One of the very most frustrating issues with a window air conditioner is if it starts to ice up. For the owner of the air conditioner is can be perplexing.
When this problem occurs a lot of people immediately believe that it is the fault of the refrigerant gas. More often the cause is the result of other difficulties.
It is most often the result of poor airflow.
Any time the airflow through an air conditioner is fixed the coolant system becomes affected. If taken to extremes the critical pressure-temperature balance of the cooling coil can be changed. If they drop too low the cooling coils surface temperature can drop below the dew point temperature of the room. At these times the cooling coil will begin to operate as a refrigerator rather than an air conditioner. Rather than simply cooling the air it’ll collect and hold moisture. The moisture will freeze onto the cooling coil where it’ll appear as ice.
The principal job of an air conditioning equipment would be to de-humidify, not refrigerate, the area air. By detatching the moisture from the room air it gives us a sense of comfort. To get 通渠公司 done though the temperature of the cooling coil should always be higher than the room’s dew point. If it’s permitted to drop below the dew point the air conditioning equipment will start to produce ice.
With this information in mind the following are a few problems that can result in your air conditioning equipment icing up:
1. Dirty filter.
To avoid this replace or clean your filter every couple of weeks of the cooling season. If a smoker do it weekly. To clean filter remove from air conditioning equipment, wet thoroughly, and lay in bottom of a sink. Sprinkle detergent (laundry detergent is effective) onto filter surface. Allow to sit for a few minutes. Add warm water to sink in order that filter is completely covered. Soak for 15 minutes. Remove from water and rinse. Allow to air dry.
2. Dirty or blocked cooling coil.
An air conditioner requires regular maintenance. Usually every several years. Every year would be best, but this could be costly unless you do it yourself. During cleaning the cooling coil ought to be degreased and washed to remove accumulated dirt and debris. Degreasing is important to eliminate any coatings on the coil. If not done greasy residue can trap and hold air borne particles. They will build up on the coil and affect heat transfer. If left too much time this can bring about the cooling coil becoming partially blocked. This will produce a lower airflow.
3. Dirty or blocked condenser coil.
The condenser coil may be the one at the rear of the air conditioner. Its job would be to dissipate the heat that’s being removed from the room. Just like the cooling coil it too should be cleaned every few years. Since the condenser is on the outside of the house it becomes exposed to many dirt, pollen, and smog. Since airflow direction is from inside to outside it is the inside surface of the condenser that becomes dirty. Therefore to clean this part the air conditioning equipment must be completely disassembled. Or even cleaned regularly an airflow blockage here may also burn up the compressor. Before this happens though the lowering of airflow will affect the overall operation. This can bring about the compressor efficiency dropping, the internal pressure-temperature relationships being affected, and the resultant production of ice on the cooling coil.
4. Inefficient compressor.
As describe above an inefficient compressor could cause icing up. If the compressor struggles to pump the refrigerant properly the cooing coil might not get cold enough to shut off the cold control. It could hover just above the cut off point. When this happens the cooling coil will begin to refrigerate. Ice on the cooling coil will result. If the compressor itself is at fault the air conditioner will have to be replaced. But remember that many icing problems are misdiagnosed as bad compressors if they were actually one of the other faults discussed in the following paragraphs.
5. Not enough refrigerant. An excessive amount of refrigerant.
Both scenarios can lead to and icing condition. If your air conditioner was repaired recently suspect too much refrigerant. Mixed with an airflow problem this can be difficult to diagnose. Or even repaired recently then suspect airflow problems before considering a refrigerant imbalance.
6. Outdoor temperature too low.
Icing can occur if the outside temperature falls below 60 Degrees Fahrenheit. If the outside temperature is too low the air conditioning equipment pressure-temperatures can be affected. When the outside temperature falls the cooling coil temperature may also fall. So much that the coil will refrigerate the area air. This will bring about the cooling coil starting to produce ice. This problem is more frequent in the fall. If it’s hot throughout the day but cold during the night suspect this problem as the cause of icing up. If this issue is suspected try running the air conditioning equipment in the fan only position. Leave the re-circulating vent open. This will circulate the room air without cooling it, while attracting a small amount of outside air at night time.