Believe it or not, an air conditioning system can freeze over, even in the hot Yuma climate. There’s no need to panic if this happens to your system. It’s easy to defrost a frozen A/C unit.
How to Defrost Your Air Conditioner
When your air conditioner freezes, be sure to follow these steps:
- Turn off the compressor and leave the fan on for several hours to allow the evaporator coils to thaw. Don’t use your hand to remove the ice. You could damage your unit’s components.
- After the coils and condenser thaw, wipe off water that may have collected around your equipment.
Next, you should try to establish the reason behind the issue. Here are the possible causes of a frozen A/C unit along with their solutions:
- Inadequate airflow – When there isn’t enough airflow over the indoor evaporator coils, the refrigerant becomes too cold. The coils may freeze as a result. A dirty air filter is the primary culprit of insufficient airflow. Replace it to fix the problem. Allow the ice to melt completely before turning the unit on to check if the new filter has solved the problem.
- Blocked ducts – Blocked registers and vents may also restrict airflow. Check all the supply and return vents and registers in your home and ensure there are no objects on top of or too close to them.
- Dirty evaporator coils – Excessive debris and gunk on the coils will make them unable to absorb the amount of heat needed to cool your house properly. Consequently, they may ice over. Check the cooling fins and coils around the evaporator. Clean them if they’re dirty and change your air filter.
If your DIY efforts don’t fix the frozen A/C unit, contact a professional. The problem could be a refrigerant leak or malfunctioning motor. If you need assistance with any A/C problem in the Yuma area, please contact the experts at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about winter maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
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