NFT: A/C Question For All Of You Handymen

[The Rick]

Just tried turning on the A/C yesterday for the first time this year and I got little air coming out of the vents and it didn't feel all that cold. My first thought was to change the air filter so I did that. Now, more air comes out, but it's not cold. The thermostat is set at 78 degrees, but the temperature in the house won't go below 85 degrees.

I don't know much about A/C, but I did take a look at the outside unit. The fan was running, but I'm not sure if it continuously runs. After doing a little research on the Internet, I called my wife to have her check the two pipes coming out of the outside unit. I read that one should be cool and one should be warm if everything is working properly. Based on what she told me, both pipes were warm.

Anyone here know anything about air conditioning? What would cause only lukewarm air to come out and not cool air? Freon problem?

[Brock]

You've blown one of your fuses. Open your electrical box by the outdoor unit and you'll find that one of them is smoked.

[The Rick]

Originally Posted by Brock

You've blown one of your fuses. Open your electrical box by the outdoor unit and you'll find that one of them is smoked.

You mean mounted on the outside of the house? I did open that and there was something in there with a handle on it...like to use to pull whatever it was toward me. I thought that was probably the fuse, but wasn't sure if I should pull it out of the box or not. Does that make sense? Should I pull that? Does that give me access to the actual fuse or something?

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by The Rick

You mean mounted on the outside of the house? I did open that and there was something in there with a handle on it...like to use to pull whatever it was toward me. I thought that was probably the fuse, but wasn't sure if I should pull it out of the box or not. Does that make sense? Should I pull that? Does that give me access to the actual fuse or something?

Yes, pull it out and check continuity of the fuses

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by The Rick

You mean mounted on the outside of the house? I did open that and there was something in there with a handle on it...like to use to pull whatever it was toward me. I thought that was probably the fuse, but wasn't sure if I should pull it out of the box or not. Does that make sense? Should I pull that? Does that give me access to the actual fuse or something?

That sounds like mine. It has a handle that you can pull out. It is there to cut the power to the unit. At least that's what my sister's fiance told me and he works on that kind of stuff for a living.

[KC Kings]

Originally Posted by Lzen

That sounds like mine. It has a handle that you can pull out. It is there to cut the power to the unit. At least that's what my sister's fiance told me and he works on that kind of stuff for a living.

This is partly incorrect. There are two voltages going to the compressor, 200 volts which is always connected, and pulling the block will disconnect the 200.

There is also a 24 volt coming from inside the house. When your blower turns on inside the house, it sends 24 out to the compressor to trip a relay that closes the circuit on the 200 and turns on the compressor

If your inside fan comes on but the outside compressor doesn't turn on, more than likely it is the contacts on your relay. This is VERY common problem during the beginning of the AC season, and the relay cost $20. If you are electrical saavy, you can take off the cover, check the bottom poles with a meter and you should get 200. With the AC running inside you should also get 200 across the top poles, but if your relay is bad you will get 0 volts or close to it.

If you are in KC and want this done by a pro that won't bend you over, send me a PM.

[C-Mac]

Originally Posted by KC Kings

This is partly incorrect. There are two voltages going to the compressor, 200 volts which is always connected, and pulling the block will disconnect the 200.

There is also a 24 volt coming from inside the house. When your blower turns on inside the house, it sends 24 out to the compressor to trip a relay that closes the circuit on the 200 and turns on the compressor

If your inside fan comes on but the outside compressor doesn't turn on, more than likely it is the contacts on your relay. This is VERY common problem during the beginning of the AC season, and the relay cost $20. If you are electrical saavy, you can take off the cover, check the bottom poles with a meter and you should get 200. With the AC running inside you should also get 200 across the top poles, but if your relay is bad you will get 0 volts or close to it.

If you are in KC and want this done by a pro that won't bend you over, send me a PM.

KC Kings\Dan
I assume the reverse is true that a defaulty relay would keep the compressor from shutting off when the fan shuts off or could it be further up the line? I replaced the relay last year because the compressor wasn't kicking on.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by The Rick

You mean mounted on the outside of the house? I did open that and there was something in there with a handle on it...like to use to pull whatever it was toward me. I thought that was probably the fuse, but wasn't sure if I should pull it out of the box or not. Does that make sense? Should I pull that? Does that give me access to the actual fuse or something?

Turn off the power at the breaker box. Open the metal box on the outside of your house. It will be obvious which fuse is blown.

Edit: Probably want to just replace both of them. They're cheap.

[Iowanian]

Originally Posted by The Rick

Should I pull that? Does that give me access to the actual fuse or something?

Just don't spit on it and stick your pickle in there again, Napolean.

[The Rick]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Just don't spit on it and stick your pickle in there again, Napolean.

Sweeeeet!

[Donger]

Originally Posted by The Rick

Just tried turning on the A/C yesterday for the first time this year and I got little air coming out of the vents and it didn't feel all that cold. My first thought was to change the air filter so I did that. Now, more air comes out, but it's not cold. The thermostat is set at 78 degrees, but the temperature in the house won't go below 85 degrees.

I don't know much about A/C, but I did take a look at the outside unit. The fan was running, but I'm not sure if it continuously runs. After doing a little research on the Internet, I called my wife to have her check the two pipes coming out of the outside unit. I read that one should be cool and one should be warm if everything is working properly. Based on what she told me, both pipes were warm.

Anyone here know anything about air conditioning? What would cause only lukewarm air to come out and not cool air? Freon problem?

Sounds like a compressor problem. That's bad. Check the freon levels first, though.

[jspchief]

Sounds like you need a recharge.

[Brock]

It's a common problem when you turn it on for the first time. The compressor gets tight sitting idle all winter and when you first turn it on, it causes a power surge. There are two fuses, and when one blows, the compressor won't run.

[Iowanian]

Have the coolant Recharged and spray the unit out with a hose.

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by The Rick

Just tried turning on the A/C yesterday for the first time this year and I got little air coming out of the vents and it didn't feel all that cold. My first thought was to change the air filter so I did that. Now, more air comes out, but it's not cold. The thermostat is set at 78 degrees, but the temperature in the house won't go below 85 degrees.

I don't know much about A/C, but I did take a look at the outside unit. The fan was running, but I'm not sure if it continuously runs. After doing a little research on the Internet, I called my wife to have her check the two pipes coming out of the outside unit. I read that one should be cool and one should be warm if everything is working properly. Based on what she told me, both pipes were warm.

Anyone here know anything about air conditioning? What would cause only lukewarm air to come out and not cool air? Freon problem?

If both tubes (i assume from the compressor) are warm, then you most likely have a problem. Generally, you will never get air from the unit that is more then 19-20 deg. cooler than outside air. So if the temp outside is 100deg, you wont see less than 80deg from the A/C inside. Make sure the fans come on and if the outside fan isn't coming on then the air will never cool down inside. Also, the compressor should cycle when the A/C is on. If when the temp inside is above the thermostat and you don't hear the compressor humming outside, its not on and either dead, has overloads that tripped or an electrical problem. If the outside fan doesn't come on, its only a matter of time until the compressor buys the farm. Lastly, do the stupid check and make sure your switch on the thermostat is on auto and cool selected. You have no idea how many times that I have seen the thermostat set wrong. Even by smart people.