Your air conditioner was working normally, but suddenly at one point, it started “spitting” ice, leaking, and maybe even cracking. You may have peeked into the inside unit of the conditioner, after lifting the lid, and you found ice in the conditioner. So what happened and what to do in this situation?
Can frost and ice form in the internal block of the split system?
If you found frost on the evaporator of the air conditioner, do not hurry to get upset. In the following cases, a frosting of the air conditioner indoor unit is not a breakdown.
Maximum cooling in hot weather. A small layer of frost on the evaporator may well occur when the air conditioner is running heavily in hot weather. It defrosts on the split system’s rest cycle.
Defrosting of the outdoor unit when the split system is on the heating cycle. If the air conditioner is on heating, the evaporator may be icing up during the defrost cycle of the outdoor unit. At this time, the indoor unit is turned on to cool with the fan off. Because there is no heat removal from the evaporator, it is covered with ice. After the defrost cycle of the outdoor unit is over, the indoor unit switches on the heating again, the ice melts and the water flows away through the drainage channel.
It is worth saying that in these cases you will be able to see frosting of an evaporator of the internal block of conditioner only after looking under the cover of the internal block. In other cases split is functioning fully properly, there will be no “spitting” with ice or flowing conditioner.
Operating mistakes that cause ice to freeze in the air conditioner
If you find that the evaporator of the air conditioner freezes, the first thing to do is to make sure that the equipment is used according to the manual. Quite often the users neglect to study the manual. And by the way, freezing of the internal unit can indicate the following errors of use.
The temperature mode is not observed. For example, the conditioner is switched on for cooling when the temperature outside or inside is lower than the manufacturer recommends for this model. In this case, both internal and external blocks can freeze. Usually, this split unit cools badly or does not cool at all.
The humidity in the room is high. If you turn on the split unit in high humidity, the amount of condensation will be too high. As a consequence, the evaporator is very likely to freeze. In this case, it is recommended to cool and dehumidify the premise gradually. Many modern split systems are equipped with dehumidifying functions. A smooth decrease in temperature will help to avoid condensate formation and air conditioner frosting.
Why is conditioner icing after installation or service?
Quite often we are addressed by the clients, whose split-system began to freeze up after installation or technical service (freon cleaning and refilling). It’s easy to guess that the reason is low-quality service. The causes of ice formation can be the following.
Lack of freon. When craftsmen-jokers filled up the conditioner not with weights, as it is supposed, but “by eye”, and as the result they filled less refrigerant than it is supposed for your model of a conditioner.
Incorrect vacuolization. With bad vacuolization, in the refrigerating contour, there can remain moisture. During air conditioner functioning, it condenses and interferes with normal freon circulation in the system. As a result, the indoor unit of the air conditioner freezes.
Installation of the indoor unit with violation of the rules: in a recess, presence of obstacles, etc. The internal unit must not be installed in a recess, also there must be enough space in front of the air conditioner. Otherwise, air circulates poorly through the split and the evaporator is covered with ice because of poor heat removal.
Crevasses on the freon pipes. Masters of low skill in laying the route sometimes break the pipes through which the refrigerant circulates. The cross-section decreases, and the pressure in the system changes. As a consequence, the air conditioner does not work properly, and the evaporator gets sucked up with ice.
The valve on the thick pipe on the outdoor unit is partially blocked. If after installing or servicing the air conditioner, technicians did not fully open the valve on the suction tube of the outdoor unit, there is a lack of pressure. Trying to compensate for it, the split unit runs non-stop, causing the indoor unit to be covered with frost and snow.
Improper route length at installation. The length of the line from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit of the air conditioner must be within the limits recommended by the manufacturer. If the line is shorter or longer than recommended, the refrigerant pressure level in the system does not meet the manufacturer’s specifications. As a consequence, the air conditioner does not work properly and freezes.
Almost every day, SDAC Heating & Air Conditioning technicians encounter the consequences of “homemade” work. Mistakes are made not only by “individuals” but also by installers from companies selling air conditioners. The latter, more often have a vague idea about the structure of the equipment. Not understanding the principles of air-conditioners’ work as a whole, they often offer solutions, which are contrary to the installation manual. As the result, the purchased split system cools down badly and even breaks down after the warranty term expires.
If you don’t want to risk your equipment, turn to the professionals at SDAC Heating & Air Conditioning. We not only install but also repair split systems. We know everything about them and we will perform even complex installation of any brand and model of the air conditioner with a guarantee. Do not wait until your conditioner breaks down. If you do not repair it in time, likely, you will likely repair it. Even a few days without air conditioning in the summer heat in San Diego County, California, will cause great discomfort for the whole family. But by contacting the craftsmen at SDAC Heating & Air Conditioning, you can avoid this problem.
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