Indianapolis HVAC FAQ: What’s the Best Way To Thaw a Frozen Coil?
Frozen Coil? Best way to thaw and next steps
When you have a frozen coil, take these important steps
As summer arrives, air conditioning problems often show up. After sitting dormant through the Indiana winter, your system is working hard again. And in Indiana summer, that can mean working against 90 degree weather, which tends to reveal any existing issues quickly. One common problem is a frozen evaporator coil.
Reminder: what is the Evaporator Coil?
The evaporator coil is part of your indoor unit, found adjacent to the furnace. It includes coils (much like your outdoor unit) that help regulate the temperature of your home. Refrigerant passes through these coils to create cool air while the outdoor unit transfers heat. The fan in the furnace then pushes this cool air throughout your home. This makes the evaporator coil an important part of your system. Since it’s inside, it’s not as visible as the outdoor unit. Learn more about the evaporator coil and other heating and cooling basics in our HVAC 101.
Why do evaporator coils freeze?
Frozen coils are one of the most common issues we see in Indianapolis, especially as air conditioners age. There are a few reason it might happen. Anything that reduces the system’s airflow (for example, a clogged filter), can cause it. Many times it happens because of low refrigerant levels caused by a leak in the system. Whatever is the catalyst, the real issue is that the refrigerant circulating through the coil can’t extract enough heat. This pushes the refrigerant below freezing. As water continues to condense on these below-freezing coils, it then freezes into ice on the surface.
When the coil becomes a large block of ice, technicians can’t diagnose or repair it while it’s frozen. The coil needs to thaw first. That’s why we recommend home owners allow the coil to thaw before having a technician come out.
Because the frozen coil can accumulate a good amount of ice, it produces a lot of water when it thaws. The water from thawing ice can affect the electrical components of your system if not managed properly. Follow the steps we outline below to ensure that any water damage on your system is minimized.
4 Steps to Thaw a Frozen Coil
- Turn thermostat Cool setting to OFF.
- Leave or set the thermostat Fan setting to ON.
- Place old towel near system to ensure water does not go to unwanted areas. Check periodically to mop up any standing water or replace the towel with a dry one.
- Monitor progress, then call HomeSense when the frozen coil has thawed. This process could take up to 24 hours.
Seeing a frozen coil can be concerning, but there are solutions. Follow the steps above, then have a HomeSense technician take a look. We’ll get your system back to keeping you cool. And for additional help on all things AC, check out our AC Repair and Replacement Guide.
Posted in: Air Conditioning, Heating and Cooling FAQs, HVAC Indianapolis
