Home A/C problem

[K Hultgre]

Re: Home A/C problem

TW<br />Next time the AC keeps running kill the power to the furnace as Cajun and SS stated earlier. IT's an easy was to determine if its the AC unit or something else.

 

[D Grass]

Re: Home A/C problem

TW, as a hvac tech myself I can kind of see where the tech is coming from. It's hard to find something wrong when it's working. That said, for a professional, this problem should not be too hard to find with a little investigating. I would not however allow that AC to run for any amount of time without the blower on the furnace running while you're waiting for the tech to come back. This will cause liquid refrigerant to slug the compressor and could very easily ruin the valves. Then you are screwed.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Home A/C problem

My vote is outside contactor.<br /><br />We always had problems with ours in the old house. Ants would get in the contactor and fry a wire or two.<br /><br />The contactor is a cheap job, if the tech comes again and cant find the problem, I'd ask him to replace it anyway, it shouldn't be expensive.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Ben Konopacky]

Re: Home A/C problem

beside broken valves in the comp. you could wipe out the oil the comp seizes ,burn out accurs ,now to replace the comp.or unit ,the system has to be cleaned of the acid the burn out created. sequenser mentioned is used to bring on your elect. heat, btw is this unit a " heat pump " ??<br /><br />cajun ? are you a U.A.member.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Home A/C problem

Twice when the compressor did not shut off on my AC when the blower did, it was because a relay switch was stuck. Both times from burned contacts caused by a relay closing on a bug (earwig) and it arcs/burns through the bug, but ends up burning the contacts too and they stay closed. <br /><br />The second time the relay went the system was out of warrenty. I opened the cover to verify the burned relay, called the installer to report it. He was so busy it would take two or three days to get to it, but gave me the part number and said I can do it myself if I choose to and to put the part on his account. I went to the supply house, got the part and installed it in short time. Also took the time to caulk the gaps in the control box that let the criters in. No more problems after that.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Home A/C problem

Gentlemen, as usual you are a wealth of knowledge. I kinda figured that leaving run all the time is not a good idea. <br />System worked great all day yesterday, started & stopped as it was supposed to. Now it's only 50 degrees today, so it'll get a day off.<br />Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Home A/C problem

Ben, not a heat pump to the best of my knowledge. Just an old Chrysler airtemp electric furnace

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Home A/C problem

Since MArk is doing the same, i thought I'd update this.<br />It was the contactor. Didn't need to test it quite as in depth as Mayfloat said. It was a 5 minute diagnosis. Took the panel off the cover, saw the contactor stuck "closed", pried it open easily w/screw driver, turned on break, and the unit didn;t run. Turned down thermostat, that contactor "closed", the pump came on. When I turned off the system at the t-stat, that contactor wouldn't release.<br />Called local supply house, bought new one for $39.95 tax included and installed it. Works perfectly now.<br />Arnold & Sons heating & cooling in Peoria,IL are criminals. The guy told my wife it would be at least $300 to repair it. And he knew what was wrong the day he went out, he's just a crook, trying to get more money, and charging $89 for no work what-so-ever. Even at $150 for a service call & 100% mark up on the part it's a $225 job, tops. So obviously, Arnold & Sons in Peoria, IL will never get my business, nor any insurance business from the company I work for, as long as I am here.

 

[KRS]

Re: Home A/C problem

I didn't read all the above posts.<br /><br />What is important to know is the function of the "inside" and "outside" units.<br /><br />The inside unit probably contains the furnace and the blower unit that circulates the air inside the house.<br /><br />The outside unit has a compressor, coils, and a fan. The outside unit receives the "hot" refrigerant from inside, runs it through the coils, the fan blows air through the coils to draw heat out of the refrigerant (cooling it), then it heads back into the house. Inside the furnace unit, the cold refrigerant has the inside air blown across the coils and it absorbs the heat from the air (cooling the inside air) and then it heads back outside to exchange the heat. That outside compressor fan will run until the sensors tell it the refrigerant in the line has cooled to the proper temp.<br />.<br />.<br />hahaha... I just read the post above and see that you found your problem. I would have replaced the fan motor on the outside unit on a unit that old too... if they go you just get a hot house. They run $80 and you can instal yourself.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Home A/C problem

AZ you described my system to a T.<br />If the HVAC guy had been honest in the first place, maybe I would have replaced the fan motor as well. But since it cost me $89 for no work, and $39.95 for a part, and my dad's labor on a 93 degree day, I wasn't gonna do any more than absolutely necessary. Besides, the fan still works!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Home A/C problem

He he he, as a funny thing I wanted to update this thread.

I finally found a good HVAC company in G&B Heating and Cooling of Peoria, when the furnace quit blowing warm air in the winter of 2007. They came out, replaced the heating elements and rewired the entire furnace for just over $600. (That is what Arnold's charged to replace 1 sequencer!)
The young man who came to my house to do the work remembered that this was the first electric furnance that he had ever worked on, a few years prior. At that point I was mad that the previous owners hadn't left G&B's card on the darn thing!
Oh and the A/C system still works. It did stop blowing cold air one day in the summer of 2006, when it was 113 degrees in Peoria. G&B checked it all out, freon full no leaks, just dirty. Willie advised me to move my dryer vent, clean the condenser, and move the steps to my deck if I could. Dryer vent moved easily, steps to deck were not an option. So now every year, part of the maintenance is to remove the cover and hose this thing out. It has worked great since!
Yeah for honest HVAC guys!!!!!!!!!!!!