A common problem with air conditioners not working correctly is the unit has frozen over. When this happens, you will typically feel warm or room temperature air coming from your vents and the AC system running constantly. A dirty air filter restricting air flow to the system is a common culprit along with dirty indoor or outdoor coils, and the system being low on refrigerant. If your AC has frozen over, take these steps to see if it fixes your situation.
1 – Turn off your air conditioner. Leaving the system running will only make the situation worse and waste a lot of energy.
2 – Turn on the fan. Switch from ‘Auto’ to ‘On’ on your thermostat to allow for air to circulate over the frozen coils to speed up the thawing of the unit. This is also a great time to check and replace your air filter. Keep an eye on your drain pan that it doesn’t overflow and your condensate line being clogged which may cause water damage in your home.
3 – Dry the evaporator coils. Once your coils have thawed which could take up to 24 hours, wipe away any excess water that remains.
4 – Clean the indoor and outdoor coils. Disconnect power to your indoor and outdoor units and you can use a vacuum with a brush to clean debris from your indoor coils and outdoor fins.
5 – Reconnect power and turn the system back on at the thermostat and switch the fan back to ‘Auto’. Monitor the system and check to see if the unit starts to freeze up again. If so, it’s time to call your HVAC professional.
If you’re still having problems after your evaporator coils have thawed and system has been cleaned, call us at 785-341-4193 to have one of our highly-skilled HVAC technicians assess your situation and get your AC up and running again.
De Hart Plumbing Heating and Cooling, serving Manhattan Kansas, Junction City Kansas, Wamego Kansas, Topeka Kansas, and some surrounding areas.