There are several possible causes of icing.
It happens more in summer when the weather has been hot and humid. One way or another, moisture-laden air enters the box. It is a principle of physics that water vapor migrates from a warmer to a colder region. In a refrigeration unit, moisture collects on the outside of the evaporator, forming a layer of ice. A contributing factor may be that workers are going in and out of the walk-in, leaving the door open or ajar when they are inside. They should be asked to plan their tasks so that trips inside are kept to a minimum, especially on muggy days.
Another cause of frost build-up on the evaporator
is a door that is out of adjustment. Moist air can enter around the edges of the door, and if it is a freezer, ice will build up here, progressively preventing the door from closing, making the gap larger and accelerating the process. Watch out for a worn door gasket. It allows moist air to enter and it should be repaired or replaced.
If the box is not urgently needed, the remedy is simple. Power down the compressor for a few hours and let the ice melt. Prop the door open during this period. Placement of a fan or portable heater near the evaporator will speed things up. If the unit is in use and urgently needed, the ice will have to be removed manually. When doing so, always power down the compressor first. Otherwise, you will be battling the cold.
Use a small heat gun or a propane torch to melt out the block of ice. As soon as chunks of ice become loose, remove them to speed up the process, taking care not to pull out any wires that may be embedded. If using a propane torch, keep it moving. Too much heat will damage the aluminum fins and nearby components. It is amazing how long it takes to remove a small block of ice.
Some preventive measures may be taken.
One of these is a heating element that is made to go on an evaporator. It is controlled by a timer and goes on periodically to control ice formation. Another approach is to install a 24-hour clock timer in the compressor circuit so that the refrigeration equipment goes into a defrost cycle periodically. These cycles can be set to coincide with times of decreased usage, such as after midnight.
If you are interested in getting a new HVAC San Diego , CA home, there are a lot of new ways to do that. Give Atlas Heating & Air Conditioning Inc a call today at (877) 452-8527, so that we can get the process started for you.
