How ironic is it that on the hottest day of the season, suddenly you discover that your air conditioner isn’t working properly because it’s frozen? A frozen AC can and does happen for a variety of reasons, but the good news is that you can identify and fix at least some of the issues yourself.
The balance of an efficient system is a delicate one and relies on the coolant being able to circulate freely and happily. If things go even a bit haywire, problems can ensue. The first clue that you may have a frosty problem is that the air coming through your vents is warm rather than cool. You can verify this by checking the interior for frost or ice on the copper coils. Typically this is caused by one of four problems: poor airflow, dirty coils, low refrigeration, or a poorly working blower fan. Once you’ve identified that icy conditions exist you can try a DIY approach to correct the problem.
Thaw out the unit.
To thaw the unit out, begin by turning it off completely and allowing it to naturally defrost. We often tell customers to turn the cooling mode off and the fan on to help the thawing go more quickly. Depending on the amount of ice, this could take up to a few hours. During the down time, be sure to check and empty the drip pan to avoid water damaging the unit. It is also a good idea to make a round through the house to open up any closed vents, as poor airflow could be your culprit.
Change the filter.
Once everything is thawed out, run the fan for an hour until everything is dried out. Next, go ahead and change the filter. A dirty filter can be the start of many problems, including a frozen unit. When the air has to work harder to circulate it can cause issues with the pressure. Once you have a brand new filter installed, turn the air conditioner on again, and see if the air begins to cool.
Call the pros.
If this method works, pat yourself on the back and consider yourself a home maintenance genius! If it doesn’t, your problem may be a little more extensive and will require a call to have a service professional come out and assess the unit. They will be able to check the fluid levels to ensure the coolant volume is optimum for the pressure requirements as well as check the blower fan. The blower fan is the workhorse of the system, pulling cooled air from the unit and into the home, and pulling the warm air out. Dirty coils can also be the culprit, inhibiting the absorption of water and contributing to poor air flow.
The best way to make sure you don’t have a frozen AC crisis in the heat of the summer, as always, is proper maintenance. Set up a pre-season or mid-season check for cleaning and fluid evaluation, and be sure to always keep those filters nice and fresh!