When the weather starts to heat up, most people use their ACs more frequently. However, sometimes your AC can freeze up, which can be a significant inconvenience.
If that happens, you can do a few things to take care of the issue yourself, but if you have tried everything possible, it is time to call in an HVAC pro.
This article will discuss five ways on how to unfreeze your air conditioner and when to call an expert.
Why Does Your AC Freeze in Winter?
Air conditioners are in great demand these days. According to Statista, the global heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) market will reach about $367.5 billion by 2030.
Your AC can freeze for several reasons. One reason is that the unit is not correctly sized for your home. It will not keep up with the demand when it gets scorching outside if it is too small.
Another reason could be a refrigerant leak, which would need to be fixed by a professional. Dirty filters can also cause your AC to freeze, as low can levels of coolant.
How To Unfreeze Your AC?
If your AC has frozen, there are five things that you can do to try and unfreeze it:
Don’t Use the AC If It’s Completely Frozen
If a good deal of the coil is frozen, do not try to run your AC. It is the first step before understanding how to unfreeze your air conditioner.
Instead, call a service company immediately because it might prevent damage from being done to other parts of the system.
Turn The Thermostat All the Way Up
It will give your AC more power to unfreeze itself. However, if the problem is that you need more coolant, then this tactic could make the situation worse because it can cause unnecessary strain on the system.
Turn On Your Fan Only
When you use your fan only, the air will be conditioned by the evaporator coil and somewhat defrosted. It means that you can continue to use it for a little while.
Shut Your System Down Completely
To shut down your AC system completely, locate your thermostat and turn it down as far as possible. You may need to wait until the ice on the coil melts before turning it back on.
Change The Air Filter
If you have not replaced the AC’s air filter in a while, it might be clogged and prevent air from flowing through the system. By replacing the air filter, you might be able to help defrost the coil.
Clean Out the Moisture Build-Up
Finally, if you find out that there is a lot of moisture build-up inside the system, you will need to get it cleaned out. It is imperative if you just got your AC repaired and there’s new damage on the coil.
When To Call an Expert?
If none of these methods works, it is time to call in an HVAC pro. They will have the experience and knowledge to unfreeze your AC quickly and efficiently. In some cases, they might even have to take the system apart to get to the frozen coil.
The best way to avoid having your AC freeze up is by scheduling yearly maintenance.
This way, any issues can be taken care of early, which will prevent any significant problems in the long run.
