Sometimes A/C units work themselves into a corner where they freeze up and won’t do anything but sit there beeping at you or turn themselves off or on. If that happens, a quick call with your HVAC guy won’t work anymore.
So, how to unfreeze an air conditioner?
It may seem impossible, but it’s not. Read on.
Why Does an Air Conditioner Freeze?
If your air conditioner has frozen, you’ll need to deal with the issue immediately. But you may wonder, why did it freeze in the first place?
The first thing that may cause your air conditioner to freeze is poor airflow. The air passing poorly through your coils will result in condensation, and as your air conditioner continues to run, it will turn into ice. Poor airflow can be caused by dirty airways or if you haven’t changed your filter for some time.
Low refrigerant levels could also cause your AC to freeze, for the reduced pressure could make nearby water vapor freeze on the surface of your air conditioner’s coils. This is normally caused by a leak, so inspect your system and fix the leak so you can prevent this from happening again.
How to Unfreeze an Air Conditioner
If your air conditioner has frozen, don’t panic! You can unfreeze it in three easy steps.
1. Turn Off Your AC
When unfreezing your unit, the first thing to do is turn off your AC. Then, check the air filter and change it if it needs to be changed while it is still powered off. You could also inspect your unit for more damages and abnormalities while it is powered down.
You can turn it off for an hour to let it dry on its own, but if it doesn’t, you may need help from some tools.
2. Use a Hair Dryer or Heat Gun to Thaw
If your air conditioner is frozen, you can try using a hair dryer or heat gun to thaw it out.
First, make sure that the hair dryer or heat gun is set to the lowest setting.
Second, hold the hair dryer or heat gun about six inches away from the air conditioner unit and move it around so that you evenly thaw the unit.
Once the unit is thawed, you can turn it back on and see if it works correctly. If it is not working correctly, you may need to call a professional to service your unit, click here.
3. Turn It Back on Again
After you unfreeze an air conditioner, you need to turn it back on again. This will reset the system and allow the air conditioner to start working properly again. Observe your AC’s performance, and don’t hesitate to call a professional if it performs poorly or freezes again. It may have internal problems.
Maintain Your Air Conditioner
Now that you know the steps on how to unfreeze an air conditioner, be sure to maintain your unit properly. You don’t want to be burdened by your air conditioner continuously freezing and not performing as it should. Remember these three easy steps, and don’t hesitate to call a professional for help if you need to.
Did this article help you unfreeze your air conditioner? Keep reading our blog for other helpful topics.
