air conditioner frozen

MrCool, Why is My Air Conditioner Frozen?

  • July 15, 2015
  • By MR COOL

Every summer some unlucky schlub wanders outside, slips on some ice, and says, “Hey! Why the heck is my air conditioner frozen? It’s burning up out here!”

Yes, it’s weird and completely counter-intuitive. How could ice build up on your air conditioner in the middle of a hot July?

Don’t freak out. It’s science.

So, Why is My Air Conditioner Frozen, Exactly?

Ice can build up on your air conditioner for two main reasons:

1. Low refrigerant charge.
2. Blocked airflow.

Let’s tackle each one like a Notre Dame linebacker.

Low Refrigerant

Air conditioners depend on super cold refrigerant in order to efficiently transfer heat from the inside of your house to the outside.  Ice can build up when that refrigerant gets too low. However, this isn’t the most common answer to the questions.

Airflow Problems

The main reason why air conditioners turn into ice machines is due to air flow problems. An air conditioner needs constant air flow to work properly. If that air flow gets interrupted or restricted, even by a dirty air filter, ice can start to build up on the coils. As you might suspect, a frozen air conditioner isn’t exactly the best way to keep your house cool in summer.

Fix the Frozen Air Conditioner Problem

So, how do you fix it? Follow these simple steps:

1. Cut the power to the air conditioner. It needs to be 100% OFF.
2. Let the ice melt naturally. This shouldn’t take too long in hot summer weather.
3. Make sure nothing is restricting the air flow around the condenser, the air handler, or inside your ductwork. If you find obstructions, remove or repair them.
4. Change the air filter, and make sure the evaporator coils are not too dirty. A filthy coil could have been the source of the problem.
5. Once the ice is all nice and melted (i.e. – completely gone), turn the unit back on.

Does it work? If it does, you’re probably okay. If it doesn’t, you’re going to need professional help. Contact an HVAC technician to get the unit serviced.


86 thoughts on “MrCool, Why is My Air Conditioner Frozen?”

  1. I installed my unit today and followed the instructions. An electrician connected the the unit. I turned it on and let it running for several hours. I noticed the unit was not cooling and the the low line was frozen. I need help troubleshooting. Everything is new.

      1. Hello my unit was installed today and my lines are frozen and aren’t cooling. I installed as per plans so I need help

  2. This is exactly what happened to us! It’s a brand new unit so I have no idea what could be wrong. The lines are not kinked and there’s nothing restricting the air flow.

  3. I have a 1200 BTU unit and today the small line is freezing up and the air handler inside is also seeing frost build up cleaned the coil and the filters. Getting the same results. Could this possibly be a leaking line or compressor going bad?

      1. My refrigerant line is freezing. Why this is causing so much problem. It is nearly impossible to get in contact with tech support or customer service. You leave several messages and they will call after 2-3 days. I will put it on social media and BBB, Since installation this unit is constantly causing problems, First heating was a problem and than cooling, Its 105 degrees in San Antonio

        1. We apologize greatly for this. Would you mind sending me a reliable contact number so that someone from our service team can reach out? Your personal information will not be made public.

  4. My AC/Heatpump keeps freezing up when heating my garage. The outside temperature is mid 20’s and heating garage to 62 degrees F. I installed the 18000 BTU unit late this summer. There was no icing up (that I noticed) when cooling. What is your opinion as to what is causing the ice?

    1. Most likely the ice is caused by the below freezing temperatures. Condensation will build up on the outside coil during the heating cycle. On a heat pump, that condensate can freeze, and the unit will need to run its defrost to remove the ice.

      1. Is it unusual for the ice to remain on the fins without ever completely defrosting. My unit goes into defrost mode at times, but it doesn’t seem to do this when there is frost on the fins. Also, the bottom fins never accumulate any amount of frost. The function doesn’t seem to be adversely affected, but I do notice that air flow seems to only exist around the perimeter of the fan, and not directly in front of the unit.

      1. So the freezing up of the coils is normal operation? Mine is freezing up with temps in the upper 30s. It will go into defrost mode every hour or so. I don’t recall this happening last winter.

        1. At certain temperatures, the coil is going to freeze virtually no matter what. However, it shouldn’t be freezing in the upper 30s. That may indicate a low refrigerant level.

  5. Just bought a DIY 18000btu 20 Seer mrcool unit at Lowe’s. Had installer out yesterday to hook it up and install. Everything seemed to be working fine when he left. After a few hours on heat mode I noticed a lot of sweat or condensation on pad and unit outside. Was still heating good. Then the temp dropped to around 38 at about 9-9:30 pm and the fins outside were all freezing up. I turned unit off and talked to installer. What could this be?

    1. Ice build up coils can happen for a variety of reasons. Since you had it professionally installed, your best option would be to have the installer return to evaluate the system.

  6. i put one unit just couple of month ago a 3 ton central it freeze up to , try to heat up the house and have to put it in air conditioner to defrost it , is this normal run air conditioner in the winter i can’ t see other people or other unit doing this crazy thing we paid over 12000$ for this unit so what the problem this is not a joke

    1. An air-source heat pump condenser coil can build up ice in low temperature conditions. This will activate defrost mode, which does reverse operation (i.e. – turn on the air conditioning mode) to push heat into the condenser coil and melt the ice. This is a normal part of operation. It sounds like you need an auxiliary heat kit for emergency heating when your heat pump is in defrost mode.

  7. My new MrCool DIY 24K Outside Unit is encrusted with ice almost daily. I have a roof over it and the install manual directed amount of space for airflow behind and over it. I assume the automatic defrost cycle runs, but it doesn’t seem to fully melt all the ice each day. How can I activate Defrost Mode manually?

    1. Defrost Mode on a heat pump is basically just the Cooling mode, since that pushes heat out through the outside cool. For manual defrost, just switch the unit to Cooling. If you think your unit is malfunctioning, you can always call tech support at 270-366-0457.

  8. My heat pump is 3 years old. I found about 1/2 inch ice on the pad. None on the coils or condenser. Please help , is this urgent to keep it working? Its currently 24 degrees with temperatures dropping in the next few days.
    Thank you

    1. If you’re running the heat pump in heat mode, that ice buildup is probably from condensate freezing on the pad. Unless you’re experiencing a problem with the heating function, it shouldn’t be an issue.

  9. I just installed a 3-zone unit and one of the handlers started splashing water and the line to the condenser for that particular handler is frozen. Can someone advise?

  10. I installed a 4 zone unit. All electrical was done professionally. I hooked up the line sets and checked for leaks with soapy water. One indoor unit is dripping water even when it is not on. The connections at the outdoor unit are covered with ice. When thawed out and checked for leaks with a leak detector nothing was found. What is making the one unit one the inside drip water like it has ice in it thawing. Like I said it’s not even turned on. And by the way the system is only about 3 months old. Thanks

    1. If your unit was professionally installed, your first recourse should be to have the installer come back to review their work.

        1. If you have a DIY that is dripping water, it is likely not level or the drain hose is clogged.

  11. We have a Mr Cool model A12 HP-C-230A. It started freezing up about halfway through summer last year, after only 3 months use. I turned it on again today and the ice starts to form on the outside line immediately. Obviously this is a major issue with Mr Cool HVACs. My question is; What is the company going to do about it? I don’t think I should have to absorb the cost of repair on a unit that we got so little use out of.

    1. Since you’re using our Advantage model that requires professional installation, you should contact the local professional you used to check that there was not an issue with their installation work. If it was installed correctly, they can contact us on your behalf for a warranty claim.

      1. I have a 3 week old diy 27k 3 zone that is acting like described above from day one. It only freezes up when I have one zone on. If I turn on another handler the lines are fine. Is that normal?

        1. To ensure that your unit is operating as it should, the running air handlers should equal at least half of the capacity of the condenser. For example, if you have a 36k condenser, and you run a single 9k air handler, the unit will likely not operate properly. If this is not the issue, please give us a call at 270-366-0457 as soon as you possibly can.

          1. Thanks, this is reassuring. It sounds exactly like the issue, because it works totally fine when I run the second. Appreciate the quick response. Hopefully this helps others in this thread. Nice product so far. I have some other questions but may be easier to call. Thanks again.

  12. I have a 2 zone mini split MRCOOL unit. One 9 k and the other a 12k. This is a DYI unit so it was installed by me. All electrical was done by a license contractor. My outside Lines freeze up after about an hour of use. Also my king valve freezes up as well. In your directions you say to open up this king valve which I did. When the lines freeze up the AC stops working in my living room unit but the bedroom unit is cold and I cannot seem to turn it down to a comfortable level and I found ice in the filter?? What’s wrong? Is my outside unit to strong for my two indoor units a 9 k BTH and a 12 K BTU? I spend 2400.00 buying this unit and followed all your instructions. Please let me know what else I can do. Oh and I also did the mother board button push that did not work either. HELP!!

  13. Seems I am having the same issue with my unit. It’s brand new, only been installed for 5 days. It a 2 zone diy system. I connected everything according to the directions and checked lines for leaks. I had a licensed electrician do all the electrical. One of my units is working (not very cold air but not frozen) the second unit is frozen, inside head is full of frost and ice and lines are frozen all the way to condenser. No issues with air flow, and the filter is completely clean.

      1. I just got my units and I am having the same problem with my 36k unit frezzing up I have a 27k unit and it is working as it should I need someone to give me a call please

          1. I have left a message on your answering service this morning here is my contact information 6784098089 thanks

  14. Bought the 4-5 ton universal series around November 2020. Has worked great. Yesterday I came home and the condenser was running, but the air handler was not. There was power to both legs, I can hear the Freon and feel the line and coil get cold, but the fan never kicks on. Any help would be great. And yes, I did check and replace filter to make sure it was not an obstruction

  15. bought and installed the 4-5 ton Universal Series unit around November 2020. Everything has worked fine, except yesterday, one of the warmest and humid days we’ve had in a while, it stopped working. When I got home from work the condenser was running, and there was a small buildup of ice on the coil and inlet line, but the blower never kicked on. I checked the filter, which was ok, but replaced it, checked to make sure the breaker for the air handler was good, and checked at both legs which also had power. Even hours after what little ice had melt, still not running

  16. I have a 4-5 ton universal diy heat pump. I was told to buy this unit since my house needs about a 3.5 ton unit. I have the switches set to 4 ton. When the unit turns on cooling, it has a minor burn (unique and distinct) smell for the first minute or so, then all is well. We cool down to about 74-75 and have zero issues, but as soon as I set it to 72-73, the exposed parts (connection points) of the r-410 lines freeze up and the A-coil does also. I have the mrcool thermostat that the tech department said didn’t have wifi capability working correctly, nor the App. I can’t seem to figure out the Thermostat, so I set it manually. I was told to wait until the weather gets cooler because I haven’t been able to test un the heat here in north florida because September was very hot outside. I changed the filter as soon as I was having issues and the filter wasn’t that dirty. Any thoughts on what the problem could be?

  17. Hi i live in Vermont and i purchased the 4-5ton heatpump house is around 3000sq ft i switch it to 4ton should i keep it at 4ton or switch it back to 5ton what are the benefits keeping it at 4ton vs 5ton and we only use it for heat.

    1. Square footage alone is not sufficient for determining the btu requirement for a specific house. With adequate ductwork, I would suggest trying the 5 ton settings first. If that works without short cycling, then it should be fine. Should you experience short cycling, the settings on both the indoor and outdoor units can be reduced to the 4 ton setting.

  18. I have a Gen 3 DIY system that is less that 3 years old. Suddenly it has begun to freeze up on the inside fins. The ice develops and then the fan hits it causing a terrible noise. You can shut it off until the ice melts and the unit dries, but turning it on again has the same result. I’ve cleaned the filters regularly. I’ve attempted to contact tech support but all you can do is leave a message and wait for them to get back to you. I’ve hot and getting hotter.

    1. Would you mind sending a reliable contact number so that I can relay it to the service team? I will not make the comment with your information in it public.

  19. I have a Gen 3 DIY mini-split that has been operating well for several months. We are just entering our hot season and now it is freezing up on the inside unit. So much so that I must let it defrost to remove the filters, which I cleaned. Within a few hours it frosts up enough to affect the sound of performance. What can I do?

  20. I’m having the same issues as above. Brand new 36k unit 4 zones. Zone C starts freezing up almost immediately. Frost and ice on the line, main valve, and the indoor unit. It’s been cleaned, sprayed the connections with soapy water to check for leaks and the 4th gen are supposed to detect leaks/low refrigerant levels anyways right? What should I do?

  21. Anyone find an answer to the freezing lines? Mine is 3 weeks old same thing happening. Everything looks good. Just keep thawing it out and restarting? Kinda of Mikey mouse operation.

  22. 7/20/22

    From Larry and Debbie

    RE: Ingrams Water and Air Equipment 50 Remington Way Hickory, Ky 42051 270-366-7733 Mr. Cool units (Order Name Debbie Tucker)

    Manufacturer Mr Cool Phone number 270-366-0457 web site http://www.mrcool.com

    Three units

    Model # DIY-09-HP-WMAH-230B # 1Serial number 340A314810306230131172

    #2 Serial number 340A969960308290130817 replaced this one under warranty.

    #3 Model DYI-12-HP-WMAH-230B Serial # 340A970220208300131502.

    Outside condenser DIY-MULT13-27HP230 Serial# 340D523620117270150306 We purchased Mr Cool units from Ingrams Water and Air for rental mobile home we own 11/2/21 EQU 270-575-9595 for 3,682.97. We installed them 1/8/22 DIY they advertise they even have videos on you tube it is one of their selling points to do it yourself and save money.

    We installed the 3 units, and they were working until the one in bedroom quit #2 above. Quit working 4//9/22 and started freezing up at that time, they answered our calls and sent a new unit DIY 09HP-WMAH-230B 5/9/22 after service tech with All South Heating and Refrigeration that we had come out and had to paid for it said it was losing freon. He filled it with l lb. freon 410A 4-18/22 was charge 130.00. Then he came out 5/4/22 again refrigerant was low again another lb. charged another 80.00 All 3 evaporator coils were freezing up. All South was not going to be able to come out for 3 weeks. So, we called another service tech One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning since all units were freezing up and we are having 100 plus degree temps. here in Ar. he came out 6/3/22 charged 224.00 and fixed a sawder value was stuck he freed it up added another lb. of freon. Then he had to come back 6/9/22 All three units still freezing up he found that all 3 evaporator coils are leaking refrigerant even the Mr. McCool that had been replaced 5/9/22 one of the heads and it was leaking also. He did not charge us anymore because we have enough problems as it is. He said they all three should be replaced. We have called, emailed, and left voice messages Ingrams Water and Air continuously they will not respond started calling 6/1/22. They will not call or email or help us the units are still under warranty. We need help as they are selling a product with warranty and then will not stand behind them. We would even agree for them to send someone out at their expense and just fix the units. We have had to buy 2 window air conditioners cost of 320.00 to keep the renters to be able to live there we need help in getting them to stand behind their product.
    Thank You

    Larry and Debbie Tucker

  23. I INSTALLED A MINI SPLIT UNIT ON 7/30/22 AND THE UNIT IS TURNING ON, BUT WHEN ON COOL IT,S NOT COOLING AND GIVEN CODE P6.
    PLEASE ASSIST WITH THIS AS IT IS MY FIRST TIME USING AC UNIT AND IT IS VERY HOT.
    A QUICK RESPONSE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

  24. Our Mr Cool system was installed less than one yr ago. One of the two units will start cooling and then shut off by itself. I cleaned the filters inside the unit in our bedroom and it started to work without turning off right away. After the uni has been running for several hours the unit will shut itself off again. Can you advise how to fix the problem? No codes are on the display just two lines show on the display.

  25. Installed a dual zone 18K unit. When one unit is on, the other beings to freeze over and vice versa. The small line on the unit that isn’t on beings to frost over as well? One of my runs is slightly longer than 25 feet. Could this be a lack of refrigerant issue?

  26. I have a 3rd Gen DIY 12K mini-split I installed in June 2021. It hasn’t been used very much because I’ve been working on finishing up the garage workshop where it is installed. But since last summer, it will stop cooling and the outside unit lines show frost, no water condensation drip, and the inside unit has frost and ice. When this happens, I’ve turned it off to let everything melt. I tried to get help from Mr Cool last year, and no response or help. This year, it has been more frequent and I want it fixed. Please advise on how to resolve this issue. Thanks.

    1. We apologize greatly for this. This sounds like an issue with the refrigerant. Would you mind sending your contact information in a reply to this comment so that I can send your information to the service team manager? This information will not be made public.

  27. I came home today and the inside unit was so completely frozen that when I tried to turn it on it made a terrible clacking noise. Turned it right back off and opened the unit. Couldn’t take the filter out because there was so much ice. Left the unit open and it’s defrosting but not quickly. What could be the issue?

  28. installed a multi head unit largest head 18,500btu is not working 100% some icing on inside unit fins som on the outdoor lines.
    Seems the right side of inside unit is cold while left is not. Checked with infrared thermometer.

  29. Had a leak when I first installed my first unit. Took the opportunity to shorten the line set. But never shower any codew just the fan wouldn’t run very high. Got it recharged to desired specs and ran great for a few years after. Installed my upstairs unit (ceiling cassette) about a year later. Same thing had a leak. Both units only leaked off after being shut off for a couple of weeks. Anyways got the leaks aĺ taken cared of. Few years later my downstairs unit stopped running again. Compressor wouldn’t run (changed unit with warranty replacement. Couple months later my upstairs unit did the same thing. Replaced it out of pocket. Now my only question is if it’s supposed to have self diagnostics why isn’t it giving me any codes or actually telling me there is an issue? Don’t get me wrong even with these issues I still like my units. Customer service was always great with IWAE.COM. which is also were I got them from.

    1. There have been some instances in which when the system is already not working as it should that it does not display an error code. In these circumstances, please give us a call at 270-366-0457 as soon as you possibly can.

  30. My unit started to freeze up today. This isn’t the first time either. I’ve bought 3 units in October 2021 and then a fourth unit on around July / August 2022. All the units have at one time frozen and turned them off and about an hour or so, restart. So I started to research to see if there’s something I should be doing and all I see here are a lot of the same issues, with the same response to call service. I’m getting the feeling that we may have purchased garbage with all the amount of the same complaints. These units ran throughout the hot Alabama summer and we’ve shut them off late October. But it’s lower Alabama so we’ve run the a/c units sporadically between cold spells. However, these units are too new for “issues”
    I’m a service tech in another industry and when we see the same issues popping up with equipment, red flags start to go up. Crap equipment, or garbage parts that are made in China. I’m getting the feeling this is what’s going on with these units.
    Class action anyone?

    1. When a heat pump is in heating mode, it will naturally accumulate frost and ice. To combat this, the system enters a defrost mode around every 40 minutes. If the unit is not entering defrost mode, or is freezing up more than defrost mode can thaw out within the time the mode is operating, please give us a call at 270-366-0457 as soon as possible so that our tech department can assist you with this issue.

  31. Hi, our MRCOOL 24k has worked flawlessly since late August and held 72 degrees at -21C. Yesterday it stopped blowing warm air. No codes being shown and both inside and outside units seem to be working fine, no ice build up as it is well sheltered. Any ideas how to procede? thanks. The system was bought through Canadian Tire in North Sydney NS

    Roland Dixon

  32. I purchased a 36,000 BTU DIY Mini Split in July 2022, installed it and it worked perfect all summer. This summer (2023) the lines inside adjacent to the coils and the coils are developing ice (freezing up) and the unit is not cooling the house.
    I cleaned the filters inside the units, inspected the coils inside the indoor units to make sure they were clean and free of debris. I turned off the entire system and allowed the ice to melt naturally.
    I then inspected the coils on the outdoor unit. They were a little dirty so I cleaned them with a spray cleaning solutions and removed all dirt and debris. I allowed it to dry completely while I allowed the ice to naturally melt on both indoor units.
    I re-started both indoor units and within 45 minutes they were starting to have ice frozen on the coils and brass tubes adjacent to the coils.
    The unit is less then 1 year old and worked perfectly in summer 2022.
    What is the next option for me to get these to operate properly ?

  33. We have a 12k DIY in our bedroom. We run it at night so that we don’t have to cool the entire house at night. I installed it in Feb 2020. I am a Master Electrician. So I also did the electrical. After a years or so it started freezing up. I figured out that the blower wheel was dirty. So I removed it and cleaned it. That corrected the issue and I have kept it clean since then. A few months ago I cleaned it again. But the coils were also dirty. I purchased a low pressure coil cleaner and cleaned the coils as well. This again alleviated the problem. Now it is starting to frost and freeze up again. It has only been a couple months since I did the thorough cleaning. Could there be something else I should look for? Last night it was in the 40s outside and we keep it at about 68 in the bedroom.

Leave a Reply to MR COOL Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Are you a MRCOOL reseller or installer?
For questions about becoming a reseller or representative call 270-366-0457.

Sign Up