Frozen Coils
Frozen AC Coils
If your air conditioner or heat pump unit is showing signs of ice, you could be noticing the initial red flags of a bigger problem. Don’t ignore ice on the outside unit’s coils. Here are some reasons why your AC’s coils are frozen and what you should do about it.
Dirty Air Filters
The most common reason homeowners see ice on their system’s coils are dirty air filters. Before doing anything else, remove and check your air filters for dirt buildup and discoloration.
A 1-inch air filter can last up to 3 months, but depending on your location, the time of year, and whether or not you have pets in the home, you may need to replace your filter every month.
Why Dirty Air Filters Cause Ice Buildup
There are two reasons why dirty air filters will cause your coils to freeze over.
-
Homeowners tend to purchase air filters with the health and safety of themselves and their families in mind. However, air filters don’t only prevent particles that cause allergies and illnesses from circulating throughout your home, they prevent dirt, dust, pollen, dander, and more from reaching your unit’s sensitive equipment. When your unit’s coils become dirty airflow is restricted and heat can’t be taken in or escaped as effectively. Among other things, this will lead to ice formation.
-
As your filters collect dust and other particles, the air that typically flows freely through the filter will become more restricted. A lack of airflow caused by an obstruction somewhere is a very common reason homeowners in Austin will see a frozen outdoor unit.
What To Do About Dirty Filters
You should check your 1-inch filters periodically. Depending on the season, a 1-inch filter may last you 3 months, however, in Austin it’s not uncommon to need an air filter change every 1-2 months in the summer.
If you’ve checked your filters and they’re clean, your coils may still be dirty or airflow could be restricted in other ways.
4 More Ways Airflow Can Be Restricted & Lead To Frozen Coils
When You Should Call a Professional About Frozen AC Coils
If you’ve checked your filters, cleared the outside unit, and unblocked your vents, and ice returns to your unit when you turn it back on, it’s time to contact RedHome Services for a professional assessment so you can get in front of larger issues.
Why Stopping Ice Formation Is So Important for Your AC
Occasionally, homeowners will notice the first instances of ice on their unit before they notice any other symptoms of frozen coils. However, it’s much more likely that you noticed your coils were freezing over after you started experiencing one of the following:
-
Hissing
-
Reduced cooling
-
Higher energy bills
-
Water puddles or leaks
-
A constantly-running unit
-
Increased indoor humidity
While initially, these symptoms may be mild, they can indicate much more serious problems in need of immediate professional attention. Left untreated, ice on your AC’s coils can quickly add unnecessary wear and tear and damage to costly components including your compressor.
Refrigerant Leaks
Refrigerant leaks aren’t uncommon in older units, but can also occur in newer systems for a variety of reasons. One of the warning signs of a refrigerant leak is ice on the unit. You may also notice poor cooling, hissing sounds, and increased energy consumption. This is unfortunately one of the more serious problems a homeowner can run into because continuing to run an AC low on coolant can result in severe damage to your entire system.
Whether you strongly suspect a coolant leak or not, it’s advisable to contact an HVAC professional as soon as possible if you experience any of the symptoms listed above.
Schedule Maintenance to Avoid Frozen Coils On Your AC
Ensure your system is clean and free of buildup, debris, and obstructions with regular maintenance. Regularly scheduled proactive maintenance is designed to catch minor problems early so they don’t have a chance to evolve into unmanageable repairs.
Our Customers Love Us
Rating
Honesty over everything. Two other companies said my 20 year old system was on its last legs, even though it was performing well, but these guys recommended some simple restoration fixes to keep it going strong. Not to mention they were kind, prompt, and knowledgeable. Take a wild guess who I’m using to replace it when it eventually needs to be!?!
I have been using Redhome’s services for my house and rental properties. He is always honest, prompt, and reliable.
The technician must be experienced as he immediately knew what the problem was & 30 minutes later cool air was coming out of the vents! I wish there were more stars to check 👍!!!!
Eldon is prompt , detail oriented, explains his work, and is courteous, friendly, and very knowledgeable and capable!!
Came right away and bing bang boom, fixed everything and out the door within an hour. Elton was a great guy and gave great service
Great work at an affordable price! Elton came out on short notice and stopped a leak for us and got our AC working again. Highly recommend!
Elton is truly one of a kind. We have trusted Elton and his team for every client of ours who has needed HVAC support, and they have been consistently excellent every time. Elton is incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and dependable, and he always takes the time to explain things clearly and make sure the job is done right. Anna is also amazing. She is kind, responsive, and so helpful, and together they make such a strong team. They are quick to respond, easy to work with, and always provide the kind of service that gives us confidence when referring them to our clients. They are truly a powerhouse team and, in our experience, one of the very best in Austin.
We had Mr. Elton Stewart of Red Hat come by Sunday early morning as promised. He quickly diagnosed the issue with our HVAC and fixed the problem. Fantastic. Also reasonably priced. Thank you Mr. Stewart and Red Hat.
Mr. Elton Stewart from Red Home HVAC Services serviced our AC unit this morning. On a Sunday and early morning right on time as promised. Fantastic, very happy. He was extremely professional, diagnosed the issue quickly and rapidly and fixed the problem. All this and reasonably priced. Thank you Mr. Stewart and thank you Red Home.
Great experience with Redhome! Elton came in to fix several issues due to another HVAC company’s incorrect installation.
Great professional work at a reasonable rate. On time and efficient too!
Hands down the best service experience we've had with HVAC in Austin. Our AC went out and our normal provider (which we had on subscription!) wasn't available for a week. Redhome picked up the phone, and the team was out the same day. They diagnosed and fixed in no time. No less than a day later, we had another unrelated issue, and they were back at our house over the weekend. Honest, skilled, and just genuinely good folks. This is the team you put in your phone and call whenever you have issues.
My A/C went out during the typical 90°F+ Austin spring evenings and made it unbearable to sleep. Devin came out, walked me through how my system worked and its different components, did some basic preventative maintenance on the system, and explained what to look out for in the future. Great company and I can't recommend them enough. They offer a couple of packages available for continued support for the year which is great for the Texas heat if you have children or animals that can't be without A/C.
Exceptional knowledge, service and professionalism. Pricing is approachable and detailed out.
RedHome is always fast to respond, quick to find the issue and the service is like no other. Highly recommend if you want a trustworthy family owner business with integrity.
We recently had a new air conditioning unit installed and could not be happier with the experience. We shopped around quite a bit before making a decision, and this company stood out immediately for their honesty and transparency. No pressure, no gimmicks — just straightforward information and fair pricing. Our technician, Elton Stewart, was fantastic. He was kind, professional, and took the time to explain everything clearly. You can tell he genuinely cares about doing the job right. The installation went smoothly, and everything is working perfectly. If you’re looking for an honest company with skilled technicians, I highly recommend them and definitely ask for Elton!
The absolute best HVAC company in Central Texas and Austin. Do not hire Radiant or another private equity owned HVAC company. Elton is the best.
Elton and Devon were incredible! I texted them my heat had gone out on the day before another cold snap was coming. They were there the same day, on time, and fixed my problem onsite. I will definitely use again and could not recommend more highly!
Prompt, professional, very knowledgeable, more than fair, honest, clean. Feel lucky to know about Redhome. I'm a remodeler and I've seen all kinds of contractors. These guys are the real deal, the ones you're looking for.
Elton always provides great service and clear explanations of any issue. Highly recommend.
Our entire experience from start to finish with Redhome was exceptional. Elton was very professional and provided top notch service with clear communication and precision throughout. They were recommended to me from a friend and I could not be more impressed
Elton and Redhome are always quick and reliable! Love working with them!!!
Redhome showed up at the time that I was given. Other services were not always so prompt. Elton was extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
Best experience… Elton is very knowledgeable and so patient. He was able to answer all my questions and put my mind at ease.
Third time using Redhome for home ac/heating problems. They are always very responsive, knowledgeable, polite and genuinely seem to enjoy helping fix your problem. Thanks!
As usual, Elton did a great job! He has been to my home to check my gas heater and air conditioner for many years. Because of his attention to detail the working life of my older unit has been extended by at least a couple of years. Today, Elton did routine winter maintenance, checked for gas leaks, changed the filter and did a small repair on the unit. He is always professional, polite and friendly. I took advantage of signing up for the spring and winter checkups for next year to secure a place in line. When it comes time to replace my air conditioner and gas heater I will get Elton’s input and already plan on having him do the installation.
Elton is such an honest and informative guy. So glad we found RedHome!
Our go-to guy! Professional, prompt, and just a great guy. We are so fortunate to have his help!
I appreciate that this is a local, family-owned business. Anna was very helpful scheduling my appointment, and Elton did a great job diagnosing and fixing my AC in a single visit. He provided clear explanations and estimates, and he was friendly and easy work with.
Elton is the best! He was available in a pinch and solved the AC problem same day. He is my go to!
Elton came out on a Sunday with less than 3 hours notice! He addressed the issue with my ac unit within 30 minutes and his pricing is always very reasonable. I can’t recommend Elton / Redhome Services enough.
