What causes the air conditioner to freeze and how can it be avoided?

Air conditioners are among the electrical appliances that have seen a great deal of demand due to the rise in temperature and humidity each year. Air conditioners are prone to many problems, such as freezing. Therefore, we will explain below the reasons why air conditioners freeze and how to treat them.

Air conditioner operation cycle

The air conditioner's work cycle, which it performs continuously to perform the cooling function, is as follows:

The gas compressor engine performs a cycle that involves compressing Freon gas to raise its temperature. When we compress the gas, its molecules come closer together, causing an increase in internal energy and then an increase in heat recovery, which in turn raises the temperature.

Then comes the role of the cooling pipes, through which the hot gas passes to get rid of its heat, until it condenses and becomes a liquid.

The Freon liquid passes through the expansion valve, thus moving from a high-pressure area to a low-pressure area. Finally, the Freon gas passes through the heat exchange tubes until it reaches the engine. This process is repeated continuously.

Reasons why the air conditioner freezes

There are a number of reasons why your air conditioner might freeze up, and we'll explain these reasons to try to avoid them:

Running the air conditioner at a low temperature: When you run the air conditioner at a temperature below 20 degrees Celsius, you expose it to freezing.
Thermostat Problem: The thermostat is one of the main components inside the air conditioner, and its function is to regulate the air conditioner's temperature. Any problem with it can cause the air conditioner to freeze.
Low Freon Gas: Low Freon gas causes a drop in the air conditioner temperature, which causes gas leakage and the air conditioner to freeze.
Space size and leaving the door open: Before purchasing an air conditioner, be careful to ensure that the space it will be placed in is small, as this will lead to rapid damage and ice formation. Also, leaving the door open will cause damage to the air conditioner and ice formation. Therefore, place the air conditioner away from doors and windows to ensure efficient operation.
Indoor and outdoor unit deposits: Deposits and dirt on the air conditioner's components can make it difficult for it to exchange air, causing ice to build up on the filters.
Neglect: Neglect results from not regularly checking the air conditioner, allowing dust and debris to build up, and blocking the cooling area. This affects the amount of air emitted, causing layers of ice to accumulate.
Clogged air filters: Dust and dirt buildup in the air coils prevents warm air from flowing, causing frost to form.
Blocked supply vents: If there is any obstruction (curtains, furniture) in front of the supply vents, it will block the air flow, causing ice to form.
Blocked air conditioner drain lines: Drain lines are designed to isolate condensed water from the refrigerant inside the air conditioner. Any blockage in these lines can cause water to become trapped and freeze.

Signs of frozen air conditioner

There are some signs that, if present, indicate that the air conditioner is frozen, and they are as follows:

No cold air flow from the air conditioner into the room.
Condensation forms on the indoor air conditioner part installed inside the room, and also on the outdoor part.

Solutions to the problem of air conditioner freezing

There are some methods you should follow to get rid of the problem of air conditioner freezing:

First, you need to melt the ice that has built up on the coils. Turn off the air conditioner and let it sit at room temperature until all the ice melts. Leave it like this for a full day.
After the dissolution is complete, we dry the air conditioner well from the water resulting from the dissolution process.
Then we put the files back in place, turn on the air conditioner and run the internal fan of the air conditioner, which plays a role in melting the remaining snow, and also adjust the temperature, to ensure that all the snow has melted.
Check the air intake filters for any debris, as this can affect the amount of air emitted.
After completing all the previous steps, the air conditioner is turned on.

How to avoid air conditioner freezing problem?

We will provide you with a set of tips to help avoid the problem of air conditioner freezing and damage:

Clean the air filters once a month.
Use a fan to facilitate air distribution, rather than reducing the temperature.
Adjust the room lighting, as the heat emitted by the light keeps the device running while maintaining the temperature.
Clean the air conditioner once a year, inside and out.
Place the air conditioner in a well-ventilated area away from any obstructions such as curtains and furniture.
Place the air conditioner in a place not exposed to dust and dirt.
Do not place the air conditioner directly in front of air sources such as windows and doors.
Air conditioner maintenance by specialized technicians once a year.

Causes of window air conditioner icing

There are many reasons that lead to ice in a window air conditioner, including:

Airflow pressure: If the air conditioner is not able to take in enough outside air from the room, it means there is not enough temperature to prevent the coil from condensing, which turns it to ice.
Dirty coil: This is one of the most common causes of ice buildup, as dirt and dust can cause the air conditioning unit to freeze.
Low refrigerant: If gases such as Freon are low, this causes the air conditioner to freeze.
Blower fan damage: Its function is to push cold air outwards by pushing warm air outwards. If it breaks or becomes damaged, this affects the airflow force and thus the formation of snow.

The air conditioner is freezing at night.

The following factors may cause ice to form on your air conditioner at night:

Low cooling.
Blower fan damage.
Dirty coils.

Is air conditioner freezing dangerous?

Of course, condensation in the air conditioner is dangerous and its damages are as follows:

High electricity bills.
Disabling the entire air conditioner or one of its parts.
Air conditioner repair costs are high.

If the air conditioner ice explodes

Yes, if the cooling coil freezes, it may cause the air conditioner to explode. This is due to the lack of regular maintenance of the air conditioner.

The air conditioner freezes and does not turn off

We previously mentioned the reasons that cause the air conditioner to freeze and how to solve them. However, if the air conditioner does not turn off, this means there is a problem with the thermostat, and you should go to a maintenance center.

The air conditioner freezes after washing.

Running the air conditioner immediately after washing it may cause it to freeze, so it is recommended to leave it for a few hours after washing it.

Solving the problem of split air conditioner freezing

Below we will explain a temporary treatment method for this problem:

Get a spray bottle, fill it with plenty of water, add a little Dettol, and spray the solution on the coils. Use a brush to remove all dust and dirt.

If the air conditioner freezes the window

If exposed Window air conditioner To solve this problem, you must take the following steps:

Defrost the air conditioner coils and then dry them.
Turn on the air conditioner fan, then heat its coils.

Window air conditioner buttons explanation

Power button power:It controls the operation and stopping of the air conditioner.
button ModeIt controls the various air conditioner modes, such as cooling and heating modes.
Fan control switch: This controls the fan speed options.
Temperature switch: Used to adjust the air conditioner temperature.

Download window air conditioner

You can download a window air conditioner by following these steps:

First, you must close the main gas valve to prevent gas leakage.
Then remove the air conditioner's outdoor unit.
Loosen the air conditioner pipes well.
Finally, remove the indoor unit and electrical wires, after disconnecting the power from the air conditioner.

air conditioner thermostat

It is one of the components of the air conditioner. It activates the air conditioner to operate at specific intervals while measuring changes in temperature inside the car. When the temperature reaches the desired degree, it is preferable to operate it automatically.

The reason for the car air conditioner to freeze

Your car's air conditioner may be exposed to some factors that cause it to freeze, including:

Air conditioner control failure: This is responsible for circulating the Freon. When it malfunctions or becomes damaged, this causes the air conditioner to freeze.
Compressor failure: Low refrigerant causes ice to form on the compressor.

With that, we have finished our discussion of the reasons why the air conditioner freezes, and you can now avoid this problem by following what we mentioned.