Icy Air Conditioner

[skylined]

I have a window AC unit that I use to keep my room cool. However, I have been having some problems with it because the front end becomes clogged completely with ICE for some reason and it completely stops airflow, rendering the AC unit useless. I cannot have my room heating up like as I run lights. Why is this occurring, and how do I solve it?

Peace,
~Skylined

 

[D Rock]

get a new ac unit. Or let this one completely defrost for a couple of days while finding some other way to cool off your grow room.

 

[Guest]

I have had this problem for years as soon as the temps outside drop below the AC set temp,I havent found a way to alleviate it totally but here's some tips.Before the lights come on until 10 minutes after lights come on,use the highest AC setting with high fan,always use High fan.Every five minutes or so drop it a couple degrees until desired temp,this usually works for me.If it freezes up run it on the highest temp setting or if you can get to your plants easily,use a blowdryer.Thats about it for window AC's freezing up in low temps.I've been doing this for years and years so its not an insurmountable obstacle however I live in Fla,it could be much harder up north.

 

[skylined]

Thanks guys.

The American: Your situation sounds exactly like what happens to me. I leave during the day when it's warm so running it at max is fine, but I come home at night when it's cold and its all ****ing iced over, same with when I wake up after a colder night. I'm trying your technique now. I live at a much higher latitude than Florida, lets just say. I'm actually thinking of taking out one of those siding things and adding a fan since the nights are easily cool enough that a little intake of outside air would provide me with all the cooling i need, all for free. Thanks for the explanation of the icing.

Peace,
~Skylined

 

[Johnny Rotten]

Does it have an air filter? If so do you change it often? If not, have you checked to see if the coils are dirty? Is plenty of air moving across the coil?

 

[skylined]

It has a dust filter, if that's what you mean. As far as I know the coils are not dirty, but that's just from looking in at it.

Peace,
~Skylined

 

[Guest]

I've tried everything,when you leave in the morning leave it on the highest temp. setting with high fan that your plants can tolerate because thats better than it icing over and going out.The key is its less likely to ice at higher temp settings with high fan.Always run high fan also no matter the temp setting.Fortunately for me I worked at home so I could check periodically.

 

[riverrat]

I struggled with this problem for a while until I found a sure fire solution. Mod the AC unit, take out the thermostat and replace it with a cycle timer. I have my unit setup so the AC compressor runs for 30 min, then off for 5 min for a deice cycle. I use the Growtronix system so it was easy to replace the thermostat with a relay and have the software control the cycle. But I would think without the growtronix equipment, you could control the compressor with a simple relay and cycle timer. With the modded AC unit, I can get my walk-in closet grow room down to about 40F if I wanted.


RR

 

[TriPPiN]

I used to have this problem also but I solved it by cleaning the filter.

 

[Guest]

Ugh I remove the filter completely and it'll still freeze up,different problem.

 

[Guest]

some other causes of icing up are low charge of coolant or improperly rated ac. I've also noticed that if my ac's compressor is running constantly without a break it will freeze.. If you have a window unit it means setting it to energy saver mode or if you are running central air making sure your not running your unit too hard.

 

[Guest]

I supposet he higher the temp setting and fan the less often your compressor will have to kick in,thats why highest settings tolerable are needed to prevent freeze up.

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

set ur window shaker thats all iced up to "fan" only and run the fan for a few hours,
then inspect ur evaporator coil for some brown scuzzy lookin shit all over it(clogging it and trapping water on the coil) this is one cause of "ice over".

if the coil is clean ( clean enough!) then set it to "cool" and see if ur problem recurs ?

my office has window shaker that ices over from time to time but the problem is not recurring daily maybe every few months or so. so the "fan method" works 99% of the time for me along with coil cleaning w/ a spray product u can get a lowes or HD etc..

also make sure ur drain pan is not clogged w/ slime/scuzz as a full pan will also contribute/cause an "ice over" too.

peace, and i hope this helps as i am not an AC guru but i have experienced these sorts of problems though!
BUZZ!

 

[Guest]

Yep thats probably the best option with the second best high fan and high temp setting.Running the fan only would result in too hot a room for me so I'd cool the room only on higher temp settings.If you can defrost it just by fan without overheating the room go for it.I remember you well buzzsmirk I was SKELETOR/ballastman on OG.Either I havent seen you around much or blockheads getting better with age.

 

[Guest]

sup ballastman.. sog army here.

 

[riverrat]

I don’t have a camera handy, but depending on how hard it is to get to the thermostat the actual rewiring is easy. Most AC’s thermostats are basically just a simple switch with two wires coming out. Connecting these wires together will switch on the compressor and disconnecting will switch the compressor off.
You will need a single pole/single throw (SPST) solid state relay, here is a link to one like I use:

http://www.factorymation.com/s.nl/it.A/id.747/.f?category=99

You will also need a cycle timer which can be found at most home supply stores. Below is a simple drawing of how to wire it up.





RR

 

[Johnny Rotten]

A fully charged window shaker with clean inside coils shouldn't EVER freeze up. The American.....your coils are dirty. Its a lack of airflow and heat transfer. Outside temp. has very little to do with it, unless its freezing outside.

If people would actually put thought into their cooling systems they wouldn't be running all the time or short cycling. Also, a bit of filter changing really helps.....you guys clean your house fans right?? That shit gets nasty fast and so does an air conditioner that isnt filtered

 

[Guest]

JR I've been doing this for years and years,I've had several units.My coils are not dirty and to say they will never freeze up with low outside ambient temps is to never have experienced it.The unit I have now is relatively new and clean and will freeze over with low outside temps.I was on the dirty coil gig about three years ago with this problem,thats long in the past.

 

[riverrat]

I agree with The American. I live in a high humidity area and I've had brand new AC units right outta the box freeze up in 8 hours. The only thing I found that worked was the above mod. Not only does it solve the freeze up problem, I can also get the room down to a much lower temp than the built in thermostat will allow.

RR

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the tip riverrat thats something to try next time I start up