【Smart Living】Air Conditioner Freezing Up: 8 Major Causes and Solutions - How to Prevent It?

If you're reading this article, you've likely encountered or are currently dealing with the issue of air conditioner freezing. Air conditioner freezing can range from minor inconvenience to serious problems; if not addressed properly, it can damage the compressor responsible for cooling. When the compressor malfunctions, not only does the air conditioner stop blowing cold air, but it also emits strange noises, affecting daily life. In this Moorgenzine article, we'll dissect the 8 major causes of air conditioner freezing and their solutions.

Key Points of this Article:

• 8 Major Causes and Solutions for Air Conditioner Freezing
• Can Air Conditioner Freezing be Ignored?
• Prevention Methods for Air Conditioner Freezing

8 Major Causes and Solutions for Air Conditioner Freezing

Whether it's a split-type or window-type air conditioner, both can experience freezing. When the air conditioner freezes, it can not only form ice but also spray ice, and the air blown out by the air conditioner won't be cold. When you open the cover of the air conditioner, you may find the interior completely frozen. If you encounter any of these situations, immediate action is necessary. Otherwise, the compressor responsible for cooling in the air conditioner can easily get damaged, leading to the need to replace the entire unit, significantly increasing household expenses. Below are the 8 major causes and solutions for air conditioner freezing, which Moorgenzine will explain one by one:

1. Dirty air filter
2. Dirty evaporator coil
3. Too much refrigerant
4. Too little refrigerant
5. Compressor malfunction
6. Malfunctioning air conditioner fan
7. Low indoor temperature
8. Low temperature setting

1. Dirty air filter

The accumulation of dirt on the air filter is the most common cause of air conditioner freezing. When the air filter is dirty, the air conditioner cannot efficiently draw in warm indoor air, while the cold air produced by the evaporator coil cannot be released indoors, leading to the formation of frost and eventually ice.

Solution for Accumulation of Dirt on the Air Filter

The air filter needs to be cleaned regularly, at least once a month. According to the Consumer Council's recommendation, during the summer, the air filter of the air conditioner should be cleaned every two weeks.

If you want to learn how to properly clean the air conditioner filter, you can refer to:【Smart Living】Cleaning Air Conditioner Dust Filter: 7 Major Tips and Tutorials

2. Dirty evaporator coil

In addition to the air filter, another common location for dirt accumulation is the evaporator coil, which is the series of metal strips inside the air conditioner. When the evaporator coil is too dirty, it can lead to icing at the back of the coil.

Solution for Accumulation of Dirt on the Evaporator Coil

If the evaporator coil is too dirty, deep cleaning of the air conditioner is necessary. It is generally recommended to clean the air conditioner at least once a year, especially before the arrival of summer, so you can enjoy the cool air in summer without worries. Cleaning the air conditioner requires dismantling the components, cleaning and drying them before reinstallation, but be careful not to wet the electrical parts. If you lack confidence, it is advisable to seek professional help from an air conditioner technician to clean it at home.

If the evaporator coil is not too dirty, you can also try DIY cleaning for around HK$100, refer to: 【Smart Home Living】DIY Air Conditioner Cleaning Tutorial

3. Too much refrigerant

Don't think that adding more refrigerant will make the air conditioner cooler, so adding a lot of refrigerant. If too much refrigerant flows into the evaporator coil, it can cause the pressure in the coil to be too high, leading to icing.

Solution for Too Much Refrigerant

The most direct solution to too much refrigerant is to release the excess refrigerant. If you are unsure how to handle it, it is recommended to seek professional help from an air conditioner technician.

4. Too little refrigerant

Too much refrigerant can cause air conditioner freezing, but too little refrigerant can also cause air conditioner freezing! You may ask: Can't enough refrigerant also cause freezing?

Solution for Too Little Refrigerant

When there is too little refrigerant, you can try adding refrigerant to the air conditioner to solve the problem. If you are unsure how to handle it, it is recommended to seek professional help from an air conditioner technician.

5. Compressor malfunction

If the compressor inside the air conditioner malfunctions, especially if the gas distribution system is damaged, it can cause the temperature of the evaporator coil to be too low, eventually leading to air conditioner freezing. If you find that the freezing occurs in the front half of the evaporator coil, there is a high possibility of compressor malfunction.

Solution for Compressor Malfunction

To solve this problem, you can try adding refrigerant to the air conditioner to see if the situation improves. If the freezing persists, the compressor needs to be replaced.

6. Malfunctioning air conditioner fan

If the fan of the air conditioner is malfunctioning, it will affect the airflow inside the air conditioner, preventing the air conditioner from efficiently drawing in warm indoor air or releasing cold air, leading to icing.

Solution for Malfunctioning Air Conditioner Fan

If the air conditioner fan is malfunctioning, it is recommended to seek professional help from an air conditioner technician to replace the air conditioner fan.

7. Low indoor temperature / Low temperature setting

If the indoor temperature is too low and the air conditioner setting is also too low, when the air conditioner is used for a long time, the surface temperature of the evaporator coil may drop below freezing, eventually leading to icing.

Solution for Low Indoor Temperature / Low Temperature Setting

If you encounter the above problems, adjusting the temperature of the air conditioner higher should solve the problem. The optimal setting temperature for the air conditioner is 25°C - 28°C.

8. Temperature controller malfunction

A malfunctioning temperature controller means that the air conditioner cannot accurately detect the indoor temperature. The most common issue is insufficient spring tension at the contact point, causing the contact to remain closed for a long time. As a result, the air conditioner thinks the indoor temperature is hot, and it continues to cool, leading to icing.

Solution for Temperature Controller Malfunction

If the temperature controller of the air conditioner is malfunctioning, it is recommended to seek professional help from an air conditioner technician to replace the temperature controller.

Can Air Conditioner Freezing Be Ignored?

If air conditioner freezing is ignored, besides the air blown out by the air conditioner not being cool, various other problems may arise:

• The air conditioner no longer blows cold air.
• Prolonged air conditioner freezing can damage the compressor.
• When the ice on the surface of the evaporator coil becomes thick, the air conditioner fan may get stuck, causing strange noises from the air conditioner.

Prevention Methods for Air Conditioner Freezing

The prevention methods for air conditioner freezing are actually similar to maintaining the air conditioner. When you have good habits of maintaining the air conditioner, other air conditioner problems such as dripping water, emitting musty odors, etc., can be easily resolved. Below are the methods to prevent air conditioner dripping:

• Regularly clean the air filter - recommended every 2-3 weeks.
• Regularly deep clean the air conditioner - recommended once a year.
• Regularly check the refrigerant level of the air conditioner - recommended once a year.
• Regularly check the air conditioner fan - recommended once a year.

In addition to washing the air filter yourself, you can also have professional air conditioner technicians handle other maintenance once a year when cleaning the air conditioner.

After reading this Moorgenzine article, I believe you have a deeper understanding of the causes, solutions, and prevention methods of air conditioner freezing. If you have any questions about smart home living, feel free to contact Moorgen anytime. Also, if you want to experience the lifestyle enhancement brought by smart door locks firsthand, you can visit Moorgen's showroom in North Point, Hong Kong, and experience Real Smart Home.