HVAC Covered in Ice

last year

last modified: last year

I moved into my house in 2021 and, unfortunately, haven't had any maintenance done to our HVAC (2015 Ruud Package Unit). I've replaced the filter monthly but that's all. It's been working fine until the past three days when I started noticing the temperature not reaching what we had it set at. It's been warm in the day. We keep it set to 70, but the thermostat has been showing it at 79, but early in the morning it will be at 70/70.
So I called an HVAC company yesterday, they arrived today and the entire unit outside is frozen, covered in ice. Because it's storming, the tech decided to turn the unit off for today, let it thaw, and come back out tomorrow. He told me it's likely a leak as our filter is clean (was just replaced two weeks ago.) He said if it's a supply coil, this is more fixable but will still cost likely around $1,000 as the Freon cost is high, but that if it's the evap coil it's essentially not fixable or would not be worth it to fix.
I just want to see if this is correct so I feel prepared tomorrow when they come back out. I'm a female alone, and I do not know much about this topic and would like to have a thorough understanding if what I'm being told is the truth before I just agree to a brand new unit or whatever they tell me. Thank you!
Editing to add that while the technician told me to keep the unit/thermostat off, I tried turning just the fan on as I read that was a quicker/better way to thaw the ice. It does not appear the fan is coming on at all. Does this mean it's died? When the man was here he stated the blower was working. I thought that meant the fan but it must not.
Editing one last time to say I just noticed that air is still coming up through the vents even though the system is off. What does this mean?!?!

Featured Answer

klem1

last year

last modified: last year

Unfortunately gaining a "through understanding" of all reasons for freeze-up requires a trade school course and a "through understanding" of con games,greed, cheats, liars,high pressure sales, unscrupulous contractors and inept techs requires a life time of hard knocks. If you were my sister and I was out of the country I would. Ask if you paid tech after first visit and if so call contractor to postpone follow up visit until I give them notice. In the interim I would run unit as usual. If unit cools normally I would suspect dirty evaporator coil as being cause of freeze up. Coil cleaning is a routine chore made necessary by poor filtration or damaged return duct. If it doesn't cool at all go outside to see if unit is running. If outdoor unit isn't running I would be highly suspect of tech and call a second contractor. An unscrupulous tech might disable outdoor unit to assure call back. If outdoor is running and it doesn't cool normally you are at their mercy as to what they say it needs. Sorry I can't instill 50 years experience in 25 words or less,perhaps others can do better.

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Comments (12)

kevin9408
last year
last modified: last year
The diagnosis does sound rational but does need confirmed with pressure gauges and thermometers to verity if it is low. But I believe in checking other simple and overlooked reasons before condemning a unit as having a leak before pulling out the gauges to even check.

There are other issues which would simulate the same effects of a dirty filter. To many blocked or shut supply vents, blocked return grills, blower motor not running or a very dirty caked up squirrel cage fan will lower air movement over the evaporator in the house will do the same as a dirty air filter.

Setting your thermostat to low will also cause the evaporator to freeze up and migrate to the condensing unit. Any chance you set it below 67 degrees? It would take a while to move to condenser but once the evaporator starts freezing over it turns into a domino effect. If this was the case and once it thawed out it would be fine unless you did it again.

A restricted metering valve is least common but would also cause your condensing unit to freeze up. This is often overlooked and has cost many a new condensing unit only to find the tech never checked the super heat. If he didn't investigate any of the other reasons I mentioned and automatically assumed it's low refrigerant I'd be suspect. Over confident is just as dangerous as under qualified.
fleurssauvages thanked kevin9408
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kevin9408
last year
You need to go to the air handler and see if the fan is actually working. If it is and the first time there was no air it means the evaporator in the air handler was completely blocked with ice.

The 2nd time you check and found some air blowing the ice has started to melt. You will be able to hear the fan running at the air handler if it is running. If it's running keep it on "ON" to melt the ice. You did good turning it on, but do not turn on the air conditioning.
fleurssauvages thanked kevin9408
fleurssauvages
Original Author
last year
Thank you. I think I'm getting my terms mixed up. So when I said the fan was not working I'm talking about the big fan blade looking thing in the unit outside. That's not turning on when I turn the fan on, on the thermostat. But even when I have the thermostat set completely off (system and fan both off), air is coming up through the vents. How/why is it coming up if I have the system off?
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fleurssauvages
Original Author
last year

This thing. Should this be spinning when I turn the fan on, on the thermostat? It's not spinning at all, but air is coming up through the vents, but it's coming up through the vents even when I turn the whole system off as well. I've noticed the majority of ice seems to have melted away from what I can see.
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woodbutcher_ca
last year
Hi, I don't know much about air conditioners. If you have a furnace that is your air handler. The fan switch on your thermostat probably has an auto or an on switch but no off. When you turn it on air comes out of the ducts

The fan out side only comes on when the compressor is running.

Good Luck Woodbutcher
fleurssauvages thanked woodbutcher_ca
sktn77a
last year
Don't let this guy replace your coil until he has identified that this is where the leak is (and if he doesn't know how to do this, find someone else).
fleurssauvages thanked sktn77a
fleurssauvages
Original Author
last year
I'm in SC where the temps are up and down, so the temp has dropped drastically again last night and is now back in the 30s (from the high 70s/80s two days ago). I've had the unit off all night except for the fan. Am I able to turn the heat back on, or should I leave the entire unit off?
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sktn77a
last year
You should have an "emergency heat" setting on your thermostat. Turn that on. It will cost more but is the accepted temporary procedure until you can get the issue resolved.
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HU-673413423
last year
Did they come back to repair it?

The fan control on the thermostat is for the fan inside. The fan outside turns on when it's in air conditioning or heat pump mode.
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Ella Jones
last year
Check for leaks in the refrigerant lines and recharge the refrigerant to the proper levels.
klem1
last year
1. Me to! Ella Jones can you be more specific about proceedures of checking for leaks and recharging? Since OP referred to his condenser as "big fan blade looking thing in unit outside" he's going to need all the help you can spare.
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