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Forum Index: Homes & Real Estate
How's your AC?
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New Post! Sep 09, 2008 @ 04:17:22#1
backseatcynic

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31/M/Henryetta, Oklahoma
Join Date: Aug 2008

I'm enjoying myself on this forum site with you guys. I'm making good conversation and getting new friends. It's awesome. So, in return, I thought I'd offer what I can of my skills. I'm an AC/refrigeration technician. Trust me, I do know my stuff. So if you've got a problem with your central heat/air, let me know. Obviously there's not much I can do over an internet connection, but if it will save you 100 bucks calling a guy out that may or may not know what he's doing then maybe I can do you some good. I only ask you adhere to one extremely important piece of advice. If you're going to take on fixing your own, make sure the power is off! Other than that, I have nothing to lecture about. So I welcome any problem you may have.

On January 19, 2010
New Post! Sep 09, 2008 @ 04:19:34#2
loveis
brat-inella


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70756 points

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100/F/In the mirror,
Join Date: Jun 2007

No problems here, but kudos for your thoughtfulness!!

On January 15, 2010
New Post! Sep 09, 2008 @ 05:47:46#3
El_Tino
booyaka!

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30/M/Las Cruces, New Mexico
Join Date: Oct 2004

My AC is a POS. Last summer we had constant problems with it. I think the guy that was fixing it didn't know what the hell he was doing. This summer I had a guy come out to fix it, and he said some wires were burned out. I didn't have many problems after that until about a month ago, the compressor would not turn off no matter what I did, and the fan would only come on if I set the t-stat to fan 'on' rather than 'auto'. After a week of that, it said "low battery" so I changed the battery and it all started working fine.

Now, it can't seem to cool the house down too well. I think it might be freezing over or something.

On March 19, 2010
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New Post! Sep 10, 2008 @ 04:13:11#4
backseatcynic

Minister
11928 points


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31/M/Henryetta, Oklahoma
Join Date: Aug 2008

el_tino said:


Now, it can't seem to cool the house down too well. I think it might be freezing over or something.



Let's just start with your current problem. This problem, as with many others, can be caused by a number of things. I'm probably going to have to go the long way around to get to what is most likely a small problem. But that's what we lack since I can't be there to check it myself.
First, check to make sure you've got a clean filter. The next thing I would want to know is if your fan and indoor coil (what's conditioning your air to be cool) are clean. After that I need to know that the fan is running properly, more to the point, moving the air it's supposed to without any motor problems. Again, that's the indoor fan, not the one outside.

You can probably check the fan easily enough. After the system has run for a while, listen for squealing or roaring noises. If you're hearing something, that's a fan motor bearing, so you'll have to have that motor replaced. If you hear nothing, cut the power to everything. Then you should be able to get access inside your furnace by removing one or both service panels (usually two). What is pushing the air is not always easy to see, but if it's dirty, you can tell. Then check the motor itself by feeling it. If it's firecracker hot, you've got a motor problem.

The coil is usually pretty hard to get to. I can tell you from experience though if your filter was really dirty or inside the furnace cabinet and around the fan was dirty you may need to have someone out to clean that coil up.

So here's the short answer. If I was there, I could find out in two minutes if I needed to address the preceding issues before I do this one last thing. But I can tell you a lot of the time, I don't have to. It might just be undercharged. In that case, again, you'll need to call someone out.

I hope I haven't inundated you with information. But all this stuff is what makes AC and refrigeration complicated, and why the government (in most states) require us to be licensed to do the work.

Just remember cleanliness is the best way to maintain your equipment. Change your filter when needed, and wash that condenser coil (the outdoor coil) every once in a while, keeping grass and dirt out of it. And again, always kill your power to your equipment before servicing it. I hope that's of some help to you.
On January 19, 2010
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