JackOfDiamonds
Well-known member
Is this a normal thing and should I do anything about it?
Minisplit freezing
- Thread starter JackOfDiamonds
- Start date
Looks like you might need a pan heater if you don't have one. Did this unit ever have issues during winter before?
Looks less like a refrigerant/airflow issue and more about water not draining quick enough or freezing before it can drain.
Looks less like a refrigerant/airflow issue and more about water not draining quick enough or freezing before it can drain.
fitter30
Well-known member
Possibly not going into defrost or long enough. Also could be short on charge. With minis charge needs to be weighed in.
OP
JackOfDiamonds
Well-known member
It still works fine and did the same thing last winter. I built a roof over ot thinking that would help but it doesn't seem to have made a difference.
Or the drain hole(s) are plugged up and the melted condensate can't drip out. Several cycles of this builds up water in the pan till it touches the bottom of the coil, then it freezes solid.
Some of the fancier window units of old had a thermostatic bellows on the drain hole. In the summer it would cover up the hole, allowing water to accumulate and then a fan slinger would throw that water on to the condenser coil, aiding in cooling. In the winter the bellow would contract, uncovering the hole so melted condensate could escape. A stuck close bellows would cause this problem. Maybe your unit had something like this?
Is this a normal thing and should I do anything about it?
Typical problem with a lot of moisture in the outside air. The moisture in the air condensates and freezes on the coil. The HP goes into defrost and the moisture runs down and hits the cold base/pan of the unit and re-freezes. It does this over and over and the ice builds up. It can be a big problem as the lower runs of the coil sit in solid ice. The unit goes into defrost and melts a bit if the ice around the coil and then the moisture will freeze again. I have seem it many times where it eventually crushes the lower runs of the coil and creates a leak.
See it the manufacture offers a base or pan heater for that unit. If not, buy some self regulating heat tape and mount it too the base so the base stays warm enough not to re-freeze the moisture when the unit goes into defrost.
If it were my unit I would shut it down, toss a tarp over it and carefully get some heat under the tarp to thaw the unit until you can get a base heater installed.
OP
JackOfDiamonds
Well-known member
It looks like there's already a heater. It seems like the coils are staying defrosted, and the drain isn't blocked, but ice is building up on the outside. It's probable mostly harmless.