First — turn it off
If you see ice on the refrigerant lines or the indoor coil, switch the system to OFF (or fan-only) right away. Running a frozen AC forces liquid refrigerant back to the compressor — the most expensive part in the system — and can destroy it. Let it thaw fully (a few hours) before doing anything else.
Why an AC coil freezes
A coil ices up when it runs colder than it should, and that comes down to a few things: not enough warm air moving across the coil (a dirty filter, coil, or blower), low refrigerant from a leak, or a restricted metering device (TXV) or filter drier choking the flow. Almost every frozen-AC call traces back to one of these — which is why guessing, or just adding refrigerant, rarely holds.
Airflow problems you can check yourself
Start with the easy stuff: a dirty filter is the first thing to rule out — replace it if it’s gray. Make sure plenty of supply vents are open and not blocked by furniture or rugs, and that the return grille isn’t covered. If the filter and vents are fine but it still freezes, the restriction is usually deeper — a dirty blower wheel or indoor coil — which needs a tech to clean.
Refrigerant: why “just add some” is the wrong fix
If airflow is good and it still ices up, you’re likely low on refrigerant from a leak. Refrigerant doesn’t get used up — if it’s low, it’s leaking out. Topping it off without finding the leak just freezes again in a few weeks and wastes your money. The right fix is to find and repair the leak, then weigh in the correct charge. That’s how we handle every AC repair.
When it’s time for a pro
If a fresh filter and open vents don’t fix it — or the ice keeps coming back — that points to a deeper restriction or a refrigerant leak, not something a top-off will solve. And the longer a system runs iced up, the more it risks the compressor, so it’s worth getting it properly diagnosed before that happens.
If the repair needs a part ordered and the house is climbing, we also rent portable A/C units — delivered and set up so nobody has to sweat it out while you wait.
Get a straight answer
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll give you clear options and upfront pricing — straight, expert work.