My Air Conditioner Unit Is Freezing up

Temperature

• If the internal coils are frozen and you'd like to keep the air conditioner running, raise the thermostat with the "Cooling" mode running. The increased temperature allows warmer air to flow through the coils, defrosting the ice buildup along the way. Press the up directional button on the front panel of the air conditioner until the thermostat reaches a higher temperature, such as 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're using the remote control, point it at the unit's front panel, and press the up directional button until the thermostat number reaches the desired setting.

Fan

• Add power to the thawing process by increasing the fan speed. If the fan is turned off completely, the coils must simply thaw out without aid as the temperature setting is ineffective without the fan to circulate air through the unit. Press the "Fan" mode button or the "Cool" mode button until the fan reaches its highest setting. The combination of the fan with the high temperatures will send warm air rapidly through the cooling element, melting the ice of the element.

Power

• One of the simplest ways to defrost the frozen unit is to turn it off. Press the "Power" or "On/Off' button on the air conditioner front panel to turn it off. If you're using a remote control, press the "On/Off" button or the "Power" button to turn the unit off. Unplug the unit to prevent electrical accidents, and allow the unit to defrost for approximately one hour before plugging it back in.

Prevention

• Frozen coils are an indicator that the unit temperature is set too low while the temperature outside is also very low. If the outside temperature reaches below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which is an air conditioner unit's approximate ultimate temperature low, condensation occurs, causing the cooling element to freeze and become ineffective. To prevent the freezing condition from occurring, set the air conditioner thermostat higher. Beware of the air conditioner sleep mode setting as sleep mode drops the temperature a couple of levels lower than its starting level after activation, during which time the unit freeze-up can occur.