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Cooling 101 – Why Window Air Conditioners Ice Up

Gideon Anderson

Among the most frustrating issues with a window air conditioner is if it begins to ice up. For whoever owns the air purifier is may be perplexing.

When this problem occurs most people immediately think it’s the fault of the refrigerant gas. More often the cause is the result of other issues.

It’s most frequently the consequence of poor airflow.

Whenever the airflow through an air conditioner is restricted the cooling system becomes affected. If carried 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 fall below the dew point temperature of this space. While this occurs the cooling coil will begin to operate as a fridge as opposed to a air conditioner. Rather than simply cooling the air it will collect and hold moisture. The moisture will freeze on the cooling coil in which it will appear as ice.

The main job of an air conditioner is to de-humidify, not refrigerate, the room air. By removing the moisture in the room air it gives us a feeling of relaxation. To do this through the warmth of the cooling coil should always be higher than the area’s dew point. When it’s permitted to fall below the dew point the air conditioner will begin to produce ice.

With this information in mind, these are a few problems that can Lead to your air conditioner icing up:

1. Dirty filter.

To avoid this clean or replace your filter every couple of weeks of the cooling system. If a smoker does it every week. To wash filter eliminate from the air purifier, moist thoroughly, and put in the base of a sink. Sprinkle detergent (laundry detergent works well) onto filter coating. Allow sitting for a couple of minutes. Add hot water to sink that filter is totally covered. Soak for 15 minutes. Remove from water and rinse. Allow airing dry.

2. Dirty or blocked cooling coil.

An air conditioner requires regular upkeep. Normally every two or three decades. Every year will be best, however, this may be expensive unless you do it yourself. During cleaning the cooling coil should be diminished and cleaned to remove accumulated debris and dirt. Degreasing is very important to remove any coatings onto the coil. If not done greasy residue can trap and maintain airborne particles. They’ll build upon the coil and also affect heat transfer. If left too long this could lead to the cooling coil becoming partially blocked. This will generate a decreased airflow. 

3. Dirty or obstructed condenser coil.

The condenser coil is the one at the back of the air conditioner. Its job is to dissipate the heat which is being removed from the room. Just like the cooling it too must be cleaned every few decades. Since the condenser is on the outside of their house it becomes exposed to a lot of soil, pollen, and smog. Since airflow direction is from inside to outside it is the inside surface of the condenser that becomes dirty. Visit ApplewoodAir here. Therefore to clean this component the air conditioner must be totally disassembled. If not cleaned frequently an airflow blockage here can even burn the compressor. Before this happens throughout the lowering of airflow can affect the total performance. This could lead to the compressor efficiency falling, the internal pressure-temperature relationships being affected, and the consequent creation of ice on the heating coil.

4. Inefficient compressor.

As described above an ineffective compressor can cause icing up. If the compressor isn’t able to pump the refrigerant properly the cooling coil might not become cold enough to close off the cold control. It may hover just above the cut point. When this occurs the cooling coil will start to refrigerate. Ice on the cooling coil will result. If the compressor is at fault that the air conditioner is going to have to be substituted. But notice that many icing problems are misdiagnosed as poor compressors when they were actually among those other faults discussed in this article.

5. Inadequate refrigerant. Too much refrigerant.

Both scenarios can result in an icing condition. If your air purifier has been repaired recently suspect too much refrigerant. Coupled with the airflow problem that this can be hard to diagnose. If not repaired recently then suspect airflow issues before considering a refrigerant imbalance. See: Brampton New Furnace & AC Installation & Repair

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 conditioner pressure-temperatures may be affected. If the outside temperature drops the cooling coil temperature will also collapse. So much that the coil will refrigerate the room air. This is going to bring about the cooling coil beginning to produce ice. This issue is more prevalent in the fall. If it is hot during the day but cold at night suspect this problem as the cause of icing up. If this problem is suspected try running the air conditioner in the enthusiast the only place. Leave the re-circulating vent open. This may circulate the room air without cooling it while bringing in a little number of outside air during the evening.

7. Oversized air conditioner.

When the air conditioner is too big for the room dimension icing up can lead to If oversize the air conditioner can short-cycle. This problem is usually regarded as the air purifier stopping and starting every couple of minutes. Even though it runs almost constantly the air conditioner will give poor cooling. Utilize a sizing chart to ascertain what is the right air conditioner size for that specific room.

8. Cold control not shutting off. If the chilly control doesn’t close off the cooling surface temperature will drop below the area’s dew point and begin to refrigerate. This will enable ice to build up on the cooling coil.

9. Cold control bulb broken or loose. As in the previous paragraph, this will result in the cold control not shutting off and ice to build upon the heating coil. If this is suspected to remove the front grille and scrutinize the bulb. If broken replace chilly control. If bent, kinked, or not firmly fastened suspect a problem here. www.applewoodair.com/site/home