Many older houses still have window air conditioning unit. They could be outdated, but some models could last for decades with regular maintenance and cleaning. However, there are some problems that can be quite tricky and one of them if the unit is icing up. For some homeowners, this condition can be quite perplexing. Often, the condition is caused by poor airflow and the overall cooling system can be seriously affected. If the airflow is restricted, it is possible that the cooling system can be badly affected. In a more serious situation, the important balance between temperature and pressure in the cooling coil may change. If the balance drops too low, it is possible that the surface temperature of the cooling coil will drop under the dew point.
When it happens, the cooling coil will start to function as refrigerator, instead of a normal air conditioner. Other than cooling the air, the air conditioner will also collect and accumulate moisture. The excess moisture will be held on the cooling coil, which will appear as ice accumulation. An important function of the air conditioning unit is to lower the humidity inside your room, not to refrigerate it. We will have a feeling of comfort when the humidity level is reduced. However, this can be achieved only if the cooling coil temperature is higher than the dew point of the room. If the temperature of the cooling coil becomes too low, then some ice will form. There are some steps that you can do to fix the problem. First of all, you should check the filter whether it is dirty.
The filter should be cleaned every a couple of weeks and replaced with a fresh one when it becomes too dirty for regular cleaning. If there are smokers in the room, the filter will need to be cleaned each week. The way to clean the filter depends on the type of the air conditioning unit, but you can put it inside bucket filled with warm water and some laundry detergent. You can soak it for about 30 minutes and rinse the filter under running water. Allow the filter to air dry, before you reinstall it in the air conditioning unit. The unit may also ice up when the cooling coil is blocked or dirty. You may clean the cooling coil each year. It will need to be washed and degreased properly so much of the accumulated debris and dirt can be removed.
Degreasing is an essential task if you want to remove any greasy residue on the cooling coal, which can trap airborne particles. When there’s a lot of residue on the coil, there will be a direct effect on the value of heat transfer. The airflow can become less smooth when the cooling coil is blocked partially. The condenser coil could also be blocked or dirty after a period of time. It has the purpose of dissipating heat that is absorbed from the room.
