My home a/c system in not cooling, what are some things I can check myself before calling over someone?
Question:I turned on my central a/c last night (for the first time this year)..but after 2-3 hours the air blowing out wasn't super cool at all...on a level of 1-10, w/ 10 being very cold.it was about a 3. Last summer we had the compressor outside replaced (a/c kicked all summer). Over the winter I replaced our old thermostat w/ a new one, the heat worked wonderfully. I've also put a new filter in the hallway where the big vent is. Is there anything else I should be doing? I really do not have the funds to call a specialist over right now, and my home warranty expired about a week ago, I'm going to renew it but have to finish saving the $400 for the renewal. Please, any serious input would be much appreciated!!
Answers:
If it was working last summer but is not working now and you installed a new thermostat over the winter make sure the new thermostat is wired correctly and set correctly. Check to see if the compressor and condenser fan are running. If the larger pipe coming out of the outside condenser unit is cold, the compressor is running. If not, they get the signal to run from the thermostat. Also make sure no breakers are tripped or fuses blown.
make shure, all coils are dirt and dust free. get a power full jet of air, and blow every thing out good.
Compressors rarely go bad, I would say it may need freon
just open it and look i would figure something out even though I dont have one
Check the air filter in the blower unit if it has not been changed and is probly cloged w dust and what have u the blower unit should be in the house... the cold air does not circulate and freezes up the condenser in the unit and will have to de-thaw before using again..
Wash out the Coils.
Take and remove that large fan from A-Top of the outside unit. Then get into there with a hose and BACK FLUSH, by hosing the coil outward, that is OPPOSITE of the air that has drawn in the dust and dirt.
Then in the inside coil, Go to Walmart, and get yourself a Scucci hand held steamer and clean out that coil with the steamer. and clean out the drain pan and drain tubing.
These are about the best things a homeowner can do themselves to maintain their central air and easiest and simplist things to do.
On charging the unit, if there are no leaks your AC never needs freon. Also, an "overcharge" unit will not cool . If you have TOO MUCH FREON in your unit it will not cool to its coldest capacity.
Best way to find out is put a Thermometer taped right onto that large line leaving the inside coil, close as possible to the coil itself. . See if its near 38 to 42 degrees If so its probably charged properly. If its say like 45 or so, you got TOO MUCH freon in there and the unit is overcharged. Simply put, you want that thermometer to read about 38 F so the coil wont freeze yet you get max cooling.
Leave that thermometer taped right to that large tubing, dont remove it. You can tell how your unit is performing simply by looking at that thermometer. Like I said, it should read near 38 or so. Its a good homeowner's diagnostic tool.
By the way, if you have TOO LITTLE freon in the system, that thermometer will read like near 30 or 32 or even less and the coil will freeze up on you. Remember, the pressure and temp are related in Freon, low pressure means not enough charge and a possible freeze. Thats how that works.
Listen to James M
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