Fixing Frozen Air Conditioners

The problem with a frozen air conditioner is often the air filter on the compressing unit. Your compressor is the large outdoor utility with a fan on the top portion. Find the air filter and make sure is unobstructed. This can often lead to issues with the machine, and may cause it to ice up. Over time the coils inside the unit will become dirty and you may have to clean those as well. If the filter is clogged, it will usually be a good idea to clean the coils.

The next step is to check the tubing running from the unit into the house. The tubing is made of copper and may feel extremely cold when you touch it. This is generally a sign of lost refrigerant pressure. You may want to hire a professional to solve this. Simply tell them that you need to charge your AC with extra refrigerant. A loss of refrigerant will sometime be caused by a leak that can be hard to find. You may want to ask the professional to check the line for any potential leaks.

If the unit is frozen, and the tubing is cold to the touch, you may want to follow check all lines inside of the home. Often times ice will form around the cold tubes, and inside the coils in your attic unit. If you stop running frozen machine the ice wil melt and this could leave you with a larger problem. If you notice water forming on your ceiling, you will know that the ice has melted and may be overflowing from the drip pan in your attic.  While you do want to stem for potential water damage, it is important to stop running a frozen machine. Continuing to operate the unit may in fact damage it further.