One of the most frustrating issues with a window air conditioning equipment is if it starts to ice up. For who owns the air conditioner is can be perplexing.
When this problem occurs a lot of people immediately think it is the fault of the refrigerant gas. More often the cause is the result of other difficulties.
It is most often the consequence of poor airflow.
Any time the airflow via an air conditioner is fixed the cooling system becomes affected. If taken up to extremes the critical pressure-temperature balance of the cooling coil could be changed. Should they drop too low the cooling coils surface temperature can drop below the dew point temperature of the room. When this happens the cooling coil will quickly operate as a refrigerator rather than an air conditioner. Instead of simply cooling the air it will collect and hold moisture. The moisture will freeze onto the cooling coil where it will appear as ice.
The principal job of an air conditioner is to de-humidify, not refrigerate, the area air. By removing the moisture from the room air it gives us a sense of comfort. To do this although temperature of the cooling coil must always be greater 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 at heart the following are a few problems that can lead to your air conditioning equipment icing up:
1. Dirty filter.
To avoid this replace or clean your filter every little while of the cooling season. In case 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 tepid to warm water to sink so that filter is totally 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 will be best, but this is often costly unless you do it yourself. During cleaning the cooling coil should be degreased and washed to eliminate accumulated dirt and debris. Degreasing is essential 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 result in the cooling coil becoming partially blocked. This will produce a lower airflow.
3. Dirty or blocked condenser coil.
The condenser coil is the one guiding the air conditioner. Its job would be to dissipate the heat that is being removed from the room. Just like the cooling coil it too should be cleaned every few years. Since the condenser is externally of the home it becomes exposed to plenty of 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 completely clean this part the air conditioner must be completely disassembled. Or even cleaned regularly an airflow blockage here may also burn out the compressor. Before this happens though the lowering of airflow will affect the overall operation. 坐地冷氣機 can result in 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 can 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 take off point. At these times the cooling coil will begin to refrigerate. Ice on the cooling coil will result. If the compressor itself is at fault the air conditioner should be replaced. But note that many icing problems are misdiagnosed as bad compressors when they were actually among the other faults discussed in this posting.
5. Not enough refrigerant. An excessive amount of refrigerant.
Both scenarios can result in and icing condition. If your air conditioning equipment was repaired recently suspect too much refrigerant. Mixed with an airflow problem this can be difficult to diagnose. If not 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 exterior temperature is too low the air conditioning equipment pressure-temperatures can be affected. Once the outside temperature falls the cooling coil temperature may also fall. So much that the coil will refrigerate the area air. This will result in the cooling coil starting to produce ice. This issue is more frequent in the fall. If it is hot during the day but cold during the night suspect this problem because the reason behind icing up. If this issue is suspected try running the air conditioner in the fan only position. Leave the re-circulating vent open. This can circulate the area air without cooling it, while bringing in a small amount of outside air at night time.