NFT: A/C Question For All Of You Handymen - Page 3

The Rick · 06-07-2005, 01:34 PM

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?

**ptlyon** · 06-07-2005, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plattadaddypus

...you can still feel the heat from these big tall baby's...... that's the biggest issue IMHO, besides the kitchen with the appliances.

If they're a problem knock them out

The Rick · 06-07-2005, 03:07 PM

Okay, I've been thinking about the fuse thing. Here's a dumb question:

If it really is the fuse that's blown, wouldn't the fan on the outside unit not be running/turning?

**Iowanian** · 06-07-2005, 03:08 PM

I'm thinking the fan and compressor aren't running on the same circuit..thats probably why there would be 2 fuses?

It could be as simple as your coolant leaking off over the winter...or it could be that the underpants gnomes filled the tubing while using it as a storage unit, hiding all of those tubesocks you ruined while your wife was visiting her sister during the free cinnemax weekend.....

**KC Dan** · 06-07-2005, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rick

Okay, I've been thinking about the fuse thing. Here's a dumb question:

If it really is the fuse that's blown, wouldn't the fan on the outside unit not be running/turning?

If the fuse is bad, no turny-turny. No compressor, nada. You are correct.

The Rick · 06-07-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I'm thinking the fan and compressor aren't running on the same circuit..thats probably why there would be 2 fuses?

It could be as simple as your coolant leaking off over the winter...or it could be that the underpants gnomes filled the tubing while using it as a storage unit, hiding all of those tubesocks you ruined while your wife was visiting her sister during the free cinnemax weekend.....

I hate those underpants gnomes!

**Skip Towne** · 06-07-2005, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rick

I hate those underpants gnomes!

Sometimes the satellite fairy comes by and fixes problems for me.

Brock · 06-07-2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rick

Okay, I've been thinking about the fuse thing. Here's a dumb question:

If it really is the fuse that's blown, wouldn't the fan on the outside unit not be running/turning?

There are two fuses. The one which runs the compressor is the one that usually blows.

KC Kings · 06-07-2005, 03:45 PM

Quote:

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.

KC Kings · 06-07-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plattadaddypus

We have ceiling fans in 2 of the 3 rooms. Naturally the kitchen will get hot when cooking, the dinning room has 3 tall windows that collect heat with no fan. The family room has a ceiling fan where the thermostat is, I keep all lights off during the day.

IMHO, I was thinking a new energy saving a/c would work best. The cost of a bigger unit and installation will cost more that this fat boy wants to spend.

What about an attic fan? I buddy of mine has a attrium split and the ceiling in the living room ceiling is 30 feet tall, and there is a catwalk over the living room to the 4th bedroom. It would get about 180 degrees up there, so he installed an attic fan to pull the cool air up, and push the hot air out of the house.

C-Mac · 06-07-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

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.

KC Kings · 06-07-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-Mac

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.

Is that the problem you are having now, that the compressor never turns off? The relay is two pieces of metal seperated by springs. When 24 vdc comes to the relay it causes the outside piece to suck in via a magnetic force stronger than the spring. Since your AC has been off all winter it should not be stuck on. It is possible but not very probably that the relay is stuck with the plates connected. The opposite would be possible, because sometimes when your relay is "replaced", the points are just cleaned and you are charged for a new part that was never installed.

If your compressor is on all of the time, is your internal fan on all of the time also? If it doesn't get cool your thermostat will never shut off the internal, which will never shut off the external.

C-Mac · 06-07-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Kings

Is that the problem you are having now, that the compressor never turns off? The relay is two pieces of metal seperated by springs. When 24 vdc comes to the relay it causes the outside piece to suck in via a magnetic force stronger than the spring. Since your AC has been off all winter it should not be stuck on. It is possible but not very probably that the relay is stuck with the plates connected. The opposite would be possible, because sometimes when your relay is "replaced", the points are just cleaned and you are charged for a new part that was never installed.

If your compressor is on all of the time, is your internal fan on all of the time also? If it doesn't get cool your thermostat will never shut off the internal, which will never shut off the external.

I replaced the relay myself last year, but knowing how electronic parts can be these days, it doesnt mean much. Yes the problem is that the compressor doesnt shut off even though the thermostat kicks the fan off. So for now I have been throwing the breaker off to the compressor in the evening so it doesnt run all nite.

elvomito · 06-07-2005, 08:04 PM

when the a/c is running and cooling, about how cool should the "cool" line be coming off the compressor outside? the warm one is pretty warm, and the cool one is just mildly cool.

also, the air coming out of my vents is 17 degrees cooler than the ambient air inside the house, but the house doesn't cool. maybe 1 degree per 2 hours.

now, i know i need insulation in the attic, and maybe walls while i'm at it. but there's no major air leaks in the house.
any thoughts?

C-Mac · 06-07-2005, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elvomito

when the a/c is running and cooling, about how cool should the "cool" line be coming off the compressor outside? the warm one is pretty warm, and the cool one is just mildly cool.

also, the air coming out of my vents is 17 degrees cooler than the ambient air inside the house, but the house doesn't cool. maybe 1 degree per 2 hours.

now, i know i need insulation in the attic, and maybe walls while i'm at it. but there's no major air leaks in the house.
any thoughts?

If your filter in the house is clean then either your coils outside cant breath or you need freon.

elvomito · 06-07-2005, 08:42 PM

probably freon i guess. everything's been cleaned.
so, is the temp drop supposed to be about 20 degrees?

06-07-2005, 01:34 PM
The Rick Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milwaukee, WI Casino cash: $6811320	NFT: A/C Question For All Of You Handymen 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?
Posts: 2,442

06-07-2005, 03:07 PM	#32
The Rick Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milwaukee, WI Casino cash: $6811320	Okay, I've been thinking about the fuse thing. Here's a dumb question: If it really is the fuse that's blown, wouldn't the fan on the outside unit not be running/turning?
Posts: 2,442

06-07-2005, 03:08 PM	#33
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $1788454	I'm thinking the fan and compressor aren't running on the same circuit..thats probably why there would be 2 fuses? It could be as simple as your coolant leaking off over the winter...or it could be that the underpants gnomes filled the tubing while using it as a storage unit, hiding all of those tubesocks you ruined while your wife was visiting her sister during the free cinnemax weekend.....
Posts: 62,934

06-07-2005, 08:04 PM	#43
elvomito ☻☺ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ♠█♠ Casino cash: $10004900	when the a/c is running and cooling, about how cool should the "cool" line be coming off the compressor outside? the warm one is pretty warm, and the cool one is just mildly cool. also, the air coming out of my vents is 17 degrees cooler than the ambient air inside the house, but the house doesn't cool. maybe 1 degree per 2 hours. now, i know i need insulation in the attic, and maybe walls while i'm at it. but there's no major air leaks in the house. any thoughts?
Posts: 2,362

06-07-2005, 08:42 PM	#45
elvomito ☻☺ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ♠█♠ Casino cash: $10004900	probably freon i guess. everything's been cleaned. so, is the temp drop supposed to be about 20 degrees?
Posts: 2,362