A/C low on freon, frozen up or has thermostat issues?
Question:Our A/C in our home usually works really well. When it's 110 outside, I can get the house down to 77 degrees! However, for the last two days, I can't get it any colder than 83! It ran yesterday for 9 hours straight without getting colder than 83 degrees and we eventually turned it off and opened up the doors cause it was colder outside! The air does blow cold, but obviously not cold enough. Any suggestions on what it could be? I have a guy coming out on Thursday and it's a $50 service charge, $100 for the first pound of freon and $20 each additional pound if that's what the problem is. Thanks in advance for any advice! I'm in California by Lake Castaic (which also caused humidity when it's hot) and we're experiencing a heat wave right now. This is only day 2 (Tuesday) and it's not supposed to let up until Sunday! It's a 5 ton outside unit, Coleman QED II.
Answers:
Sounds like it may be low on freon. It was a good idea to call for service.
humidity is what causes them to freeze up and you need to make adjustments in the exchange...good luck
Hi neighbor, it does sound like it may be low on refrigerant, (freon is a brand name)..prior to his coming you can check a couple things to save him some time and you some money. Make sure your filters are clean, and the condensing unit on the outside is free of dirt, hose it down good to clean the coils, while you are there , there are two copper lines entering the back of the unit from the house, one is small and the other is large, the large line should be covered with condensation and very cold when the unit is running, if not you know that your unit is leaking refrigerant. If that is the case make sure the service tech repairs the leak, and doesnt just recharge the system. These are air tight systems and are not supposed to leak, if he doesnt fix it, you will see him next year and have to go thru this all over again. Let me know if I can help... tvtop_toptv
p.s. There are a couple other things this could be, but they are technical and wouldnt help to explain them to you. These are just the most likely scenarios that we are discussing
Make sure he cleans the coils both inside and out. If your pipes are freezing than a dirty coil is your problem. If he adds freon, make sure you are watching. If he has to add allot of freon than you have a leak and that leak must be located and repaired. Don't trust that he has to add freon, at $100 for the first pound he'll just add some to get the $100. A/C units are sealed and should never loose freon, so if he adds freon make sure you ask if he found the leak. Feel the large pipe, if it is ice cold (but not frozen) than you probably have enough freon. If the pipe is cool but not ice cold then you probably do need some freon [that's a old AC man trick] If you are in a heat wave and your unit isn't keeping up than maybe your unit is too small. I'd check into better house insulation before I go to the expense of a bigger unit. Your thermostat sounds like it's working. Also change your filter before the AC man gets there, that may also be the problem; a clogged filter reduces the airflow therefore not getting you the heat transfer necessary to cool your house.
Again, the most common problem with a unit not working as good as it used to (other that a clogged filter), is a dirty coil. So make sure he cleans both the inside and outside coils. If your able you can inspect the coils yourself. The inside coil is the hardest to clean. The outside coil can be cleaned with a garden hose.
Make sure the return filter is clean. A/C works on the principal that it can make the space so many degrees cooler in such an amount of time. It takes the air in your home makes it cooler. Than takes that air again and makes it cooler a second time and so on. If it is clogged up or really dirty, it is not moving enough air. Just remove filter if it looks dirty and see how it works. Also, make sure that your compressor breaker is on!
sorry but most new units dont use freon anymore.also an hvac unit if properly set up is only under normal conditions supposed to lower the inside temp by 25 degrees give or take maximum cooling to what the outside is! so 77 degrees inside was pretty darn cool when its 110 outside you should be happy!
Air flow is the biggest killer of a/c systems. I have found if you have pets, especially cats or dogs that shed a lot, that even hepa filters will let pet dander past and that likes to collect on nice wet coils. If at all possible, remove the front door from the inside coil and behind that door you will find a triangular shaped panel. Remove that and you should get a good look at your inside coil (evaporator). I usually use a snow brush to clean the surface( but your in Calif so you probably don't have one of those) but any brush like a floor scrub brush will do.
More Related Questions & Answers...