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?

[The Rick]

Wow...thanks guys for the tips. If it truly is just a blown fuse, you may have just saved me from a pointless $60 service call!

[Iowanian]

$60?

That won't get the guy to start the truck.

I hope thats it.
You should still take a hose to the unit too.

[The Rick]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

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

Sweeeeet!

[ROYC75]

While we are on the kick of A/C's...... I need to keep our house cooler with the wife's medical condition........

I have a 3 ton unit here. I also have 8, 10 & 12 foot ceilings in my house. It gets hot in the 3 rooms that have the 10' & 12' .

1 ).Would it be best to upgrade to a 4 ton unit ?
2). Buy a window unit ( put it in the middle room aka; dining room ,between the outer 2 rooms ). can the window unit keep those 3 rooms that connect together cooler ?

What are the economic cost of running both or replacing the outside unit ?

Thoughts ?

[The Rick]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

$60?

That won't get the guy to start the truck.

I hope thats it.
You should still take a hose to the unit too.

Actually, I did that last night too. Forgot to mention that. I probably didn't do it good enough though because I wasn't sure. You're saying basically just take the hose over to the outside unit and just start spraying it down all over? No need to worry about anything?

I mean, I assume since it can withstand rain, it could withstand the hose...

[ptlyon]

This should be linked in Handyman Corner.

Kudos Guys.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by plattadaddypus

While we are on the kick of A/C's...... I need to keep our house cooler with the wife's medical condition........

I have a 3 ton unit here. I also have 8, 10 & 12 foot ceilings in my house. It gets hot in the 3 rooms that have the 10' & 12' .

1 ).Would it be best to upgrade to a 4 ton unit ?
2). Buy a window unit ( put it in the middle room aka; dining room ,between the outer 2 rooms ). can the window unit keep those 3 rooms that connect together cooler ?

What are the economic cost of running both or replacing the outside unit ?

Thoughts ?

I think a window unit would kill you economically. Those things are money drains.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by plattadaddypus

While we are on the kick of A/C's...... I need to keep our house cooler with the wife's medical condition........

I have a 3 ton unit here. I also have 8, 10 & 12 foot ceilings in my house. It gets hot in the 3 rooms that have the 10' & 12' .

1 ).Would it be best to upgrade to a 4 ton unit ?
2). Buy a window unit ( put it in the middle room aka; dining room ,between the outer 2 rooms ). can the window unit keep those 3 rooms that connect together cooler ?

What are the economic cost of running both or replacing the outside unit ?

Thoughts ?

A couple hundred dollars vs. a couple thousand. I'd put in some ceiling fans.

[Iowanian]

I'll link it in the handyman corner pt....good idear.

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I'll link it in the handyman corner pt....good idear.

That deserves an Attaboy

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by Lzen

I take it you do this stuff for a living?

I used to. I was trained by the best A/C - Refrig man in So. Cal - My dad. He had his own business for many years and trounced the big companies there. In fact, while in Cali in January I did 2 service calls for my brother. One was the twit had the unit set to heat and couldn't understand why it wouldn't get cold. The other - the condensor fan went out and the unit was on without it eventually burning up the compressor. See, the fan outside is your condener fan, as the freon gas moves through the coils from the compressor it gives up its heat by radiating it to the cooler ambient air outside the coils. The condensor fan speeds up the radiation of heat by blowing ambient air over the condensor coils. And, if the condensor fan doesn't help move the warm air away from the coils, the evaporator air won't get much cooler because no heat has been removed by the condener. Thank God I don't do calls anymore, too many stupid people. They don't clean filters/replace them or wash out the condenser coils.

[Iowanian]

Originally Posted by Brock

A couple hundred dollars vs. a couple thousand. I'd put in some ceiling fans.

Good call.

Good Ceiling Fans....wider span and not the $19 walmart variety.

It'll be Thousands to "upgrade" your CA unit.....but you could always put a couple of Window units in the bedroom and wherever she spends the most time to supplement your central air.

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by Brock

A couple hundred dollars vs. a couple thousand. I'd put in some ceiling fans.

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.

[Iowanian]

plattadaddypus.....
have you made sure the fans have been switched to push the air down instead of lift? That makes a big difference in the summer.

you could also consider closing off vents to unused rooms during the day(say III's bedroom)....that'll allow more cool air for the main living area(at least in theory).

Keep your shades closed in the day time will also keep the radiational heat out of the house, keeping it naturally cooler. on the non-sun sides, you can open them for the light.

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

plattadaddypus.....
have you made sure the fans have been switched to push the air down instead of lift? That makes a big difference in the summer.

you could also consider closing off vents to unused rooms during the day(say III's bedroom)....that'll allow more cool air for the main living area(at least in theory).

Keep your shades closed in the day time will also keep the radiational heat out of the house, keeping it naturally cooler. on the non-sun sides, you can open them for the light.

Check and check..........

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