Does the air flowing from your supply registers unexpectedly seem hot? Inspect the indoor portion of your air conditioner. This piece is located inside your furnace or air handler, if you rely on a heat pump. If there’s water dripping onto the floor, there could be frost on the evaporator coil. The AC coil within the system might have frozen 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 frost-free, Pardee Service Experts is here to help with air conditioning repair in Charleston that includes a a 100% satisfaction guarantee.*
Step 1: Set the Air Conditioning to Off and the Blower On
To begin—switch the thermostat from “cool” to “off.” This stops chilly refrigerant from going to the outdoor compressor, which could hurt it and result in a pricey repair.
After that, 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 trigger a cooling cycle.
It may take under an hour or the better part of a day for the ice to melt, depending on the level of the accumulation. While you’re waiting, check the condensate pan under the AC unit. If the drain line is obstructed, it might spill over as the ice melts, possibly causing water damage.
Step 2: Pinpoint the Issue
Low airflow is a chief reason for an AC to freeze up. Here’s how to figure out the issue:
- Inspect the filter. Poor airflow through a filthy filter could be the problem. Check and change the filter once a month or immediately when you notice dust accumulation.
- Open any sealed supply vents. Your home’s supply registers should stay open all the time. Closing vents limits airflow over the evaporator coil, which can cause it to freeze.
- Be on the lookout for obstructed return vents. These usually don’t have shiftable louvers, but furniture, rugs or curtains can still block them.
- Low refrigerant: While airflow restrictions are the most common culprit, your air conditioner may also not have enough refrigerant. Depending on how old it is, it may rely on Freon®. Not enough refrigerant calls for skilled assistance from a certified HVAC specialist. H2: Step 3: Contact an HVAC Expert at Pardee Service Experts
If low airflow doesn’t appear to be the trouble, then another issue is leading your AC frost over. If this is what’s happening, merely defrosting it won’t repair the problem. The evaporator coil is likely to freeze again unless you fix the root problem. Contact an HVAC specialist to address troubles with your air conditioner, which could include:
- Refrigerant leak: AC units recycle refrigerant, so it shouldn’t run out. Not enough refrigerant indicates a leak somewhere. Only a tech can pinpoint the leak, fix it, and recharge the air conditioner to the proper level.
- Grimy evaporator coil: If dust builds up on the coil, air can’t get to it, and it’s apt to freeze.
- Malfunctioning blower: A broken motor or unbalanced fan could halt airflow over the evaporator coil.
The next time your AC freezes up, call on the ACE-certified technicians at Pardee Service Experts to take care of the situation. We have years of experience helping homeowners diagnose their air conditioners, and we’re certain we can get things working again quickly. Contact us at 843-410-6103 to schedule air conditioning repair in Charleston with us right away.
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