When your home’s HVAC system freezes up amid the summer heat, it’s easy to panic and fear the worst. However, if you know what to do when your HVAC freezes in advance, it takes most of the stress out of the situation. To help, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to deal with a frozen HVAC system.
1. Turn Off Your AC
When your HVAC system freezes, leaving your AC turned on will only make the problem worse. The first thing you should do is turn off your AC. That will stop the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator coils and allow the coils to begin defrosting.
2. Turn On Your AC Fan
It can take up to 24 hours for your AC to defrost, so if you can’t wait that long, you can turn the system’s fan to speed up the process. You can do this from your HVAC’s thermostat, which should have a switch or setting that turns the fan on instead of operating automatically, as it normally would. This will draw in warm air from around your home and circulate it around the frozen coils. Depending on how badly they’ve frozen, leaving the fan on should defrost them within an hour or two.
3. Turn Up Your Heat
If the fan-only defrosting method’s still too slow, you can go one step further. You can turn on your HVAC’s heat function to melt the ice buildup right away. Of course, doing so will also warm up your home, so this is only an option of last resort if you absolutely can’t wait.
4. Make a Maintenance Appointment
Once the ice on your evaporator coils thaws, your AC should be back in working order. However, it’s not normal for an HVAC to freeze. So, you should follow up by scheduling an appointment with Mike's Heating and Air. We’ll check out your HVAC system to figure out what’s causing the freeze-ups and fix it for you.
Since 1985, Mike's Heating and Air has served the Albany, OR, area, offering the finest HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance services. We also handle commercial HVAC systems and provide indoor air quality solutions, too. So, for HVAC troubleshooting, repairs, and more, contact the experts at Mike's Heating and Air today!
