Does the air coming from your supply registers abruptly seem hot? Check the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This component is located within your furnace or air handler, if you use a heat pump. If there’s water leaking onto the floor, there could be frost on the evaporator coil. The AC coil in the unit might have frosted over. You’ll need to melt it before it can cool your residence again.
Here’s the steps you should take. If you can’t get the coil defrosted, Komfort Air Service Experts is here to help with air conditioning repair in Charlotte 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 stops chilled refrigerant from flowing to the outdoor compressor, which could hurt it and lead to a pricey repair.
Then, adjust the fan from “auto” to “on.” This makes warm airflow over the crystallized coils to force them to thaw faster. Remember to set the cooling mode to “off” so the air conditioner doesn’t trigger a cooling cycle.
It may take not more than an hour or most of the day for the ice to defrost, depending on the extent of the ice. While you’re waiting, keep an eye on the condensate pan underneath the AC unit. If the drain line is clogged, it may create a mess as the ice melts, likely creating water damage.
Step 2: Troubleshoot the Situation
Bad airflow is a main cause for an AC to become frozen. Here’s how to get to the bottom of the situation:
- Look at the filter. Insufficient airflow through a dirty filter could be the culprit. Look at and put in a new filter once a month or once you see dust accumulation.
- Open any sealed supply vents. Your home’s supply registers should remain open constantly. Sealing vents decreases airflow over the evaporator coil, which could cause it to freeze.
- Check for obstructed return vents. These typically don’t have adjustable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still block them.
- Insufficient refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most frequent culprit, your air conditioner might also not have enough refrigerant. Depending on when it was replaced, it may rely on Freon®. Not enough refrigerant requires professional help from a certified HVAC technician. H2: Step 3: Call an HVAC Technician at Komfort Air Service Experts
If insufficient airflow doesn’t seem to be the issue, then something else is causing your AC freeze up. If this is the case, simply defrosting it won’t repair the trouble. The evaporator coil will probably keep freezing unless you repair the main symptom. Get in touch with an HVAC specialist to look for problems with your air conditioner, which can include:
- Refrigerant leak: AC units keep using refrigerant, so it shouldn’t get used up. Not enough refrigerant is a sign of a leak somewhere. Only a technician can find the leak, fix it, and recharge the system to the proper amount.
- Grimy evaporator coil: If dirt builds up on the coil, air can’t reach it, and it’s apt to freeze.
- Nonfunctional blower: A defective motor or unbalanced fan could stop airflow over the evaporator coil.
The next time your AC freezes up, get in touch with the ACE-certified professionals at Komfort Air Service Experts to take care of the issue. We have a lot of experience helping homeowners troubleshoot their air conditioners, and we’re confident we can get things running again in no time. Contact us at 704-705-8135 to get air conditioning repair in Charlotte with us now.
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