What is going on with Haier Window AC?

[jazzwineman]

This is the second Haier 6000 BTU (QHM06LX) unit I have gotten. I use this for zone cooling in my window near the kitchen and dining area as I do have Central air, but those areas are the furthest from the Central AC.

The first one lasted 2 summers and then started to freeze up at all temperatures. Either it developed a leak from nowhere or there was some internal mechanical problem. I clean the filter every week, keep the evaporator fins clean as well as the condenser fins. In winter I put a protective cover over the whole outside part as I do a more more robust install or weather and bugs would get around the unit with the windows I have. I regularly use coil cleaner on the condenser coils. There is zero problem with airflow at any location in the AC.

So I bought last summer another one just the same as before. Did my same robust install and then this winter kept it covered again.
Started it at the beginning of summer here in Texas and everything worked fine. Since I get the west sun in the afternoon in that area and I run it at high and set at 64 so that is runs al the time.

The other day it was 99. i was gone for about 70 minutes and came in and found it frozen on the top part of the evaporator and in the unit the suction filter and line to the compressor was covered in ice. It was a simple procedure in hot temps to unfreeze. I had cleaned the filter the night before and the evaporator coils/fins look brand new.
I then unplugged the unit, got my coil cleaner, sprayed it on the condenser coils/fins, let it do it's work and then hosed it off well and cleaned up the tray where bugs or pieces of leaves sometimes fall.

Started it up and all seemed to work well for the rest of Wed, Thursday and Friday.
Then Saturday in the middle of the afternoon with the temp at 99 degrees the same freeze up. The unit is clean, the coils and fins are clean, the front blower blades are clean, the condenser fan is 90% clean. Clearly there is either a malfunction of some sort or a coolant leak has come about from nowhere. It seems to operate in the defined specifications and the air coming out of the vents is about what I would expect using my IR temp monitor. Today I set it at 70 and left for about 90 minutes and it was starting to freeze again when I got back. Now if I turn it on and the condenser comes on, then 2 or 3 of the copper pipes going to the evaporator want to frost up quickly.
Apparently there is a serious reliability problem with these units and there seems to be no valid reason for it to freeze up being this new.

The only thing I might mention is that one of the vents of the Central Ac us nearby and may lower the temp of the air going over the evaporator coils. Could that be a problem?

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what could be the problem if not the machine. I have run it allowing water to drip and run it with the plug in for water to hit one the condenser coils. Would that make a difference.

Any help is highly appreciated.

Thanks

Tom in Dallas/Plano

 

[Scarpozzi]

Those things work by getting really cold and then forcing warmer air through the fins. It's pretty dumb tech and doesn't have a real computer controller in it. You just need to adjust your thermostat so it's not running constantly.

What's the thermostat options? 1-8? or 1-10?.... Just turn down the thermostat to 60% and see if it ices....if not, turn it up to 70% of max. Just don't run it 100% and the cycles will allow it to thaw appropriately.

 

[13Gigatons]

Haier isn't rated to highly.

It's a Window Unit which kinda suck these days.

In the old days they would last for ten years...now 2-3 years.

PS: They need to be stored indoors over winter.

 

[Steltek]

Haier isn't rated to highly.

It's a Window Unit which kinda suck these days.

In the old days they would last for ten years...now 2-3 years.

PS: They need to be stored indoors over winter.

This.

You can tell they don't expect them to last simply on the basis of how little they weigh. All plastic and tin can aluminum.

My brother has one on his porch he uses a few hours each night (I don't know what brand it is). It doesn't even have copper coils - looking at them, they are clearly aluminum. He replaces that thing with a new one every couple years like clockwork, despite the fact that it isn't used that much and is stored in his shop building during the winter. He just picks up a new unit in the dead of winter when they are cheapest.

 

[jazzwineman]

It was running fine and then just started to leak, I assume. Now it will frost up at any point you turn it on. Could be a mechanical or internal failure or a leak for no reason just developed. GE will give me $100 rebate n a new unit. I do a very robust install that takes about 2 hours and have very good outside cover that covers everything outside of the window. I am not going not be doing the install every year and mine is really one I work at and is sealed at every level so no weather, bugs rain or anything would get in at any point.

Thanks

Tom

 

[13Gigatons]

It was running fine and then just started to leak, I assume. Now it will frost up at any point you turn it on. Could be a mechanical or internal failure or a leak for no reason just developed. GE will give me $100 rebate n a new unit. I do a very robust install that takes about 2 hours and have very good outside cover that covers everything outside of the window. I am not going not be doing the install every year and mine is really one I work at and is sealed at every level so no weather, bugs rain or anything would get in at any point.

Thanks

Tom

Window Units are not Winterized. The Freon tank will start leaking which will cause a low freon problems like the evaporator frosting up during operation. It can also damaged the condenser coils (more places for leaking). YOU MUST STORE THE WINDOW UNIT INSIDE DURING WINTER.

 

[jazzwineman]

Window Units are not Winterized. The Freon tank will start leaking which will cause a low freon problems like the evaporator frosting up during operation. It can also damaged the condenser coils (more places for leaking). YOU MUST STORE THE WINDOW UNIT INSIDE DURING WINTER.

Thanks for that. How does it damage condenser coils (bear in mind I am in Dallas and except for last winter, we generally do not have bad freezes if any). What would cause in cold weather the freon tank to leak. This unit, which was put after a season back in service in May worked perfectly until about 10 days ago.

I have friends in the neighborhood that also have more window AC units than I have and they put no cover on them in the winter and they have been working , in some cases, more than 10 years without a hitch. I talked to 4 of them after your post. They leave them in, never even put a cover on them and have zero problems.

I am forced to make a different install. The install kit that comes is completely inadequate and beyond using a good amount to of aluminum-backed foil tape all on the outside of the cheap curtains and have to use a sealant with the side curtains and making sure every knock and cranny are covered, it becomes a major job to reinstall. The windows in the house are from the 1960's, so I have had to fabricate using foil tape and heavier installation on the bottom of the unit where the curtain slide into as there is no location for that part to sit behind the area that the side curtains have to run. A wood block would not work.


So that has pretty well convinced me if you are correct about the winter cold, to buy an indoor portable unit.

Thanks

Tom

 

[13Gigatons]

Tips:
1. Try a different brand: Frigidaire or LG
2. Buy a larger model: Will run less often, less stress on the parts, plus better built.
3. Humidity will shorten life: Run it in fan only mode BEFORE shutting it off...will also reduce mold growth.

If rain, dirt or moisture is getting inside and is trapped that could be worse than just leaving it fully opened.