How long for an iced coil to melt?

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Chuck_17
Chuck_17 Posts: 148
in A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration
Ball park guess? - 1 day? 2 day?
Older residential outdoor packaged cooling only probably 1-1/2 or 2 tons.
It is off now. 72 out now. Probably down to 60 over night.
I don't know if there would be any air flow if it were not a block of ice.

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Posts: 7,601
    Less then 30 mins with the fan on!
    STEVEusaPA
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Posts: 21,137
    If totally iced so the fan can't move air through the coil it could take a few hours.

    Get a hot water hose on it to thaw it faster.

    No ice picks
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Posts: 7,736
    Cooling only probably?
    What's frozen? The evap or condenser?
    And why did it freeze?
  • Chuck_17
    Chuck_17 Posts: 148
    Thanks for the replies.
    There was no air flow. I don't know if it is because the evap coil was totally frozen (not letting air through) or that is the reason it is frozen (fan failed for some reason).
    (I could only see the end of the coil though a service access panel. It was all ice.)
  • jumper
    jumper Posts: 2,620
    Hair dryer takes patience. Set up a big fan when it's warm outside and go have lunch.
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Posts: 7,736
    Sounds like you need a pro.
  • realliveplumber
    realliveplumber Posts: 354
    If it's a big block of ice, I let it sit overnight. Sometimes a garden hose off is the drain of the water heater. It makes a mess though.
  • John Mills_5
    John Mills_5 Posts: 952
    Odds are the suction line is well frozen too. You can thaw the coil rather quickly with the blower on but if the suction line is frozen under the tubing insulation, that will throw off readings when the tech is trying to recharge it.
  • Alan Welch
    Alan Welch Posts: 271
    Switch it from cool to heat at the thermostat.
    JUGHNE
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Posts: 21,137
    warm water from a hose is the fastest if you can control the water

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