Air conditioning problems

Wile E · Jul 5, 2012

Last night about 9pm I noticed that the AC was not cooling like it should.
I went outside and put my hand over the condenser and the air was not hot.
Do I just need a recharge of the refridgerant? Or something else.?
Any HVAC experts on here?
The fan is working but the air coming out of the ducts is not cold.
Please help.

Jr55 · Jul 5, 2012

is the compressor running?

Wile E · Jul 5, 2012

Yes the Compressor will run on the condensor unit. Also the furnace is circulating the air.

Geo-TH,In · Jul 5, 2012

When you start to get low on freon, the evaporator will ice up. Do you have ice? Is your condensor clean? Filters clean? Any condensation on suction line? Ice on suction line?

Wile E · Jul 5, 2012

No ice that I can see. I need to feel the lines into the A-coil.
Filter is 2 weeks old.
Condensor unit has been hosed off several times over the years.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 5, 2012

Window or outside unit? 120 or 240 service? Either case, your R-12 or R134A (or whatever is in it) is likely low. It being a sealed system, you may have a leak and will need to be checked with gauges. Other causes are a failing compressor, even tho it is running, loose or corroded wire terminals, or even low power from your main to sub=panel to unit. Just a few things that come to mind from a distance.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 5, 2012

Forgot to add: your thermostat may be sticking if it is the mechanical type or, if digital, have a bad circuit board.

Texasmark1 · Jul 5, 2012

Since you said furnace, I'm assuming you have a residential central air. What I used to do as a quick check for freon load was to check the return line from the evaporator, the large diameter line from inside the house.

Checking at the inlet to the condenser unit, right where the line attaches. If the unit has been on and has the house cooled down, and you have any humidity to speak of, the line will sweat right there if you have a full charge. If not, you are low and low freon is usually the cause for problems such as yours.

If you don't know what you are doing, get a service company to service it for you. Too much is as bad as too little and if using R-22 (says what it is on the side of the condenser unit) you usually have to go to a wholesale house to get it and private citizens can't buy it.

HTH,
Mark

Daryl in PA · Jul 5, 2012

Are you sure that the compressor is running? Just because the condensor fan is running does not mean that the compressor is. In this kinda heat, we replace many run capacitors. If you take the cover off (where the wires enter the outdoor unit) look at the top of the capacitor. If it is bulging at the top, it is bad. By the way, pull the disconnect at the unit or turn off breakers for both indoor and outdoor units before you do this!

If low on charge, they usually freeze at the indoor coil but not always. Refrigerant keeps the compressor cool, so if low the compressor could be off because of internal thermal overload. Turn unit off for several hours to allow to cool or remove the top and run garden hose with cold water over top of compressor for about 15 minutes. Remember .......kill the power while doing these things and get back to us.

Wile E · Jul 5, 2012

This is a possibility. I will check.

LeoinMI · Jul 5, 2012

Just a thought,..but sometimes the fins on your air conditioner are plugged with dirt and grass or whatever is on the outside and this prevents cooling. You may want to remove the covers on your air conditioner and clean the fins with a garden hose. Make sure you cut the power to the unit before you do this. Spray the fins from the outside inward and then inside outward to clear all dirt off them. This helps keep the coils clean and disperses the heat from the coils so cooling can take place.

El Toro · Jul 5, 2012

That makes a big difference when doing that. I just did mine before it got hot. I have a disconnect on my outside wall to kill the power. I use a vacuum cleaner to remove a lot of it before using the garden hose. I also keep it covered when the cooling season is over. Still gets a lot needles in it. Hal

High Octane · Jul 5, 2012

hey guys, our central air is the old r12 refrigerant, can these be converted to r134a? i know they can do car acs like that, can i do it to this one? see, it has a small leak, n over 2 months it will need recharged, hav to have a repair man keep filling it due to him being certified to handle the r12. i have a 134 screw on adapter from a car,, im desparate. any info would be great. thanks. HO

Geo-TH,In · Jul 5, 2012

If your compressor is running and no condensation on compressor or the suction like going to compressor from A coil and your A-coil isn't iced up, there is a very good change you are low on freon. Going out on a limb and say you have an older R22 system. If so, check the suction pressure. Should be around 65-70 psi give or take, depending on how hot it is.

old · Jul 5, 2012

With as warm/hot as it has been for the last few weeks I too have had the same problem and had a garden hose spraying the condenser unit and that in turn would cool the compressor. Worked fine till last night and yep my compressor give up again. 2nd time this has happened in 5 or so years. I payed $5000 to have a new heat pump installed 5 or so years ago then 2 or 3 years ago the compressor burned up in it and now it has done it again. So I now have $6000 in the unit and was told today it has to be replaced again. Hope you have better luck then I am having

Texasmark1 · Jul 6, 2012

Oops. Been a long time. R-12 for ac's and R22 for freezers. Been awhile like I said.......don't remember on refrigerators.

Mark

Air conditioning problems

Wile E

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Jr55

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Wile E

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Geo-TH,In

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Wile E

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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Texasmark1

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Daryl in PA

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Wile E

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LeoinMI

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El Toro

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High Octane

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Geo-TH,In

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old

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Texasmark1

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