17
votes
Accepted
What causes burn marks on the air handler in the attic?
The burn marks on the air conditioner air handler are from the torch the installer used to solder the copper pipes to the unit. The pipes then go the compressor located outside the unit.
Most ...
- 78.8k
16
votes
Convert GE Load Center to main breaker
Holy smoke, this is a "Rule of Six" panel!
A Rule of Six panel has a "Main Breaker" area with up to six main breakers. All must be shut off to shut off the power. All six have their buses ...
12
votes
Why is my air conditioner causing rapid high CO2 levels?
One possibility is that you have:
a very well sealed home
a heat recovery ventilator (HRV)
the HRV is only on when the system is configured for heating and not when it is configured for cooling
In ...
10
votes
Accepted
Should I install an air conditioner pad on existing unit?
Most units require a pad when installed . at the age of the unit I would probably not try to put a pad underneath as this may create a leak. In 99 the common refrigerant was R22 and the cost of a ...
- 102k
9
votes
Accepted
Can I just cut power to a central air and heating system, or should I follow a shutdown procedure?
Very few HVAC systems aren't able to handle abrupt power loss. I've flipped the switches on dozens of systems hundreds of times to change filters and perform other service. The gas valve will close ...
- 130k
7
votes
Accepted
Do you remove an AC Capacitor from the circuit before or after you short it out for safety?
Always short the capacitor as early into the disassembly process as you can. You may accidentally discharge it when handling it or removing it from the unit, and these components have enough energy ...
- 621
7
votes
Do you remove an AC Capacitor from the circuit before or after you short it out for safety?
I wouldn't short the cap to discharge it. When you do that, a huge current flows for a very short time. This current is almost certainly far beyond the rated current capabilities of the cap. You may ...
- 425
7
votes
Accepted
Rust on outdoor ac fan motor? Tech recommends replacement?
GET A NEW AC GUY!!!
Most motors have a external laminated iron core and cast end bells. This metal when outside may rust that is what happens to the iron.
We do paint motors when we rebuild them to ...
- 102k
6
votes
Breaker lets more Amps then its max
If a breaker is tripping regularly, that's a serious problem you should look at. That is not normal or acceptable. It means something is wrong with your overcurrent protection, or a defective ...
6
votes
Can I just cut power to a central air and heating system, or should I follow a shutdown procedure?
I would start by turning the thermostat off, including the fan setting to "off" and not "auto". The HVAC breaker should be a 240v double pole breaker. Most homes have four of those. One for the water ...
- 3,675
6
votes
Time to Replace Central AC?
Is it time based on the power consumption? I will try to be polite but Hell No. when your system is running at full load and hot the power may get close to RLA , RLA is like FLA for motors. If they ...
- 102k
6
votes
Why is my air conditioner causing rapid high CO2 levels?
Since the AC only recirculate the air inside the home, the possible source could be outside. Neighbors barbecuing ? burning dry grass or wood, sewage tanks, increased car trafic... and many other ...
- 16.9k
5
votes
Convert GE Load Center to main breaker
Hard to say based only on what you show and describe here. We can't really know exactly what you have without seeing what's inside.
The 2 pole 50A breaker what has the word "Main" written next to it ...
- 14.8k
5
votes
Accepted
What is a "solar-ready" air conditioner?
You paid a higher cost to have an AC with the built-in breaker circuit to handle the output from a small solar system. The built-in breaker limits the size of the solar system that you can install ...
- 2,744
5
votes
Accepted
How do I add central AC to my existing central heat system?
With a few exceptions, it's impossible to do it yourself because it involves work with refrigerants, and that requires training and certification and specialty equipment and a supply chain for ...
4
votes
Must my new air conditioning unit be 3 feet from the wall (or positioned backward)?
According to Trane installation instructions, the technician is correct. They do require 3' of clear space in front of the control box.
As for why the technician chose this orientation, I can ...
- 131k
4
votes
Accepted
Can I install A/C in a home built in 1924 which has round heat ducts in the ceiling?
Sure -- or at least, there's nothing about having round ducts in the attic that would make A/C installation more difficult. In fact, because cold air is more dense than warm air, ceiling vents are ...
- 8,192
4
votes
Accepted
HVAC supply and return preferred locations
Home heating and a/c duct systems have changed over the years. The best systems and the most versatile were installed with both high and low returns and supplies. For heating the low registers were ...
- 12.4k
4
votes
Convert GE Load Center to main breaker
If you were a customer of mine and wouldn't let me rip out that equipment, I would walk away. There isn't a chance in the world I would add additional load to the existing over current protection. ...
- 41
4
votes
Why is the paint around my ceiling air vent discolored?
To me that looks like a water leak that is being pushed by the air flow. I would be checking for a leak above that location.
- 102k
4
votes
Accepted
How to stop Central Air unit from freezing over inside and outside
There are a few causes for this, and the most common are in two categories - bad air flow and low refrigerant.
Bad airflow can be caused by a dirty filter, clogged ducts, or a poorly performing fan. ...
- 27.7k
4
votes
Flex-duct as a Trunk?
There may be some opinion on top of what I believe to be true.
There are some large flex duct sizes but the ribs are horribly inefficient.
Metal trunk is also better suited when going vertical it is ...
- 102k
4
votes
My HVAC A/C is freezing after sundown every day
A low charge can cause evaporator freezing. If your cap was bad that usually indicates an older system. Micro leaks have caught up, probably R22 and it is getting expensive. A 5 ton system will take 4-...
- 102k
4
votes
Accepted
Carrier HVAC System with Variable Speed Motor burned out after 6 months
As noted by crip659 in his comment, this is a warranty issue, not a DIY fix.
You should expect HVAC equipment to last 10-15 years at a minimum (we stretched our last system to 26 years). Life ...
- 43.1k
4
votes
Is it possible to adapt round HVAC diffusers to square?
Easily won't happen here.
If you want to waste considerable effort and money on what appears to be a minor aesthetic change, you can do this. It will involve ripping into the ceiling to install round ...
- 203k
4
votes
HVAC air filter replacement interval in hours?
The "every 3 months" recommendation has an unknowable set of assumptions built into it. There are so many variables, for example:
How dusty is your outdoor environment? How well-sealed is ...
- 28k
4
votes
Optimizing HVAC airflow for cooling
Cold air being sucked in through wall openings is caused by negative pressure in those rooms, which might be caused by an oversized HVAC system or by poorly designed ducts where the returns are large ...
- 34.4k
4
votes
Optimizing HVAC airflow for cooling
Improving A/C performance would either mean relocating ducts or adding fans, or ducts and fans (separate from the central system, probably running continuously, where you want to pick quiet and ...
- 203k
4
votes
Leaving second floor window open while running central AC
So long as you're paying the electric bill you can waste energy however suits you.
Or you could rebalance your system for the summer so it cooled the second floor correctly, and waste less money. And ...
- 203k
4
votes
How do I add central AC to my existing central heat system?
You hire a professional to do it!
This is not a DIY project. It takes a lot of specialized knowledge. There is no gradual learning path for amateurs, and given that most people will only install new ...
- 34.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible