How to Fix a Frozen Air Conditioner

Arizona is famous for its hot days, and few people realize that this can lead to a frozen air conditioner. How is that possible?

A common cause of a frozen air conditioner in Arizona is a blocked air filter, which restricts the airflow needed to keep condensation off the coils. Another common cause of is refrigerant leaks. As refrigerant leaks, it can condense on the coils or pool within the unit and freeze as the temperature drops.

When an air conditioner is frozen, we recommend taking the following steps to fix the problem and get the cold air circulating again.

How to Fix a Frozen AC Unit

When an air conditioner is frozen, start by flipping the breaker and keeping it off until the condenser unit is thawed. This doesn’t take long in the summer.

Once the ice on AC coils has melted, it is important to dry the coils and remove any moisture that has pooled around the unit. This helps improve efficiency and can reduce the likelihood that the unit will ice up again when it is turned back on. As you are doing this, remove any debris such as dirt, sand or leaves that may be blocking drainage channels.

Before Switching Back

Before switching the air conditioner back on, set your thermostat so that you only turn the blower or fan on. This circulates air through the system and can help remove any remaining ice crystals within the coils. Another option is to use a hair dryer on low-heat to blow hot air along the outside of the coils. While it can be tempting to speed up the process and use a high-heat setting, this is something that should be avoided because it can crack the condenser coils and lead to costly repairs.

Once you are confident that the ice has thawed, turn the unit back on and feel for the cold air blowing through the registers. If it is cool, then you know you have removed the ice and any blockages. If it is not, turn the unit off and go through the steps again.

Contact Us About Your Frozen Air Conditioner

Is your AC unit iced up? All you need to do is contact the team at Howard Air & Plumbing  by calling (623) 201-5153. We know exactly how to fix a frozen air conditioner in Arizona and can help remove ice on AC coils. We will also thoroughly inspect your system so that the cool air keeps flowing throughout the season.

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