The front of the unit behind the filter freezes up. Worked flawlessly for weeks but freezes up. Cleaned the filter several times but continues to do so.

Clear the blockage and check the flow through the filter.

If you choose to use the air conditioner to cool a room when the outside temperature is low, any condensation that naturally accumulates on the cooling coil inside the unit can freeze. When the coils freeze over, the air flowing through the unit fails to cool, and in your case may have blocked any air flow. I assume you can hear the fan but get no flow?
Freezing may damage the unit. Allow the unit to defrost by turning it off and leaving it off for several hours, or even days, to allow warm air to flow through the coils and melt the ice. Of course if you live in a place like Minneapolis you might be waiting until April. But you should be able to check whether the coils are clear by removing the filter and shining a flashlight through the air-exhaust cavity. The coils are usually visible just inside. If the ice doesn't melt quickly enough, you can speed things up by pointing the hot air of a hair dryer at the coils through this opening.
I also assume since you are in apt you have no access to the exterior side of the unit to check what is going on? Or if this is a window unit just take it out of the window for awhile (granted ... that can be a pain in the you know what).
Good luck on your troubleshooting ... I think you are the right track

Hello, low airflow or a low refrigerant charge will cause the unit to ice up, if the airflow is good then a set of guages will need to be attached to the unit to observe the operating pressures.

Check the air filter. Freeze ups are often caused by low airflow across the cold coil. A dirty air filter can severely restrict air flow. Replace or wash (if a washable type) the filter and allow the dehumidifier coils to defrost completely. Reinstall the filter and be sure to locate the appliance so that air flow in and out of it is not restricted in any way (not up against a wall, behind a door, curtains, etc.) and restart.

If the unit has been run without an air filter, the cooling coil fins are probably choked with dust and dirt. They should be cleaned with a product designed expressly for this purpose such as:



Evaporator coil cleaner is available from many hardware and "big box home supply stores" such as Lowe's or Home Depot.

Use only as directed, and buy filters! it's much easier to replace filters than cleaning coils.

I hope this helps and good luck! Please rate my reply "4 thumbs up" if it was helpful. Thanks!

Hi, when the unit freezes up, it is either low on freon, a plugged a/c filter, or the evaporator coil is dirty and will need to be cleaned. When the evap. coil freezes up, the blower motor can't blow air through the coil. Check the filter, and behind the filter to see if the coil is dirty, just remove the screws to excess the evap. coil on this unit. Make sure the blower motor is running up to speed also. You will know. If the coil is dirty, try and clean it the best you can and replace the filter. If it continues to ice, you will need to have the freon level checked> These are the # 1 causes of coils icing up. Please let me know how it turns out.
Sincerely,
Shastalaker7
A/C, Heating, & Refrigeration, Contractor

You want to look up Guangdong Chigo who are the manufacturers of this unit. They have a list of error codes/service manuals etc on their site.... From the PDF:
"1、Check whether the operation current and power of the unit is abnormal. 2、Check whether the speed and wind quantity of the fan is normal, otherwise replace the outdoor fan or capacitance 3、 Check whether the surface of the condenser is too dirty, and it should be cleaned when it is too dirty. 4、Check whether the unit is short of the refrigerant, add the refrigerant after leakage detection and repair welding. 5、 Check whether the sensor and electric control board is normal, otherwise replace the board."

Hi the likely problem is a blocked drain filter or a bad pump. Their will either be a small door at the front right or a removable panel under the door. gain access to the pump and beside the pump there will be what looks like a gas cap on a car. unscrew it and clean the filter. If you don't see too much that would block the filter then your problem is the pump replace it. If you have any other questions please feel free to comment. Mike

sounds like you need to replace your defrost timer it is in the front underneath the fridge if you pull off the front kickplate you will see it in there

You have an automatic defrost problem. Here are the three components that can cause this defect in order of most common to least. #1 defrost timer or equivalent adaptive defrost control board, #2 defrost termination thermostat (should be replaced regardless since it has been frozen in ice several times) #3 defrost heating element(rarely fails but is possible). If you have a meter you can check the thermostat and element for continuity they should show an infinite reading if they are operational. the termination thermostat must be below 35 deg f to show a closed circuit.

It could be the defrosting clock usually positioned at front bottom behind the removable grill or in the back. This clock times the running and defrosting time, so if stuck on run it will never go to defrost cycle and the ice piles up.It has a one way slotted fit. Use a wide flat screwdriver to slowly turn the dial until compressor stops, (defrost cycle) this will not only stop compressor, but also turn on that tube heather you where talking about to melt ice off evaporator. Then wait (up to 30 minutes) to see if starts up again(run cycle). If it does not, clock needs replacement. You can then turn clock again slowly to turn compressor back on so you can use fridge until repaired. You can do this off and on daily to manually defrost unit until repaired. If this is not your problem it could very well be the heather tube, but they rarely go out.
Best I can do without being there, hope it helps you.
Frank