My Air Conditioner Line Froze Over

Raise Temperature

• Turning up the thermostat on the front panel of the portable or window air conditioner is the fastest way to remedy a frozen air conditioner line, if the air conditioner continues to run. The problem lies with ice covering the internal components, blocking the flow of air from the unit into the room. If tepid airflow occurs, ice buildup has likely disabled the cooling component, causing the air to feel warm or room temperature. This warm air actually helps the defrost process. Press the up directional button to raise the thermostat and produce more warm air for the unit.

Raise Fan Speed

• To add more melting power to the high thermostat setting, raise the fan speed. If the portable unit is already in "Fan" mode, press the "Fan Speed" button continuously to cycle through the different fan speed settings. Some units feature three fan speed settings, such as "High," "Medium" and "Low." Set the fan speed to "High" for maximum melting capabilities. If the unit isn't on "Fan" mode, you can press the "Mode" button on the front panel until the "Fan" mode indicator light illuminates. The "Mode" and "Fan Speed" buttons should also be on the remote control, if one came with the unit.

Turn Off Unit

• If the air conditioner line is frozen and the unit fails to blow air, turn off the unit. If the unit has been running for a time while frozen, the unit sometimes will shut off as a safety measure. The unit can defrost naturally in the off state. Press the "On/Off" button on the remote control or on the portable air conditioner's front panel to turn it off. To prevent electrical damage, unplug the air conditioner until the line defrosts and the internal components are completely dry.

Prevent Future Freezes

• If you wish to avoid a future air conditioner line freeze, abstain from turning the unit on during harshly cold temperatures outside. If the temperature outside is lower than the air conditioner's lowest thermostat setting, then the lines will freeze if you turn the unit on. However, if you wish to run the unit, you can turn the thermostat up to a higher setting and keep the fan on a low speed.

Call a Technician

• If your home's central air conditioner freezes, simply turn off the unit to allow it to defrost. If you turn the unit back on and it freezes again, you'll probably need to call a technician to address the issue, but make sure you do as much troubleshooting as you can before you call.

  Some central AC problems, such as a running compressor or an inactive evaporator fan, require the assistance of a technician. However, if the compressor runs within a centralized AC but the fan doesn't, you can check the fan area for debris, such as a plastic bag or any other restrictive item that might get sucked into the unit. Remove panels as necessary to get to the fan, clear out any debris that you see around the fan and turn the AC back on to see if the fan runs. If the fan still fails to run, it might be damaged or defective and you should contact a technician to fix it.

  If the AC system isn't correctly charged, the cooling component malfunctions and causes the unit to freeze over. Frequent freezing up and low air output are signs of this problem, but only a technician can test it properly to determine if the charge is the issue.

  If you raise the thermostat to a temperature setting higher than the room temperature and the compressor and fan fail to shut off, it's possible the thermostat is broken. This is another instance when you should contact a technician.