What to Do When Your AC Freezes Up

Valuable tips to keep your air conditioner unit running well

Florida is one of the most beautiful states in the United States. It also happens to have a pretty warm climate. In fact, Florida is one of the warmest states in the Union.

Thankfully, the warm weather of Florida is easily relieved by air conditioning. Whether you live in Miami or in Santa Rosa Beach, you are assured of respite from the heat as long as you have a perfectly functioning AC unit in your home.

The problem is, air conditioning units, like any other appliance, are bound to experience some issues over the course of its life.

Let’s say that on one hot day in Santa Rosa Beach, you’re trying to watch some TV in the living room when you notice that it’s a little warmer than usual.  You found that strange since your AC unit is running full blast. Then you check the outside unit, and you see that it’s covered in ice. Your AC just literally froze, and on one really hot day at that.

It’s a rather odd sight especially during the summer, but air conditioners freezing up are more common than you think regardless of the climate. There are several reasons why AC units ice up.

However, you should hold off on that call to a trusted air conditioning company for repairs. Unless it’s caused by more serious issues, a frozen AC is, more often than not, easy to solve. Here are some simple steps you can take that might fix the problem.

Defrost the unit

Turn the AC off and leave it that way for several hours, or at least until the ice melts completely. Or, if you want to speed things up, turn the fan on without activating the cooling system. The airflow should melt the ice faster.

Check your AC’s air filter

While your air conditioner is turned off, check your air filter and see if it needs cleaning or replacing. A dirty air filter is one of the most common causes of restricted airflow, which, in turn, is the most common reason AC units freeze up as it forces the temperature of your system to fall below optimal levels.

Aside from causing your unit to freeze, poor airflow also reduces the efficiency of your AC and leads to higher energy bills. Clean or replace your filter regularly to ensure proper airflow.

Check your evaporator coil

A dirty evaporator coil can also cause weak air flow. Cleaning it is simple enough. There are commercially available brands of cleaners for cleaning evaporators. Or you can use compressed air to loosen all that dirt.

Check your ductwork

Your AC can also freeze over if the airflow in your ductwork is hampered. The restricted airflow in your ducts could be caused by a leak, bent or disconnected portions. It’s also possible that it’s so filthy it blocks air flow, although a little dust shouldn’t be able to do that.

Unless you yourself are a trained HVAC technician, checking the airflow is pretty much all you can do by yourself when it comes to troubleshooting problems caused by frozen AC units. If your AC still freezes up despite taking all the steps to restore proper airflow, then the problem could be a refrigerant leak, or a busted blower fan or refrigerant line.

All of these are serious enough to make you abandon your DIY approach to troubleshooting your AC unit. These issues are best left to the care of an air conditioning professional. Never mess with more severe AC problems yourself. Give your local HVAC company a call to deal with your AC freezing woes for good.

About The Author

Michelle West is the Senior Content Editor of Precision Air and Heating, an AC repair company in sunny Arizona. Michelle enjoys writing about topics that help people all over the country make their homes more efficient and environmentally-friendly.