For general questions regarding cooling your home.
4
votes
2answers
187 views
Are clogs in the AC condensate drain common in Florida?
I have a two year old central A/C unit. Every 2/3 months the unit shuts off.
I called the rep/maintenance company and they have given me the following response:
The cause of the issue is algae ...
5
votes
1answer
377 views
How do outdoor mist-cooling A\C units fare in real-world usage?
I live in Phoenix where summer outdoor temperatures regularly exceed 110°F and humidity around 15% or lower is not uncommon. In this environment a mist system can easily pull the temperature down ...
1
vote
2answers
637 views
Is my window air conditioner cooling properly?
I am renting a place where the only air conditioner is a window unit mounted in the wall in the main living area. The space in that main room is about 325 sq ft, and it has a 9 ft ceiling on average. ...
3
votes
3answers
239 views
How do I determine if adding an air conditioner will overload a circuit?
I'm going to take advantage of some Memorial Day sales and pull the trigger on a portable AC unit for my "basement-ish" (bottom of windowsill is mid chest, rather than head height) apartment. Before ...
4
votes
3answers
657 views
Can I plug an air conditioner and a chest freezer into the same outlet?
I have a Gibson/Frigidaire through the wall AC unit plugged into a dedicated 3-prong outlet in my a room of my apartment. I'd like to put a chest freezer in my office for homebrewed beer. Is it safe ...
3
votes
2answers
343 views
How to safely install a window AC unit?
I have a standard air conditioner. I have just dropped it into the window and slammed the window closed. I am just a bit concerned that If there were high winds or an earthquake the unit could drop ...
2
votes
1answer
434 views
Why isn't my heat pump system kicking out cool air this year?
I have a Carrier heat pump/air handler system (looks pretty old) with a honeywell T-stat (looks pretty new) and I am not getting cool air. Heat worked all winter, but I have used it in at least a ...
1
vote
2answers
366 views
Is there a filter-reminder thermostat that uses run-time instead of total time?
My HVAC filter is in my crawlspace and is a hassle to change. I don't want to change it more than needed. "Change it every month" is bogus advice because in some months (like May) we don't have to run ...
3
votes
3answers
4k views
How much less power does a three-phase A\C unit use as apposed to a 220v unit?
I'm planning to install a 5 ton central AC. I'm deciding between a condensing unit that runs on 220V and a costlier unit that runs on 207Y three-phase.
My understanding is that three-phase motors use ...
0
votes
1answer
292 views
How to get rid of a few mosquitoes/gnats that constantly sneak in?
I live in an older house, a duplex. I constantly see a few mosquitoes or gnats sneaking in and biting me at night. It's really annoying. It is mainly on the bottom floor, where the A/C vents go to the ...
5
votes
3answers
934 views
How can I determine why my A/C runs all day?
I have a Bryant AC/Furnace unit. My house is 10 years old. A heat wave hit this weekend & temps got up to 95°F outside. I had my thermostat set to 75°, and it ran all day. The ...
2
votes
1answer
123 views
How do I properly size an air conditioner for a very sunny room?
I'm trying to size a window air conditioner for a room, but having trouble deciding if the usual guidelines are a good fit.
The room in question is about 230 sq. feet, and does not have full 8 foot ...
1
vote
0answers
113 views
What type of air conditioner to look for
I'm looking for a portable air conditioner that can be moved from room to room. But the key thing I want is one that does not use a condensation tank. I know they exist because I have seen one. It ...
0
votes
1answer
121 views
HVAC unit won't come on
This morning I noticed that my main floor wasn't cooling. I found the condensation pump full ( little giant model VCMA-15ULS ). I disconnected the hose from the unit to the pump, drained it, dumped ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I install a portable air conditioning unit in a large sliding window?
I have a large sliding window that is 53 inches top to bottom and I want to install a portable air conditioning unit. The kind that don't sit in the windows but vent to the window. The window ...
1
vote
2answers
104 views
Is a combined AC/Dehumidifer unit more efficient than separate units?
I've just moved into a "basement-ish" apartment; the actual ground level is about at my waist. It's a bit mustier than I'd hoped, and not as cool as I'd like during these closing days of Summer. I'm ...
3
votes
1answer
270 views
How can I protect A/C condenser wires?
I bought a replacement condenser fan motor for my outdoor A/C unit. The old unit was CW direction only. This one is CW/CCW and has 4 wires stick out of the side that change direction depending on how ...
0
votes
0answers
354 views
A/C system reports Limit Switch Stuck Open
Unit is a York GM9S080B12UP11G.
When switching thermostat to cool, the system activates the compressor fan. Also, I can hear gases moving through the pipes running to the compressor. However, the ...
2
votes
1answer
324 views
How can I extend this concrete pad?
So the wedge shaped concrete pad thats right up against the house; April 17th, we're having air conditioning installed before it gets to hot out. According to the installer, the unit will fit on the ...
1
vote
1answer
762 views
AC Unit Blow Warm Air Indoor But Colder Air Outdoor
I have two AC Units. One for upstairs and one for downstairs. The upstairs one works just fine but not the downstairs. So, i did a test by turning both units on and went outside to compare the two ...
2
votes
1answer
461 views
Is it normal for A/C performance to improve when vent covers are removed?
I recently moved my office to the second floor of our home and I haven't been able to get the temperature below about 78 even though the thermostat is on 72. My son's bedroom had been the same way ...
2
votes
1answer
136 views
When I set the thermostat to X degrees, is that the temperature at which air is pushed out through the vents?
My hunch is that most ac units aren't that sophisticated, and they just pump air that is "cold enough" or "hot enough" and pump it until temperature rises to the specified value. Is that right?
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Home A/C Repair/Replacement quotes are very different. Which one to go with?
I recently have been having issues with my A/C unit on my Condo which was built in 1986. This unit might very well be the original A/C unit. It has two components, the fan outside and the air handler ...
4
votes
3answers
311 views
Advice for replacement/repair of an HVAC with a cracked heat exchanger?
My townhouse has a downflow 1994 Rheem 2.5 ton HVAC unit on its roof (combines both A/C and heat). We have had two issues with the unit and have been in the townhouse for a little under two years. In ...
5
votes
3answers
5k views
How can I stop my lights dimming when my Air Conditioning turns on?
I have no noticeable problems with my house's electricity, but when my Air Conditioner kicks in (and here in Central Texas, it kicks in year round) my lights dim for a second or so and then run ...
1
vote
1answer
773 views
Why is my outdoor air conditioner unit making a screeching/squeeling sound?
During the winter time when I have my heat on, my outdoor air conditioner unit randomly makes this awful-sounding squealing/screeching sound. It lasts for about 15-30 seconds at a time, stops, and ...
10
votes
4answers
751 views
Does building insulation wear out and have to be replaced?
First, a little back-story. I've been having trouble with the air-conditioning system in my south-Texas apartment home for almost two months so far this summer. The apartment manager has been ...
3
votes
1answer
258 views
Is it possible to override building-wide air-conditioning settings?
I live in an apartment building (high rise). The ac is off and they won't turn it on for another month!!
Meanwhile it is 90f inside and I can't sleep!! Is it possible to overide? We do have a unit in ...
3
votes
1answer
264 views
What is the life expectancy of an air conditioning unit with a booster?
Over the weekend my wife and I lost our air conditioning. I called a technician out to the house and he replaced both the fan motor and the capacitor. He also had to install a booster to help get my ...
8
votes
4answers
307 views
Is air conditioner installation a DIY project?
We got a bargain on a brand new 6.2kw Split System Inverter Air Conditioner.
The quotes we've received for installation are almost as much as the unit cost itself.
Is this something I should be ...
3
votes
1answer
423 views
How do I replace an A/C diffuser attached to flex duct?
Our house has central air, with the air distributed via flex ducts around the house. On the second floor, the diffusers have baffles behind them that can be closed when the system is not in use, but ...
3
votes
1answer
124 views
How can I determine which MERV filters would be best for my air handler?
I have a Carrier 3.5 ton, 1/2HP air handler (Model Number:fc4bnf042). I have been using MERV 13 a/c filters for a few years now because my son has allergies. I recently discovered that the higher ...
1
vote
2answers
672 views
What should be cleaned or examined after an air conditioner drain pipe leak?
The other day, we found some water on the floor in our utility room. After some research and investigation, we discovered that the drain pipe from the central air unit was blocked. We were able to use ...
2
votes
2answers
842 views
How long does it take to make money back on a new air conditioner?
I have a townhouse built in 1975 with an air conditioner on the roof. I have no idea how old it is but I can imagine it is on it's last legs. What's more, this last month's energy bill was one of our ...
1
vote
1answer
462 views
What can I use to repair a crack in a plastic AC Condenser Drip pan?
I've currently got an oldish furnace (early '90s Lennox), with an A/C system. The blower motor burnt up on me last week, and I just had it replaced. It turns out that the reason for the motor going, ...
1
vote
0answers
183 views
Why does power loss leave my split/ductless AC unit inoperable for hours or days? [closed]
I've got an LG Ductless 12000 BTU unit that does the most annoying thing..
It is wired into a semi-standard (one of the prongs is sideways) 15A or 20A (can't recall) GFCI outlet inside - and if the ...
4
votes
1answer
799 views
How long do evaporator coils last in a home AC system?
I was going through my blog roll this morning when I saw that someone had asked this elsewhere. I figured it would be a good question to ask.
In general, how long do evaporator coils last in a home ...
3
votes
2answers
878 views
Besides insulation and air conditioning unit, what else is there to check if my A/C isn't keeping me cool?
I live in an apartment home where the indoor temperature has risen to above 80 degrees Fahrenheit daily for the past two months. The outdoor temperature regularly reaches 100 degrees and the weather ...
2
votes
2answers
236 views
What is a safe maximum temperature for an unused part of the house?
We barely use our upstairs so I don't really care how hot it gets. Except, I don't want to cause damage to the house. Considering Texas summers are easily in the 110s °F nowadays, how high can I ...
2
votes
1answer
660 views
How can I reduce heat transfer around my window unit air conditioners?
I have three old window units in my house and they function as my A/C. I am concerned about the amount of heat seeping into the house and cool air leaking out around the A/C units themselves. They're ...
6
votes
4answers
4k views
Turning off Air Conditioning when out of the house for extended time
Most people that live in cold climates know that you should not turn your heat off when you go away for an extended period of time. Just turn it down so the pipes don't freeze. What about the ...
9
votes
5answers
2k views
How can I calculate how large an airconditioner my house needs?
I know there are a lot of possible factors that go into determining the size of the air-conditioning system a house needs. Is there a standard way of calculating what is needed, or do A/C companies ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
AC Coolant pipe has condensation and leaks inside wall
I've got an old AC unit (probably 13+ years old) that came with the house that I bought. This summer I noticed some water damage on the drywall in the basement, so I cut the damaged drywall away, and ...
1
vote
0answers
195 views
Where to buy plastic (temporary) air ducting in the UK?
Does anyone know somewhere (ideally online) I can buy plastic air ducting?
The stuff I'm talking about is what they used on Mythbusters to make that helium 'airship'. It's just a large diameter tube ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is there water dripping from my ceiling AC vents?
I have a one story house with hot water heat. The house also has forced air AC ducts running from the attached garage, in the attic, down into the living room, bedrooms, and kitchen. At certain times ...
3
votes
2answers
407 views
Apartment cooling with fans
I've just moved into an apartment without an air conditioner in Sunnyvale, California. The weather is not too hot, but there are going to be some pretty warm days in the summer, especially since I'm ...
1
vote
1answer
358 views
What to do about a gas leak on my air conditioner?
I have an air conditioner that displays an error of gas leakage on the board.
What should I do? Shall I turn it off? It is dangerous?
13
votes
3answers
7k views
Should I cover my air conditioner for winter?
Should I cover my air conditioner for winter? It's difficult to find an appropriate cover, but finding a cover for an evaporation cooler is easy (and because they allow for air flow from the outdoors, ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
AC comes on randomly
Even though my thermostat was set to "Off" or "Heat", my air conditioner is coming on randomly and blowing cold air out of the vents. I figured that the thermostat was bad so I disconnected all of ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Air deflectors on floor registers and cooling efficiency
I was once told by an HVAC technician to avoid using air deflectors on floor registers during the summer. The reason was that the last thing you want to do is to direct the heavier, colder air ...
