One of the most frustrating problems with a window air conditioner is if it starts to ice up. For who owns the air conditioner is can be perplexing.

When this problem occurs most people immediately think it is the fault of the refrigerant gas. More regularly the cause is the result of other difficulties.

It is most often the result of poor airflow.

Any time the airflow via an air conditioner is restricted the cooling system becomes affected. If taken up 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 quickly operate as a refrigerator instead of an air conditioner. Rather than simply cooling the air it will collect and hold moisture. The moisture will freeze onto the cooling coil where it’ll appear as ice.

The principal job of an air conditioner is to de-humidify, not refrigerate, the area air. By detatching the moisture from the room air it gives us a sense of comfort. To do this though the temperature of the cooling coil should always be greater than the room’s dew point. If it is allowed to drop below the dew point the air conditioner 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. If a smoker do it every week. To clean filter remove from air conditioning equipment, wet thoroughly, and lay in bottom of a sink. Sprinkle detergent (laundry detergent works well) onto filter surface. Allow to sit for a few minutes. Add warm water to sink so 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 conditioning equipment requires regular maintenance. Usually every several years. Every year would be best, but this is often 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 remove any coatings on the coil. Or even 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 may be the one at the rear of the air conditioning equipment. Its job is 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 home 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 completely clean this part the air conditioning equipment must be completely disassembled. If not cleaned regularly an airflow blockage here can even burn up the compressor. Before this happens although 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 can cause icing up. If the compressor struggles to pump the refrigerant properly the cooing coil may not get cold enough to shut off the cold control. It can hover just above the cut off point. At these times the cooling coil will quickly refrigerate. Ice on the cooling coil will result. If the compressor itself reaches fault the air conditioner should be replaced. But note that many icing problems are misdiagnosed as bad compressors when they were actually one of the other faults discussed in this posting.

5. Not enough refrigerant. Too much refrigerant.
Both scenarios can lead to and icing condition. If your air conditioner was repaired recently suspect an excessive amount of refrigerant. Mixed with an airflow problem this could 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 обігрівачі is too low the air conditioner 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 room air. This will bring about the cooling coil starting to produce ice. This problem is more frequent in the fall. If it’s hot during the day but cold at night suspect this problem as the reason behind 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 can circulate the area air without cooling it, while bringing in a small amount of outside air during the night.