Air conditioner produces too much frost, what’s going on?

Brrr! Your trusty air conditioner is supposed to keep you cool during sweltering temps, but lately, it’s been a bit too enthusiastic—producing so much cold that frost forms! Let’s dive into the reasons behind this deep chill and explore the necessary checks for an air conditioner that freezes.

WHAT’S CAUSING THIS PROBLEM?

• Malfunction with the defrost cycle

• Clogged air filters

• Poor airflow circulation

• Frost being produced by the evaporator

• Faulty refrigerant circuit

WARNING
Before carrying out any work on your appliance, make absolutely sure you first completely disconnect it from the mains electricity supply.
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK.
Wear protective gloves if you need to disassemble the appliance
RISK OF CUTS AND ABRASIONS.

The defrost cycle no longer starts

Some air conditioning equipment has a built-in defrost system. The formation of a small amount of frost isn’t strange. If the surface temperature of the air conditioner is below the dew point of the air’s humidity, frost formation isn’t a cause for concern. Here, the defrost function will activate at regular intervals. If your appliance is equipped with a defrost function and frost still accumulates significantly, it is probably because this device is no longer working properly. You will then need to call a professional repairer to replace it.

Air filters are dirty

Before any service, allow your air conditioning unit to thaw completely. To do this, unplug it and wait as long as necessary. Remember to place towels under your appliance to avoid water going everywhere. Once done, open the air conditioner cover and locate the air filters. Inspect these items and clean them. It becomes necessary to replace them when they are too dirty. If this isn’t enough to stop ice formation, proceed to the next step of this troubleshooting guide.

Buy a filter for my air conditioner

Air circulation in the circuit is poor

Interference in airflow may cause your device to freeze. For example, dirt may have invaded the duct leading to the evaporator. Similarly, a dirty propeller or turbine can prevent air from circulating properly. You can try to clean these elements with a special air conditioning spray by carefully following its instructions for use.

A malfunction of the evaporator

The purpose of the air conditioning evaporator is to cool the outside air with a refrigerant before sending it into the room you’re trying to keep cool. This element also serves as a filter by capturing dirt and pollution. Sometimes, if the thermostat is set too low or the evaporator duct is saturated with dust, the evaporator produces frost. To avoid this, don’t set the thermostat too low and maintain your air conditioning equipment regularly with a good clean.

The refrigerant circuit fails

 After performing these checks, does frost continue to form in your air conditioner? It is possible that the appliance may be experiencing a refrigerant fault. This is because a lack of gas in the refrigeration circuit can lead to a drop in pressure in the evaporator and that leads to the formation of frost on the air conditioner. Unfortunately, this type of anomaly requires the intervention of a professional refrigeration technician.