Lake Charles · Anonymized account from S&S service records.
The outdoor unit ran, but the house was not cooling
At this Lake Charles home, the indoor evaporator coil was frozen. The system first needed to thaw before the technician could complete a reliable diagnosis. On the return visit, testing identified a failed thermostatic expansion valve, or TXV, which controls refrigerant flow into the indoor coil.
Repair and operating checks
The technician replaced the valve, pressure-tested the system, evacuated it to 400 microns, and returned it to service. The final record documented normal operation and a 20°F temperature difference between the return and supply air. Those readings describe this visit; they are not a universal performance target or a guarantee for another system.
Why the diagnosis mattered
Ice is a symptom, not a diagnosis. This repair required finding the failed component after the coil thawed. If your system freezes, stop cooling and arrange service rather than repeatedly restarting it or attempting refrigerant work yourself.
This story summarizes one recorded scope. It is not a promise of the same findings, work or outcome at another property. Customer names and street addresses are omitted.