NFT: A/C Question For All Of You Handymen - Page 4

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?

C-Mac · 06-07-2005, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elvomito

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

Not sure of the exact temperature but if it used to cool the house before and now its not, its not the insulation. Are the copper lines sweaty at all?

Chiefsrocker · 06-07-2005, 10:01 PM

Ok try this. First check your filters. Then check the breaker/fuse box for any blown or tripped 220 volt breakers or fuses. If that is ok, go outside and look at the condenser unit. Is it running, humming, or anything. If hunning, you probablyu have a blown breaker or fuse somewhere. If running, maybe low on freon or just dirty. If nothing at all, could be the thermostat. If you havent washed out the condenser, now is the time to do it. turn off the power, and take a garden hose and wash out the aluminum fins or coils. You can usually see them easily, but some brands put a housing around them. Make sure you wash it out well. If at all possible, take the top off and dig out the leaves and stuff that has collected. the bestpossible way is to wash the fins from the inside out, since most condensers suck air through the coils when running. After this is done, turn everything back on. It will dry itself out. Check the two lines that go into the house. the bigger line that is insulated should get cool, and start to sweat, but not freeze or show signs of ice buildup. If the lines feel the same, you probably need freon, or compressor isnt running. Next check the blower motor in the furnbace inside. It should be running on high speed.If filters are plugged, the fan can slow down, and this can cause freezing or ice buildup. If the fan motor isnt running, either t-stat, fan relay, capacitor, or motor has failed. I hope this helps and gets ya going and saves you a service call. Us HVAC guys are kinda expensive! lol

elvomito · 06-07-2005, 10:18 PM

thanks... yes HVAC guys do make their money!
rightfully so though
now, i cleaned everything and installed new filter.
this is my first summer in this house, and when i bought it the inspector said the a/c was performing within guidelines.
the insulated line does get cool. the other line is super hot right now too.
i peaked in at the a-coil and no freeze, but lottsa condensation that seems to drain sufficiently.
i will check the furnace blower wiring. maybe its a 2 speed fan and been on low all this time.

elvomito · 06-07-2005, 10:25 PM

inside, no condensation on the cool line.
on the hot line, there is a "line dryer"

The Rick · 06-08-2005, 11:22 AM

Okay, well, here's the latest on my situation. I went home last night and swapped the fuses on the outside of the house thinking that if it was a blown fuse, then the reverse would happen: the compressor would run but the fan wouldn't. No such luck.

So, today, I paid someone $60 to come out and take a look at it. The guy hooks up something to the unit outside and after 2 minutes tells me the compressor is bad and I need a whole new A/C system.

I couldn't believe he could determine that so quickly. He said he could try putting a "power surge" on the compressor, but he wasn't sure if it would work and if it did, how long it would work. I had him go ahead and try that and that didn't work either. It sounded like the compressor would run for a few seconds, then kick off.

So, the guys says I need a new system and gives me a quote for ~$3000 which includes everything (parts, labor, electrician, permits, etc.). That's for a 2.5 ton Puron based system. He said a Freeon based system would be cheaper, but that Freeon was going to be banned or phased out soon or something.

My question is, does all of this sound right? I mean, I heard the compressor kick on, but then kick off when his monitor or whatever was hooked up to it. I'm pretty sure I heard the compressor run (or try to run) longer than that before.

Does the price for the new system sound about right? Does the compressor being bad sound right? Is it worth it to get a second opinion?

06-08-2005, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rick

Does the price for the new system sound about right? Does the compressor being bad sound right? Is it worth it to get a second opinion?

It's ALWAYS worth it to get a second opinion. ENDelt had a quote of $40k+ on his deck and that guy wasn't building him a bar, countertop, and built-in grill. I did it ALL for significantly less.

The Rick · 06-08-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

It's ALWAYS worth it to get a second opinion. ENDelt had a quote of $40k+ on his deck and that guy wasn't building him a bar, countertop, and built-in grill. I did it ALL for significantly less.

Okay, okay...so how much would you charge me?

The Rick · 06-08-2005, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phobia

It's ALWAYS worth it to get a second opinion. ENDelt had a quote of $40k+ on his deck and that guy wasn't building him a bar, countertop, and built-in grill. I did it ALL for significantly less.

All kidding aside, what I meant was would it be worth it for me to have someone else come out to take a look at my existing A/C unit to see if it really is the compressor. I mean, is it something where if the compressor is bad, it's pretty obvious?

I will certainly get a second quote on a new system...

C-Mac · 06-08-2005, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rick

Does the price for the new system sound about right? Does the compressor being bad sound right? Is it worth it to get a second opinion?

$3000 for a bad compressor?
Did you notice if the compressor motor had a starter capacitor on it?

**ptlyon** · 06-08-2005, 11:37 AM

That wouldn't hurt either

The Rick · 06-08-2005, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-Mac

$3000 for a bad compressor?
Did you notice if the compressor motor had a starter capacitor on it?

Starter capacitor? Is that the cylinder shaped thing that's probably about 4-5 inches tall? Yeah, it had that on it. The "power surge" thing he tried hooked up directly to that...

**ptlyon** · 06-08-2005, 11:47 AM

Ok, first things first.

Did you try an impact adjustment on it?

Brock · 06-08-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rick

Okay, well, here's the latest on my situation. I went home last night and swapped the fuses on the outside of the house thinking that if it was a blown fuse, then the reverse would happen: the compressor would run but the fan wouldn't. No such luck.

Dude, I don't think that will work. The reason there are two fuses is because the compressor runs on 3-phase (220).

The Rick · 06-08-2005, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlyon

Ok, first things first.

Did you try an impact adjustment on it?

You mean...did I try introducing my foot to it? No, I didn't try that...

**ptlyon** · 06-08-2005, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rick

You mean...did I try introducing my foot to it? No, I didn't try that...

Mistake #1.

06-07-2005, 01:34 PM
The Rick Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milwaukee, WI Casino cash: $7581320	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: 2,438

06-07-2005, 10:01 PM	#47
Chiefsrocker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Axtell, Kansas Casino cash: $10004900	Ok try this. First check your filters. Then check the breaker/fuse box for any blown or tripped 220 volt breakers or fuses. If that is ok, go outside and look at the condenser unit. Is it running, humming, or anything. If hunning, you probablyu have a blown breaker or fuse somewhere. If running, maybe low on freon or just dirty. If nothing at all, could be the thermostat. If you havent washed out the condenser, now is the time to do it. turn off the power, and take a garden hose and wash out the aluminum fins or coils. You can usually see them easily, but some brands put a housing around them. Make sure you wash it out well. If at all possible, take the top off and dig out the leaves and stuff that has collected. the bestpossible way is to wash the fins from the inside out, since most condensers suck air through the coils when running. After this is done, turn everything back on. It will dry itself out. Check the two lines that go into the house. the bigger line that is insulated should get cool, and start to sweat, but not freeze or show signs of ice buildup. If the lines feel the same, you probably need freon, or compressor isnt running. Next check the blower motor in the furnbace inside. It should be running on high speed.If filters are plugged, the fan can slow down, and this can cause freezing or ice buildup. If the fan motor isnt running, either t-stat, fan relay, capacitor, or motor has failed. I hope this helps and gets ya going and saves you a service call. Us HVAC guys are kinda expensive! lol
Posts: 211

06-07-2005, 10:18 PM	#48
elvomito ☻☺ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ♠█♠ Casino cash: $10004900	thanks... yes HVAC guys do make their money! rightfully so though now, i cleaned everything and installed new filter. this is my first summer in this house, and when i bought it the inspector said the a/c was performing within guidelines. the insulated line does get cool. the other line is super hot right now too. i peaked in at the a-coil and no freeze, but lottsa condensation that seems to drain sufficiently. i will check the furnace blower wiring. maybe its a 2 speed fan and been on low all this time.
Posts: 2,362

06-07-2005, 10:25 PM	#49
elvomito ☻☺ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: ♠█♠ Casino cash: $10004900	inside, no condensation on the cool line. on the hot line, there is a "line dryer"
Posts: 2,362

06-08-2005, 11:22 AM	#50
The Rick Veteran Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milwaukee, WI Casino cash: $7581320	Okay, well, here's the latest on my situation. I went home last night and swapped the fuses on the outside of the house thinking that if it was a blown fuse, then the reverse would happen: the compressor would run but the fan wouldn't. No such luck. So, today, I paid someone $60 to come out and take a look at it. The guy hooks up something to the unit outside and after 2 minutes tells me the compressor is bad and I need a whole new A/C system. I couldn't believe he could determine that so quickly. He said he could try putting a "power surge" on the compressor, but he wasn't sure if it would work and if it did, how long it would work. I had him go ahead and try that and that didn't work either. It sounded like the compressor would run for a few seconds, then kick off. So, the guys says I need a new system and gives me a quote for ~$3000 which includes everything (parts, labor, electrician, permits, etc.). That's for a 2.5 ton Puron based system. He said a Freeon based system would be cheaper, but that Freeon was going to be banned or phased out soon or something. My question is, does all of this sound right? I mean, I heard the compressor kick on, but then kick off when his monitor or whatever was hooked up to it. I'm pretty sure I heard the compressor run (or try to run) longer than that before. Does the price for the new system sound about right? Does the compressor being bad sound right? Is it worth it to get a second opinion?
Posts: 2,438

06-08-2005, 11:37 AM	#55
ptlyon Bono & Grbac wasn't enough Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sioux City, IA Casino cash: $12803829	That wouldn't hurt either __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month
Posts: 33,920

06-08-2005, 11:47 AM	#57
ptlyon Bono & Grbac wasn't enough Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Sioux City, IA Casino cash: $12803829	Ok, first things first. Did you try an impact adjustment on it? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Advertise here: $19.99 a month
Posts: 33,920