For general questions regarding cooling your home.
13
votes
4answers
4k views
Why don't programmable thermostats automatically switch between “Cool” and “Heat”?
While I can set my house to be a particular temperature, I still have to manually switch it between "Heat" and "Cool" mode, and this seems to be true of every thermostat (programmable or not) that ...
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, ...
10
votes
4answers
711 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 ...
9
votes
6answers
3k views
How do I reduce how much the sun heats up a front room of my house?
My office room is in the front of the house and facing south. It gets hot very fast during hot days (even in spring). It is a fairly small room and I have computers there attributing to heat. There's ...
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 ...
8
votes
8answers
4k views
Do thermostat-controlled, auto-adjust HVAC vents exist?
The residential forced-air HVAC systems I have seen are controlled by a single thermostat in one room. One has to manually adjust the vents in order to adjust the temperature in other rooms. Is ...
8
votes
4answers
295 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
437 views
What type of regular maintenance should I be doing on my central air conditioning unit?
I have not done any maintenance on my central air conditioning system since I bought my house five years ago. Everything seems to be running fine but is there some sort of maintenance I should be ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
How much cooling can I expect from a central air conditioner?
Yesterday's high was 106.0F, low of 79.2F, full sun all day. AC set at 78F, indoor temperature reached about 85F.
Today's high was 105.4F, low of 81.1F, full sun all day, now about 102 at 7pm. AC ...
7
votes
2answers
8k views
Can I power my air conditioning with solar energy?
In my house I have 3 small air conditioning systems running at 8.000 BTU/hour each. I would like to power them with solar energy. I found that I would have to generate:
3.41 BTU = 1 Watts/h
8.000 ...
6
votes
7answers
1k views
Should I apply car wax to the outside of my air conditioning unit?
Through different conversations with family members and friends, I have been told that it is good to apply a coat of car wax to the outside of the air conditioning unit frame. I assume that this is to ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
Why aren't Geothermal heat pumps more common?
Air conditioning and heating are major energy consumers in American buildings - commercial, residential, and industrial. I have been curious for a while as to why it isn't more common to use the ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
Can I vent a portable air conditioner inside?
I recently bought a portable air conditioner and was wondering if it is absolutely necessary to vent it to the outside. I plan on using it in a room that doesn't have a window as was wondering if I ...
6
votes
4answers
3k 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
4k 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
763 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
3k views
What's the most common cause of AC coolant lines freezing?
I noticed my house wasn't getting under 75°F this weekend when I had the thermostat set for 70°F. Since I'd done a lot of drywall sanding inside recently, my first idea was to replace the filthy air ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
What are the recommended settings for a dual-zone air conditioning unit?
What are the recommended settings for an air conditioning unit that is dual-zone? Meaning, if I have a house that is two stories I know that in Florida they recommend you keep it at 78 F in the summer ...
5
votes
1answer
339 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
288 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
170 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
881 views
How can I air-condition a garage without modifying it?
So my apartment has an attached garage and I love having it, but I also live in Las Vegas where, today, it was over 100F outside. I have been considering air conditioning the garage, or even just a ...
4
votes
3answers
253 views
How to keep my air conditioner from freezing when it is cool outside?
My bedroom is the hottest room in the house, and even with all the windows open and fans in them doesn't cool off as much as I would like when it's an acceptable temperature outside. And I prefer to ...
4
votes
3answers
588 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
620 views
Do two 5k BTU air conditioners produce the same cooling power as one 10k BTU unit?
Could you interchange 10k BTU air conditioner with 2 5k BTU air conditioner and get the same result? Or is there a reason why buying one 10k BTU air conditioner is better than having 2 5k BTU air ...
4
votes
1answer
668 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
989 views
How can I further diagnose my central air conditioning compressor fan motor and capacitor?
I have a 15 year old Bryant Central Air unit in my house. Yesterday it stopped working. Here is what I have checked.
The breaker in the basement is not tripped.
The furnace works fine from the ...
4
votes
1answer
392 views
A/C escaping down the staircase
I live on the second floor of a century-old house that doesn't have central air. We have a large window A/C unit in the main hall but our front door is at the bottom of the stairs rather than the top. ...
4
votes
1answer
801 views
AC in the attic affects downstairs but not upstairs
We have one AC unit (roughly 1 year old) connected to two zones: Zone 1 is upstairs and Zone 2 is downstairs.
Yesterday, our AC seemed to completely stop working for the upstairs but continue to work ...
4
votes
1answer
362 views
two condensate drains?
we just had a new AC system installed in my florida house. the unit is in the garage, and the air handler is vertical with the evaporator on top.
the unit he removed had 2 condensate lines: one that ...
4
votes
3answers
295 views
How can I redirect the discharge of my forced air vent?
An AC/heating register on our kitchen ceiling blows air directly toward a gas cooktop causing the flames to flicker. Adjusting the register doesn't seem to make a difference. I've looked into air ...
4
votes
1answer
514 views
How can I prevent water from collecting near the blower fan blades of a portable air conditioner?
I have a GE portable Air Conditioner (APH10AA). It's about 10 years old (I guess; we got it used).
It works good (blows cold air), but in the last year or two it's regularly been getting water ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
What could be causing the delay in the start up of my air conditioner?
I have an air conditioner that is probably 15 years old now. The problem is when I turn it on after it has been off for a long period of time (several hours) it takes a long time for the outdoor unit ...
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Why won't my AC system turn off after I flipped the breaker?
We've got a central cooling air conditioner that was installed in 1984 with a thermostat from that same year. We are replacing the thermostat with a new programmable one (which has a 100% ...
3
votes
2answers
817 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
102 views
Geothermal Resources
I am very interested in learning more about Geothermal solutions for my house.
What are the best resources for learning about and planning a Geothermal systems for a residential house?
Also, does ...
3
votes
4answers
3k views
How often should I run a bleach and water solution through heat pump lines?
How often do you need to run a bleach and water solution through the heat pump lines to keep the bacteria away?
What are the recommended parts (e.g. 1 part bleach, 10 part water) ?
3
votes
2answers
370 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
531 views
Can I use a swamp cooler to cool an AC unit's condenser?
Swamp coolers work great and use a fraction of the electricity of an air conditioner in a dry climate with little humidity (like Phoenix) but there are downsides like mold and, well, everything feels ...
3
votes
2answers
300 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
255 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
3answers
761 views
Is there a window or portable AC system I can use with an awning window?
My bedroom gets ridiculously hot and I taped tin foil over the window. It didn't help much. I'm thinking of getting an air conditioner but the ledge on the window is small and the window doesn't open ...
3
votes
3answers
200 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is my A/C condenser fan motor wiring backwards, and how can I fix it?
I've just replaced my condenser fan motor on my home A/C unit with this unit: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/GENERAL-ELECTRIC-Condenser-Fan-Motor-2PRA6
The HP, RPM's and amp ratings all match. The ...
3
votes
1answer
191 views
Improve AC flow to secondary ducts
I have an AC which has 3 ducts coming out of it. Only one duct gets flow - I'm guessing the AC fan blows right into it. What can I do to improve the flow?
3
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I install a jump duct?
Our master bedroom is considerably warmer than the living/dining/kitchen area of our house, and we've been setting the thermostat quite lower than we'd like in order for the bedroom to get cool enough ...
3
votes
1answer
174 views
Will a board blocking my air conditioning break it?
I have a central air-conditioning system in my rented flat. There is on massive machine on my balcony which blows out hot air when the air-conditioning is in use. The hot air is so powerful that it ...
