Homeowner Guide
Ice on the AC usually means the system needs to thaw before a useful diagnostic can happen. Running it harder can make the problem worse and hide the symptom Scott needs to see.
If you see ice on the indoor coil, copper line, or outdoor line set, turn cooling off at the thermostat. If the blower can run safely, fan-only mode may help thaw the coil. Do not keep forcing the AC to cool while it is frozen.
A frozen system can come from airflow restriction, a dirty filter, coil restriction, low refrigerant, blower problems, thermostat behavior, or another issue. The $95 Springfield Diagnostic is the right starting point when ice is involved because the cause needs to be confirmed before repair pricing.
As the ice melts, water may show up around the indoor equipment. If water reaches electrical components, smells burnt, or the equipment behaves unsafely, shut the system down and text the symptom instead of trying to keep it running.
