The “DF” code on a Midea air conditioner indicates that the unit needs to defrost when the outdoor unit has frozen, which occurs in heating mode.
Home electronic appliances such as air conditioners can indicate when something is not right with the appliance or when there is an error in the unit’s functioning, and what needs to be done to fix a certain issue.
LED displays can display information such as error codes and various functions and modes when the unit is in operation. Midea air conditioners are also capable of this.
So, what does “DF” on the display indicate, and what needs to be done for the Midea unit?
Midea air conditioner modes and codes
The LED displays on all air conditioners, including the Midea AC, serve as essential communication tools, providing users with valuable information about the operational status of the unit.
These displays not only convey the current operating mode and set temperature, but also play a critical role in alerting about potential issues or errors that require attention to maintain the unit’s efficiency and functionality
There are various display codes that can be communicated, and each one has a different meaning.
What does DF mean on a Midea air conditioner?
When your Midea air conditioner’s screen displays a “DF” code, it is telling you that the unit needs to be defrosted or is in defrost mode. An air conditioner needs to be defrosted when the outdoor unit has started freezing.
There are two reasons for this; one is the severely cold weather conditions of the winter, and the other is a less obvious reason, namely, the presence of moisture in the air when the unit is in heating mode. Freezing is actually more likely to happen in heating mode.
Thick foggy conditions or a body of water somewhere close to your home can increase the humidity in the air, which can, in turn, cause the unit to freeze up and go into DF mode or display a warning that the unit needs to be defrosted urgently.
The reason that the unit freezes up in increased humidity is that when the air conditioner is in heating mode in winter, the internal unit is heated by freon which is designed to be a cooling agent, and the outdoor unit is cooled.
Because of the outside moisture, during this process, a layer of frost will start developing on the surface of the unit and in thick foggy conditions, this is exacerbated even more.
The defrosting function will take place under certain conditions in order to deal with the formation of ice in the outdoor heat exchanger unit.
Defrosting when temperatures outdoors are above 0 degrees
When the outdoor temperatures are more than 0 degrees, the defrosting mode starts when the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger stays at lower than 3 degrees for more than 40 minutes.
It will also start when the temperature remains minus 4 degrees for more than 3 minutes or, when the outdoor heat exchanger temperature remains lower than 3 degrees for more than 80 minutes, or while the temperature remains at negative 2 degrees for more than 3 minutes.
Defrosting when outdoor temperatures are below 0 degrees
Defrosting needs to take place when outdoor temperatures are less than 0 degrees and this happens when the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger remains lower than 3 degrees for more than 40 minutes and the temperature remains at negative 6 degrees for more than 3 minutes.
Alternatively, it can take place in cases where the temperature of the indoor unit pipe decreases by 5 degrees less than before if the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger remains at lower than 3 degrees for more than 120 minutes, and the temperature remains at negative 2 degrees for more than 3 minutes.
You can always check this using this ThermoPro TP60S wireless digital indoor and outdoor thermometer.
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What happens during the Defrost mode?
When in Defrost mode, the unit will switch from Cooling mode to Heating mode, so that it can raise the unit’s temperature to melt the ice. This process can last about five to 10 minutes and when temperatures decrease, it can be repeated.
When the AC is in Defrost mode, its internal body can stop working or blowing cold air, which can be uncomfortable, especially during the winter.