Air conditioner units can be a god send when the thermometer starts to heat up outside. Having a cool place to return to after a day’s work or simply going outside can provide much needed respite for many people. Air conditioners also make it that much easier for us to get to sleep on hot, sticky summer nights.
However, not all of us live in a climate that justifies having a permanent air conditioning unit. For that reason, portable air conditioning units can be a good solution for our increasingly hotter summers. That being said, they can be prone to some common problems — much like their permanent counterparts. So if you’re asking yourself, “Why is my portable air conditioner freezing up?” then check out our article. Here we look at reasons why a portable air conditioner freezes up and how you can stop it from doing so.
Reasons why a portable air conditioner freezing up
1. Dirty Filter
Dirty filters are common causes for units freezing up. In fact, they are a good place to start if you’re trying to figure out what is wrong with your unit. Filters that are dirty don’t allow air to move around the unit as they should do which is what causes the unit to freeze up.
2. Air blockages
At times, a portable air conditioner unit can freeze up if the vent is blocked. This stops air from flowing properly and freely around the unit causing it to back up and freeze as it cannot cross the evaporator coil and back into the unit correctly. Additionally, ensure that air can get to the air vent in the first place. Putting it flush against the wall will only cause problems down the line.
3. Broken parts
Key parts that can break so that your portable air conditioner unit freezes up are the evaporator fan and the thermostat. Additionally, one of the coils in the unit may have a leak which can cause further problems for the unit, causing it to freeze up. When the evaporator fan is broken, it means that the air in the unit cannot leave properly causing it to freeze. Lastly, the thermostat stops units from turning on and off when the ambient required temperature has been reached. If that breaks, it may just run non stop, causing it to freeze up.
How to stop your portable air conditioner freezing up
1. Regular maintenance
Your portable air conditioner unit will benefit from a little TLC ras regularly as you can. Doing so will simply ensure that all parts are working as they should be and so you can prevent your portable air conditioner unit breaking down entirely due to a frozen coil. That’s why you should make sure you replace broken parts as soon as you can.
2. Cleaning
The main reason why portable air conditioner units freeze up is due to incorrect air flow. To get around this problem, you need to clear the vent of any blockages and also clean your air filter. Cleaning air filters does not take long and it’s not a difficult task, yet it will materially benefit your portable air conditioner unit overall. All you need to do is either put it in the dishwasher or clean it with a vacuum cleaner to remove any dust or debris from it.
Freezing portable air conditioner units – key takeaways
The evaporator coil freezing up in portable air conditioner units is very common, however, it’s a common problem that is easily circumnavigated with just regular maintenance and cleaning. In doing so, you will help lengthen the shelf life of your portable air conditioner unit no end so that you can benefit from cooling your home for many summers to come.
