When the sweltering heat of summer bears down, the last thing anyone wants is for their air conditioning (AC) system to stop working. It’s a scenario that can quickly turn from uncomfortable to unsafe, especially during a heatwave. If you find yourself facing this predicament, particularly if there’s ice forming on your unit, here are some expert steps to take immediately, to ensure safety and prevent further damage to your system.
1. Turn Off Your AC
Turning off your unit is and should always be the first step when you sense something is wrong with how your HVAC unit is performing. If you discover ice inside or outside your air conditioning system is a clear signal that something’s not right. This action is not just about stopping the ice from forming further; it’s about allowing your unit to defrost so it can be serviced. Continuing to run a freezing unit risks it becoming frozen solid, complicating repairs and delaying service.
2. Understand the Energy Waste
Leaving your AC running when it’s not functioning properly, especially if it’s freezing up, is a significant waste of energy. This inefficiency can lead to a noticeable spike in your energy bills as well, talk about a double whammy to the world and wallet. Turning off your unit prevents potential damage and saves you from unnecessary costs.
3. Resist the Temptation to Melt Ice with Your Furnace
It might be tempting to try and expedite the defrosting process by turning on your furnace. Please don’t. Using heat to melt the ice can lead to a very large puddle of water all over the place and potentially more significant issues for your unit and perhaps the flooring or items surrounding the unit.
4. Avoid “Cleaning the Hoses”
Some may think clearing the hoses or lines might solve the issue. However, this could backfire — we’ve seen it happen, and no, it wasn’t pretty — by causing a backup and damaging critical components of your unit, such as the blower motor or compressor. These parts could overheat and fail due to the extra effort needed to function properly under these conditions.
The compressor is outside and is waterproof. Cleaning drains improperly can lead to flooding and this can damage things, but not necessarily lead to overwork.
5. Don’t Disassemble Your System
In a bid to find and remove the ice, you might consider taking apart your AC system. This approach is strongly discouraged. Not only are you at risk of electrical shocks, but you could also inadvertently cause more harm to your unit like damaging refrigerant components while removing ice or being unable to reassemble everything properly.
6. Avoid Resetting Power or Pulling the Breaker
Resetting the power to your AC is a potential fix, but it complicates the diagnostic process once the professional comes out to take a look at your unit. By resetting the power, you also reset any error codes that come up on the thermostat. These codes enable the HVAC professionals to quickly identify the problem.
7. Check Your Filter
If you notice your unit isn’t operating as it should, whether it’s not blowing enough cool air or you’re starting to see ice form either inside or outside around your unit, it’s always a good idea to check your filters as part of the troubleshooting process. Insufficient airflow due to very dirty filters can easily cause freezing.
When to Call for Professional Help
If you’ve taken the steps above and your AC is still not functioning the way it should, or you’re unsure about any part of the process, it’s time to call in the professionals. A certified HVAC technician, like those on Shaw team, can safely diagnose and repair your system, ensuring it’s up and running efficiently in no time. Remember, attempting to fix complex problems on your own can lead to further damage, higher repair costs, and even pose safety risks. Please, do NOT try to fix your unit yourself, leave it to the pros!
If you are experiencing problems with your unit or want to schedule a maintenance call for your AC unit, please visit us at https://shawservices.net/contact-us/ or give us a call: 571-261-3800