Author Topic: Any AC Experts? (Read 6965 times)

bpreynolds · « **on:** July 16, 2015, 08:55:40 PM »

Got home from work today to find it about 80 degrees in the house and ac running constantly, set on 74 but not bringing the temp down. It was a hot day here but not that hot. As the temps cooled outside I hoped the ac unit would start bringing temps down, but sadly it's the opposite where it is now quite comfortable outside but still a very warm 80 in our house. I went outside to look at the unit and found this block of ice formed around the base hose. I thawed it completely off with the water hose. Consulted one of my wife's husbands who is an electrician but generally knowledgeable about stuff. He said to shut the ac off, let the fan run straight for an hour and then bring the ac back on at a temp just below the interior temp of the house. Anyone here got any other advice? Heatwave on the way, so I'd like to get it taken care of - temps in upper 90s next 4-5 days with heat index over 105.

Triple Jim · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2015, 08:59:06 PM »

You're low on Freon.

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2015, 09:05:38 PM »

Quote from: bpreynolds on July 16, 2015, 08:55:40 PM

Consulted one of my wife's husbands who is an electrician

how many does she have?

Johncolleary · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2015, 09:12:00 PM »

I agree looks like low Freon Which means a leak somewhere

wrbix · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2015, 09:44:41 PM »

Bad defrost board.

bpreynolds · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2015, 09:48:11 PM »

Quote from: fotoguzzi on July 16, 2015, 09:05:38 PM

how many does she have?

See what the heat does to a guy? But honestly, if he could fix our ac, I might let her have another one for now.

I think the unit is only about 2 years old. It was relatively new when we bought the home a year and a half ago.

Very much thanks for the advice. Update here. Wife just now told me it is wet all around the unit outside. After turning the ac off I pulled the filter just in case it was clogged (though it appears okay) and then I discovered water all around the base of the interior portion of the unit (housing the fan and such). I went ahead and left filter out, ac off, then turned fan back on and everything seemed to be doing okay, air coming out even seemed to be colder than when ac was on. But then it all went down, fan stopped and everything shut down, to include now blank digital thermostat. Checked breaker, wasn't thrown.

T in NC · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2015, 09:57:04 PM »

Not good. I agree your original problem is low on freon. But it sounds like you have electrical problem possibly caused by the melting ice shorting the low voltage side. if you are lucky there is a automotive fuse in the control panel that is blown.

bpreynolds · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2015, 10:12:04 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on July 16, 2015, 09:57:33 PM

Bipper , if the unit is only 2 years old parts of the warranty should still be active . This sounds serious, if it has a scroll compressor , it may be fracturing a refrigerant line . Are the lines overhead , or in the slab ? Hmm , check the return air grill , and the large duct attached to it . Sending PM .

Dusty

Good and kind sir, I appreciate the offer but we are giving up on the evening here. Guess we'll be calling someone first thing in the morning given the oncoming dire weather. Thankfully, me, wifey, and poochies can retire to upstairs bedroom that is cooled mostly by a working window unit.

LowRyter · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2015, 10:13:18 PM »

make sure the condenser power plug is plugged in (check the plugs on the outside unit). Mine was unplugged for no apparent reason. The plug sets right over the fan- even though the fan was working- the unit could still be unplugged.

Clean it up.

Likely it's the refrigerant.

oldbike54 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2015, 10:18:18 PM »

Quote from: LowRyter on July 16, 2015, 10:13:18 PM

make sure the condenser power plug is plugged in (check the plugs on the outside unit). Mine was unplugged for no apparent reason. The plug sets right over the fan- even though the fan was working- the unit could still be unplugged.

Clean it up.

Likely it's the refrigerant.

John , are you referring to a plug style disconnect ? Condensing units are usually hard wired .

Dusty

bpreynolds · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2015, 10:36:26 PM »

Hopefully we'll find someone tomorrow to take a look and repair; otherwise, these two fierce and fur covered friends have promised our ankles and chins will be nibbled to the bone in payback.

Arizona Wayne · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2015, 11:03:32 PM »

Are those Shit-zu or Lhasa-Apso, or 1 of each? We used to have a Lhasa.

That icing up can be caused by the unit never cycling off or the wrong refrigerant in it.

trippah · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2015, 11:05:39 PM »

If you were to encase yourself in a similar fur coat, you would appreciate their situation a bit.

Good luck with the ac people manana.

Gliderjohn · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2015, 06:12:04 AM »

I would have traded you problems. Recently my home A/C quit. I started opening the cover to the box with the board and wiring in it. I didn't even have the cover all the way off before weird jellied stuff start dripping out along with other debris. Pulled the cover and recoiled in horror as it was stuffed full of a partially dissolved snake and maggots. The repairman more than earned his money fixing that one.
GliderJohn

bpreynolds · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2015, 06:22:49 AM »

Quote from: Arizona Wayne on July 16, 2015, 11:03:32 PM

Are those Shit-zu or Lhasa-Apso, or 1 of each? We used to have a Lhasa.

That icing up can be caused by the unit never cycling off or the wrong refrigerant in it.

The front one, Flopsy, is full Zu. She was covered in dirt and with no tags when she - 5 years ago - walked into the library I was then managing in a very tough part of town. She was circling around the perimeter of the interior landing and I kid you not, growling the whole while. I said okay, sat down on the steps near her. She eventually quit growling, hopped up on the steps beside me and just sat there; there was no turning back. Tink - closer to the window - is a kind of martian dog we got from a rescue organization - who got him from the pound, picked up as a stray - about 5 months ago. You can't tell from photo here but he has extremely long legs in relation to his skinny and very long little body and we couldn't figure out what his deal was per se. Unlike Flops, he seemed to have completely boundless energy and was just not Zu at all in his behavior and too, his look was so odd to us in comparison to Flops that I even sent off for his DNA then all questions answered; he's a Jack-Tzu, Jack Russell.and Shi-tzu. Good friends, both of them.

Randown · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2015, 07:33:06 AM »

Things that will cause your ac to freeze up:

- Low air volume, ie clogged air filter, indoor blower failing to run or run at full speed, closed supply vents...smashed ducts, dirty evap coil, welded compressor contactor, thought these aren't so likely in your case of a 2 yr old system.

- Low evaporating pressure/temp ie low refrigerant charge, refrigerant restriction, low indoor ambient temp.

Wetness around your blower is from the ice melting on the coil...often requires more than an hour to defrost, running the blower during defrost in an upflow isn't a good idea b/c ice can fall into the blower wheel. ALL ice should be gone before trying again or re-evaluating, ice on the coil can take longer than what you can see on the suction line to melt away.

As always check the easy stuff first.

eldoroddo · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2015, 12:13:42 PM »

Check that your condensate line is draining properly. Mine got plugged up and led to similar problems you are experiencing.

bpreynolds · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2015, 01:35:50 PM »

You guys have been great as you always are with these kinds of household issues. I've gotten wonderful advice that led to real home benefits right on this board in previous instances. This time around, however, we were shorted mainly on time, needing the repair to get done in a timely way due to the present and even worse oncoming heat. I simply didn't have the time to get the 2 or even 3 estimates I usually like get on these things. Went with a reputable local company and I'm certainly no expert on these things but what he related is consistent - it seems - with what's been discussed here. He said there was a leak in the line and also that when I turned the fan on without the ac it did begin to thaw inside, hence the water around the interior unit; however, that water then short circuited and fried the control board and fan motor. Guy said we'd have to replace board, motor, fix leak, pump in new stuff, etc., etc. It is a very expensive repair but still not even 1/3 of what a good replacement would cost.

Triple Jim · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2015, 01:58:03 PM »

You should keep the alleged water-damaged parts. When they dry, they may be fine, or easily repairable.

LowRyter · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2015, 02:42:52 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on July 16, 2015, 10:18:18 PM

John , are you referring to a plug style disconnect ? Condensing units are usually hard wired .

Dusty

Plug inside the unit itself. On mine, you can see it right above the fan on the shroud. The fan runs but the unit was not kicking in. Plug is probably needed to assemble the unit.

I didn't notice it but my heat and air guy did. He plugged it back in and cooled off the unit but still have to add freon.

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Author Topic: Any AC Experts? (Read 6965 times)

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