3 Troubleshooting Steps For A Frozen Air Conditioner

Does your air conditioner have ice accumulating on the outside of it? That's probably a very confusing sight, especially in the middle of the summer. It's actually not an uncommon problem. It's usually caused by insufficient airflow. Your air conditioner pulls warm air out of your house and then cools it down before returning it into your home. However, if your air conditioner's air flow is clogged, that cool air could build up around the coil, causing the unit to freeze. Freezing could also be caused by a lack of freon or other mechanical failures in the unit. If your air conditioner is frozen, here are a few troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the situation:

1. Check the air filter. A dirty air filter is one of the most common causes of a frozen air conditioner. When the filter gets too dirty, air can't pass through it. That causes cool air to build up in the air conditioner, leading to a frozen unit.

If the filter is dirty, you should replace it as soon as possible. However, you may also be able to get rid of the ice. Turn off the air conditioning, but keep the fan on. That will push warmer air through the coil, causing the ice to melt. Once the ice is gone, turn the air conditioning back on and see if the unit works properly.

2. Open your vents and ducts. Keeping vents closed can also cause airflow restrictions. Walk around your home and see if any of the vents are closed. If so, those closed vents may be causing airflow backups in your system. Open the vents up to increase circulation and see if the ice starts to melt. 

Another problem could be with the ducts. Your vents may be open, but if the ducts are clogged, that will still cause airflow restrictions. Walk around your home and look for kinks in your ducts. Also, take off your vent cover and stick a camera down into your ducts. Take a picture of the inside of the ducts to see how dirty they are. If they're filled with dirt and debris, that could be your problem. A duct cleaning would likely resolve the problem.

3. Clean your evaporator coil. Inside your air conditioner, air passes over the evaporator coil before being pushed into your home. If the evaporator coil is dirty, that could also restrict airflow, dropping the temperature inside the unit. You can clean the coil with a solution of bleach and water. Simply turn off the air conditioner, remove the front panel, and then gently wash the coil clean.

Of course, if you're not familiar with the parts in an air conditioner, this may be best left to a professional. If you try all three of these steps and your unit is still frozen, you'll likely need to call a repair service. They can inspect your unit and recommend a solution.

To learn more, visit a website like http://www.perryheatingandcooling.com


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