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Get in Touch with an HVAC Expert at Barlow Service Experts
If insufficient airflow doesn’t feel like the trouble, then another problem is leading your AC freeze up. If this is what’s going on, simply letting it melt won’t repair the trouble. The evaporator coil will probably continually freeze unless you take care of the main problem. Call an HVAC technician to address issues with your air conditioner, which could include:
- Refrigerant leak: AC units recycle refrigerant, so it shouldn’t get used up. Low refrigerant indicates a leak somewhere. Only a tech can find the leak, mend it, and recharge the system to the proper level.
- Filthy evaporator coil: If dust builds up on the coil, air can’t get to it, and it’s apt to freeze.
- Malfunctioning blower: A bad motor or unbalanced fan could prevent airflow over the evaporator coil.
If your AC freezes up, call on the ACE-certified technicians at Barlow Service Experts to fix the problem. We have lots of experience helping homeowners troubleshoot their air conditioners, and we’re sure we can get things running again fast. Contact us at 801-436-8985 to schedule air conditioning repair in the Wasatch Front region with us right away.
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