What Causes AC Freeze-Up in Georgetown
Evaporator coil ice forms when the refrigerant temperature drops below the freezing point of moisture in the air passing over the coil. This happens when either airflow drops below the coil's design threshold or refrigerant pressure drops below the design operating range — or both.
When refrigerant charge drops, suction pressure and evaporator temperature drop with it. The coil gets colder than its design temperature and moisture from Georgetown's humid air freezes on contact. Systems in Serenada's 1980s–1990s homes with original or aging equipment are the most common freeze-up calls we receive.
When not enough warm air passes over the coil, the coil stays too cold and freezes. Georgetown's heavy construction particulate load and high cedar pollen season (December–February) accelerate filter loading. We also see freeze-ups in homes that switched to high-MERV filters without verifying their air handler can pull adequate airflow through the denser media.
Georgetown homeowners who set thermostats to 68°F or below overnight on humid summer nights are asking their systems to remove more moisture than designed. Systems that are marginally charged or have dirty coils may freeze under these conditions even though they perform adequately during the day.
The Right Way to Handle a Frozen AC
Before we arrive: turn the system to FAN ONLY (not off, not cooling) to begin defrosting. Don't turn the system completely off — the fan helps melt ice faster. Don't run it in cooling mode — it will refreeze immediately. Once we arrive, we defrost completely before diagnosing — accurate refrigerant measurements require a fully defrosted coil. Then we identify and repair the root cause.
⚠️ What Not to Do With a Frozen AC
- Don't pour hot water on the coil — thermal shock can damage the coil
- Don't try to scrape ice off — coil fins are easily bent and damaged
- Don't restart in cooling mode until fully defrosted
- Don't assume defrost = fixed — it will refreeze without root cause repair
Frequently Asked Questions — Frozen AC Repair
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What Georgetown Homeowners Say
System stopped cooling on a Saturday at 2 PM. Called ProAir, tech arrived by 5 PM, failed capacitor replaced and cooling by 5:30 PM. That's exactly what same-day service looks like.
Had a noise coming from the outdoor unit for weeks. ProAir diagnosed a failing fan motor bearing — caught it before it failed completely. Saved me from an emergency call in July.
They told me I needed refrigerant. After they added it, cooling improved immediately. Honest diagnosis, fair price, and they explained everything they found. Exactly what you want.