Air Conditioning Question - Page 2

Simplex3 · 07-09-2007, 06:13 PM

So my A/C isn't blowing so cold. I went outside to make sure the damn thing was running and it is. However, I noticed about a quarter inch of frost built up on the fitting that hooks to the insulated tube (as I understand it that's the side going back into the house). I checked both neighbors and their A/C units don't have any frost built up.

WTF? Is this what's causing it to not run cold or is it a side effect of whatever problem I have?

JohninGpt · 07-09-2007, 06:52 PM

Global warming,...but only at your house.

DenverChief · 07-09-2007, 07:00 PM

"Terror Spectacular"

Simplex3 · 07-09-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Dan

Brock is probably correct. Most freeze-ups are caused by dirty coils not allowing air to pass.

This would be outside in the A/C unit, correct? I went out with the hose and sprayed down the entire unit. There wasn't much dirt on anything.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Dan

Turn it off, let it defrost and then clean the coils and the area being careful to not get water in the fan motor or other electricals in the area. And, yes you could have a leak or your charge is wrong or a couple of other things but cleanliness is usually the place to start (Both the coils and the filter)

Where is this filter? Are we talking about the large filter that I change every 2 to 3 months year round, just on the side of the heater?

**Buehler445** · 07-09-2007, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DenverChief

This happened to me once when I lived at an apartment...the maint. guy said to just shut off the A/C and wait for the frost to go away (thaw) and then turn the A/C back on at around 75 and slowly crank it down to your desired temp instead of going from 80ish to 65

Same here. Mine was caused because I only had one vent open (my bedroom faces west). That is a no go. Good luck. I gotsta have my A/C.

**KC Dan** · 07-09-2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplex3

This would be outside in the A/C unit, correct? I went out with the hose and sprayed down the entire unit. There wasn't much dirt on anything.

Where is this filter? Are we talking about the large filter that I change every 2 to 3 months year round, just on the side of the heater?

Is this a wall unit or a installed Central Air unit? If it is a wall unit, you will have a filter inside the front cover and the coils outside on the back. If it is a central air unit, you will have an air return vent with a filter somewhere in the house (maybe more than one if large house/unit) and your coils outside again.

Simplex3 · 07-09-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Dan

Is this a wall unit or a installed Central Air unit? If it is a wall unit, you will have a filter inside the front cover and the coils outside on the back. If it is a central air unit, you will have an air return vent with a filter somewhere in the house (maybe more than one if large house/unit) and your coils outside again.

Thanks man. I'm going to give it a little more time then try and crank it up again.

I have the A/C repair guy scheduled out here at 8am, so I just need to get it limping along tonight.

Chiefsrocker · 07-09-2007, 07:59 PM

The coil in the furnace is froze up. Turn off the unit outside and turn the fan on in the furnace. Let it run to thaw out the coil. Probably get some water around the furnace. After it si all thawed out, check the filter and make sure the fan is running at high speed. If those are OK, you are probably low on refrigerant (R-22 probably) and need to add some. Have you ever had to add refrigerant to the system?? Also, make sure the outside coil is clean. Wash it out with water to make sure the coils are clean! Hope this helps! Been a commercial HVAC Tech and Plumber for 25 years. IF you have any more questions, let me know.

Simplex3 · 07-09-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefsrocker

The coil in the furnace is froze up. Turn off the unit outside and turn the fan on in the furnace. Let it run to thaw out the coil. Probably get some water around the furnace. After it si all thawed out, check the filter and make sure the fan is running at high speed. If those are OK, you are probably low on refrigerant (R-22 probably) and need to add some. Have you ever had to add refrigerant to the system?? Also, make sure the outside coil is clean. Wash it out with water to make sure the coils are clean! Hope this helps! Been a commercial HVAC Tech and Plumber for 25 years. IF you have any more questions, let me know.

Thanks for the info. I got it all thawed out and I can hear things moving in the tubing between the house and the outside unit again. I have it running and it's cooling some, but not much. I'm pretty sure that the A/C guy is going to want to recharge the f**ker.

Any guesstimate on how much to put in an A/C system sufficient to cool a ~2500sq ft house with LOTS of Southern windows?

cardken · 07-09-2007, 09:30 PM

Been doing this for 8 years in the Apt. business, could be a few things, 1. Dirty Filter, 2. Could be under charged low on refrigerent 3. Over charged( this probably is'nt your problem, since you haven't had the unit serviced lately). I work on A/C units 8 months out of the year, here in Nevada. So pretty much seen it all. hope this helps.

Mecca · 07-09-2007, 10:01 PM

Mine iced up last year.........the blower was ****ed up I had to have a guy come out and replace it and then it was fine.

07-09-2007, 06:13 PM
Simplex3 MVP Join Date: Sep 2003 Casino cash: $10004900	Air Conditioning Question So my A/C isn't blowing so cold. I went outside to make sure the damn thing was running and it is. However, I noticed about a quarter inch of frost built up on the fitting that hooks to the insulated tube (as I understand it that's the side going back into the house). I checked both neighbors and their A/C units don't have any frost built up. WTF? Is this what's causing it to not run cold or is it a side effect of whatever problem I have?
Posts: 28,527

07-09-2007, 06:52 PM	#16
JohninGpt Dammit Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Busted Stick, IT Casino cash: $4228304	Global warming,...but only at your house.
Posts: 4,161

07-09-2007, 07:00 PM	#17
DenverChief Pedantic Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Rocky Ford Casino cash: $3072617	"Terror Spectacular"
Posts: 17,051

07-09-2007, 07:59 PM	#22
Chiefsrocker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Axtell, Kansas Casino cash: $10004900	The coil in the furnace is froze up. Turn off the unit outside and turn the fan on in the furnace. Let it run to thaw out the coil. Probably get some water around the furnace. After it si all thawed out, check the filter and make sure the fan is running at high speed. If those are OK, you are probably low on refrigerant (R-22 probably) and need to add some. Have you ever had to add refrigerant to the system?? Also, make sure the outside coil is clean. Wash it out with water to make sure the coils are clean! Hope this helps! Been a commercial HVAC Tech and Plumber for 25 years. IF you have any more questions, let me know.
Posts: 211

07-09-2007, 09:30 PM	#24
cardken Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	A/C Problem Been doing this for 8 years in the Apt. business, could be a few things, 1. Dirty Filter, 2. Could be under charged low on refrigerent 3. Over charged( this probably is'nt your problem, since you haven't had the unit serviced lately). I work on A/C units 8 months out of the year, here in Nevada. So pretty much seen it all. hope this helps.
Posts: 1,722

07-09-2007, 10:01 PM	#25
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-702950	Mine iced up last year.........the blower was ****ed up I had to have a guy come out and replace it and then it was fine.
Posts: 115,371