- Immediate Damage Control: Emergency Steps to Take Right Now
- How to Safely Thaw Your AC Evaporator Coil
- Uncovering the Root Causes Behind Frozen AC Coils
- Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Thawing Your Unit
- When to Call a Licensed HVAC Technician for Repair
- Schedule Preventive Maintenance to Stop Future Coil Freeze-Ups
Seeing ice on your air conditioning unit during the hot summer months in Connecticut can be confusing. After all, isn't the air conditioner there to keep your home cool and comfortable?
An air conditioning unit that is frozen is a sign that something is not right. The evaporator coil of the air conditioning unit can be too cold, resulting in the moisture that usually drains as condensation freezing on the evaporator coil itself. As the ice accumulates, airflow is limited causing complications in cooling the home.
If you continue to run a unit with frozen coils, it can also compromise the integrity of other parts of the system, including the compressor. Thus, it is essential to shut down the system, allow it to thaw, and understand what caused the freezing of the air conditioning unit.
Below, you can learn about what the homeowners in Connecticut can do in case of a frozen AC unit, and when you need to call Evergreen Heating & Cooling.
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Immediate Damage Control: Emergency Steps to Take Right Now
If you observe ice on your indoor AC unit, refrigerant lines, or evaporator coil, the first thing to do is to stop your air conditioner from running in cooling mode.
Don't continue to turn down your thermostat, seeking to cool off the house as the problem needs to be solved once the ice melts.
Start with the steps stated below:
- Switch off cooling at the thermostat.
- Do not chisel, scrape, or hammer out ice from the coil.
- Check if your filter is clogged and replace it, if necessary.
- Ensure that supply and return vents are not obstructed by furniture, rugs, boxes, or any other items.
- Monitor your indoor unit for any leaking water from the melted ice.
If the system keeps freezing after melting or you can't pinpoint the cause of freezing, it is time to call in an HVAC technician.
How to Safely Thaw Your AC Evaporator Coil
In the case of an ice-covered evaporator, patience is necessary to allow it to melt on its own. The wait may take a few hours depending on the amount of ice present.
If you attempt to help the process of melting by using tools like a hairdryer, heat gun, sharp object, or similar ones, you might be risking damaging delicate parts of the appliance, which can make the repair much more complicated and expensive than it otherwise would have been.
Shutting Down the Cooling System and Running the Fan
Switch the thermostat from “Cool” to “Off” first. This lets the outdoor AC system stop working while the coil is frozen.
Then switch the thermostat fan setting from “Auto” to “On”. The blower may help warm air circulate over the frozen coil.
If you notice any unusual electrical smell, strange sounds, water around electric components, or anything else that signals a potentially dangerous situation, turn the whole system down and don’t keep the fan running.
Be patient above anything else. Don't turn the system back on right away just because the ice has melted on some parts of the coil.
Managing Excess Melted Water to Protect Your Floors
The ice must ultimately turn back into water.
Typically, condensation on the evaporator coil gets collected in a drain pan and flows out of the system. If the system is frozen, it will produce more water upon thawing than normal, especially if a drain issue exists.
You need to monitor your indoor AC equipment while it thaws. If it is safe to do so, you can lay towels before certain items or areas that could become ruined by the water.
If there is any sign of excessive overflow from the unit, leakage through the ceiling, or gathering of the water around electrical elements, turn the unit off and schedule a repair service.
Uncovering the Root Causes Behind Frozen AC Coils
It is important to thaw your A/C to deal with the ice accumulation that you have experienced, but this does not address the underlying issues that led to the ice formation.
Two of the most common reasons for this are problems with airflow or refrigerants.
Restricted Airflow from Clogged Filters and Blocked Vents
The evaporator coil relies on a constant flow of warm air from inside the structure. When airflow is interrupted, the coil may become too cold and freeze over.
The following can lead to airflow issues:
- A dirty air filter
- Blocked return ducts
- Blocked supply ducts
- Dirty evaporator coils
- Faulty blower motor
- Issues with the ducting.
Homeowners can troubleshoot their system themselves by checking their filter and ensuring that the return ducts aren’t blocked.
If the filter is clean but airflow is weak, it indicates that there is an underlying issue with the system that needs expert inspection.
Low Refrigerant Levels Caused by Hidden System Leaks
One of the reasons for the freezing of the evaporator coil could be low refrigerant level. The air-conditioners run with a set refrigerant concentration and when there is a leak, the pressure of the refrigerant in the system changes and it causes the evaporator coil to become cold enough for condensation ice to form over it.
Refrigerant is not something that should be used up by the air-conditioner. If the system is actually low on refrigerant, a problem must be identified, rather than just continued refilling of low refrigerant levels.
Some of the signs that indicate refrigerant issues:
- Persistent formation of ice
- The AC working too long
- Hot air coming from the vents
- Increased electricity bill
- Buzzing or hissing sound from the AC.
The refrigerant systems have to be checked and repaired by professionals.
Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Thawing Your Unit
Having a frozen air conditioning unit is a troublesome experience especially when the weather is warm. Trying to get the unit up and running again when it is frozen can worsen the problem.
- Do not keep using the air conditioning unit when it is frozen. Using the unit when the airflow is blocked can cause even more damage.
- Do not use a tool to break ice off. Using tools like a knife or a screwdriver on the coils and refrigerant line can cause harm.
- Do not use hot water on the frozen coils. Rapid temperature change and uncontrolled water around the air conditioning unit are not worth it.
- Avoid using hot devices for melting ice off. Appliances like hair dryers and heat guns can create a danger due to the melting water.
- Don’t think that the AC is fixed simply because it thawed. Usually ice is just a symptom and if the real issues concerning airflow, refrigerant, drainage, or any other mechanical issue is present, the coil can freeze again.
Let the equipment melt naturally and figure out why it froze before turning it back on.
When to Call a Licensed HVAC Technician for Repair
An apparent cause of the one-time freezing-up is a dirty filter or blockage in the vent. However, if the freezing-up happens several times, it requires professional help.
You may need to schedule an AC diagnostic if the following occurs:
- The coil freezes again after thawing.
- Your filter is clean and airflow is still weak.
- The AC isn't cooling properly.
- You think there is a refrigerant leak.
- There is a water leak from your indoor unit.
- There are peculiar noises from your equipment.
- The system is running continuously without regulating the temperature set by the thermostat.
- Your system has been repaired many times or faced other operating troubles.
The technician will be able to check airflow, the evaporator coil, the operation of the blower, and the condensate system so that any possible issues with refrigerant or machinery are found.
The purpose of solving the issue is more than just removing ice. It is important to know the real cause of the freezing-up in order to make the repair correctly.
Evergreen Heating & Cooling has been providing homeowners with its services for over thirty years in Hamden, New Haven, the Shoreline, and in Southern Connecticut. Our technicians are licensed and insured and can evaluate your AC system and provide straightforward information about your repair options.
Schedule Preventive Maintenance to Stop Future Coil Freeze-Ups
The best frozen air conditioning coil is the one you don’t have to deal with.
Having maintenance done on your air conditioner can help you discover problems that can develop and cause your air conditioner to fail on a hot summer day. Service can help to pinpoint dirty components, air obstructions, drain problems, worn out parts, and other issues negatively affecting the performance of your cooling system.
Homeowners can do their part by regularly checking their HVAC filters, ensuring that there is no obstruction around their vents, keeping the areas around their outdoor units clean and following up on changes in their cooling performance.
In case your air conditioner is frozen, is not able to provide cold air in your home, or has not been serviced for a long time, contact Evergreen Heating & Cooling for help.
Don’t hesitate and reach out to Evergreen Heating and Cooling today to make your summer pleasant and relaxing.
