Ugh, AC unit has frost/ice build up. What's causing this?

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ironspider

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Greetings all,

We recently turned back on the Central AC Unit and we noticed that it isn't blowing very cool through the vents and then, after a while, it isn't blowing cold air pretty much at all :(

So we went outside to look at the unit and we noticed that the connector is iced up!

I've attached an image below--does this look like some kind of common culprit? And, if so, what needs to be done to fix it and about how much is that going to run us?

Thanks in advnace for any help you can give us!
 

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Jimbo

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This is generally not DIY. There are a million things...some real bad, some not so bad.

Could be as simple as a clogged filter drier, dirty evap and/or condenser coils, needs a charge, etc.

Time to get a well qualified HVAC tech to take a look. He will get his gauges on the high and low sides, calculate the super heat, check the delta T across the drier, evaluate the coils and clean as necessary, etc.
 

Bill Arden

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It's probably low on freon and needs cleaning.

The quickest way to get some cool air is to set the fan to continuous and then set the thermostat up until the unit cycles on and off.

This will give you a little bit of cool air, however it won't be as efficient.
 

Gator37

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The first thing you will have to do is let the evaporator (inside unit) thaw out which will take a little while for the ice to melt.
Check for a clogged filter.
Check for a dirty coil especially if you have ever run your unit with out a filter. You will have to clean the coil
Check to see if you blower (evaporator) fan is operating....blowing air
See if you can see where the ice stops it the coil is not icing up. Where it stops is probably the bad component....expansion valve if you have one...or filter dryer...etc.
If none of the above you may have a leak as mentioned previously of which you will have to get a mechanic to check the pressures and find the leak.

Whoops if you have a heat pump it may be another problem such as an expansion valve
 
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NHmaster3015

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Short of cleaning the evap and condensor coils there is nothing more a homeowner can do. It can be caused by any one of many factors and even a combination of several. Call an HVAC tech.
 

Jadnashua

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As opposed to an automobile a/c system which has various hoses which can (very) slowly leak refrigerant, a home a/c unit has all soild metal connection. The only place a home a/c unit can leak is through seals. An auto system will lose refrigerant. It gets very messy legally about just putting refrigerant into a system that is leaking. Dumping refrigerant into the atmosphere is not good for the environment, and fixing it right is what is needed.
 
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