If the air conditioning coils in your home's unit have fallen victim to ice buildup, you'll have trouble getting your house properly cooled. Incorporating the aid of an air conditioning specialist can sometimes be costly, so before placing that call, make an effort to tackle this job on your own. Fortunately, provided the problem isn't indicative of something more serious, you can take care of the issue in just a few simple steps. Step 1 - Prep Your Air Conditioner Before proceeding to remove the ice from the coils, you will need to turn off your AC unit and disconnect it from its power source. Allow it to sit for several minutes, and you'll be ready to give the surrounding area a good looking-over. If you find any leakage or stains on the unit, your air conditioner will likely need to be looked at by a repair specialist. Leaks are often caused by low refrigerant levels and should only be tackled by someone well-versed in these machines. If you're find nothing out of the ordinary upon inspection, you may proceed with the next step.

Step 2 - Allow the Ice to Melt Keep the device turned off and disconnected to allow the ice to melt naturally. If it is warm enough for your AC to be active, this shouldn't take long.central air conditioning miami florida Step 3 - Clean Your Coilsair conditioning units cooling capacity Now that the ice buildup has melted away, it's time to give the coils a good cleaning. how much for a 3 ton ac unit installedStart by donning a pair of gloves and spraying the formerly ice-laden coils with a commercial coil cleaner. Next, use a scrub brush or expendable toothbrush to administer a vigorous scrubbing, making sure to purge any caked-on dirt deposits. Excessive dirt on your coils is a major cause of ice formation, so when performing this step, make a point of being very thorough.

Once the coils have been successfully cleaned, spray them with a warm water-filled spray bottle in order to remove any remaining traces of the cleaner. Take a clean cloth and wipe the freshly cleaned coils dry. Do not reconnect your AC unit to its power source or proceed to reuse the device until all the moisture is gone. Step 4 - Keep Your Air Conditioning Coils Ice-free Preventing ice buildup in the first place is the best way to ensure your AC doesn't run into frequent problems. Assuming your unit hasn't sprung a leak, the best way to avoid frozen coils is to abstain from running the air when the temperature is cool outside. Additionally, take care to give the coils periodic cleanings in order to avoid ice formation caused by excess filth. Pros and Cons of Using Radiant Ceiling PanelsWhat to Do When Your Home’s A/C Is Not Blowing Cold Air View Local Air Conditioning and Heating Companies When coming home after a long day out on a stuffy summer’s afternoon, the last thing you want to be greeted with upon walking through the front door is a blast of warm air.

If you discover that your air conditioner has stopped blowing cold air, you’ll probably wonder what to do for the fastest fix. Before investigating your AC's troubles, you should have a basic understanding of how it functions. For an in-depth look at residential HVAC systems, check out how heating and cooling systems work. All residential air conditioning systems, whether operating as a split system or a heat pump, utilize the same basic method to cool your home. Essentially, your air conditioner pulls in warm air from inside the home, extracts heat from it, and circulates the now-cool air through your duct system and into the different rooms of your home. This is accomplished by the two major components of an air conditioning system: the condenser (the unit that sits outside your home) and the evaporator. When your air conditioner is blowing warm air, there’s a good chance that your condenser is simply dirty. How to Clean Your Condenser in 7 Steps: Shut down all power to the unit.

Attached to the condenser should be a metal box that houses the disconnect switch. This is where you’ll turn off the 240 volts that power the condenser. The way to do this will vary depending on the particular system, so consult your system’s manual or call the installer before beginning. Generally, the power can be shut down by pulling a shutdown handle, removing a fuse, or disconnecting a power cord. Also make sure to turn off the circuit at your main electrical panel. After waiting a few minutes to ensure that all the remaining charge is gone, unscrew and remove the top panel or grille as well as any protective side grilles. Be careful with this step, as sometimes the unit’s fan is attached to the top panel or grille. If this is the case, make sure you don’t disturb any wires connected to the fan. When you remove the protective grilles, you’ll notice that the condenser coils are surrounded by flat panels, or fins, usually made out of aluminum. With a soft brush, clean the fins and coils of any debris or dust, taking care not to bend the fins, and remove any loose debris from the bottom of the unit.

Then, if possible, use a bristle attachment to vacuum away any remaining dirt or dust. Next, cover the wiring and the motor with a plastic bag (a garbage bag would work nicely) and duct tape, and use a hose with a trigger nozzle to clean out the coils and fins. Do not use a high-pressure stream, as the aluminum fins can be easily bent by water pressure. After the water has drained from inside the bottom of the unit, remove the plastic covering. If any of the fins are bent, you’ll want to have them straightened for optimal performance. This requires a special tool called a fin comb and is best left to a professional HVAC contractor. Make a note to call one to repair your unit before the heavy-use season begins. Tips for choosing a contractor. Screw the protective grilles back onto the unit. After you’ve finished cleaning the condenser, use a level to make sure that the unit is balanced properly. If the unit isn’t level, drainage problems may occur. Finally, turn the thermostat off before reconnecting the power to the unit.

After the thermostat is turned off, reengage the power to the unit at the main service panel and the disconnect box, and then set the thermostat to cool. After a few minutes, locate the two pipes connecting the outdoor unit to the indoor air handler. One of the pipes should be cool, and the other should be warm. If cleaning the condenser unit doesn't solve your problem, then you likely need to have your refrigerant recharged. This is something best left to a professional: read local reviews. Smart maintenance: Even if your AC is working fine, cleaning your condenser is something that should be done every year, ideally on a warm day before the heavy-use season. As you can imagine, the HVAC business is highly cyclical, so you want to avoid having to call for AC repair during the busy summer months. If you give your system a good cleaning in the spring, you can hopefully catch any small problems (such as bent condenser fins) before they bring your whole system down just when you need it the most.