How to Defrost Your Air Conditioner

Air conditioners keep the house cool, but check them regularly to make sure that they do not ice over.

Wall-unit air conditioners may become iced over if they are exposed to cold air, which freezes the condensation. They may also become frozen if the indoor or outdoor vents are obstructed in some way. If you find that the air flow is slowed or stopped entirely, it may be time to defrost the unit entirely before restarting it.

Things You'll Need

• Towels

Instructions

1. Turn off the air conditioning unit.

2. Verify that all the air vents in the air conditioner are clear. Curtains or drapes might have block the vents. If there is a heavy piece of furniture set in front of the air conditioner, that can also block the vents.

3. Clear any obstructions in front of the vents to prevent the air conditioner from icing up again.

4. Set towels around the base of the air conditioner and on the floor beneath it. The air conditioner might leak water into the house as it defrosts.

5. Allow the air conditioner to sit for at least a day, until it is defrosted completely.

6. Turn the air conditioner on as you normally would.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can run the fan without running the air compressor, run the fan to help facilitate the evaporation of the water.

• Remove the air conditioner from the window when the cold weather hits to increase the heat retention of your home.

References

• Self-Help and More: Basic Operation on How an Air Conditioner Works