not 100% garage related but this is a DIY centric topic... my ac aint conditioning the air like it should... and its fin HOT in my house!!!

5/27/2007 9:20:23 PM

Maybe you could describe the problem a little more.

What make/model...oh wait this is an AC unit? How old is it? (Builder grade tend to crap out after 10 years).

[Edited on May 27, 2007 at 9:31 PM. Reason : a]

5/27/2007 9:31:03 PM

model and year, noob

5/28/2007 12:04:23 AM

both of the above statements are fairly accurate.
depending on the type of system you have you might just need to get it re-charged

5/28/2007 12:39:27 AM

negative ghost rider

think i dont know how a refrigerant system works? in all likelyhood was learning that shit when you were still in high school.

anyhow i think i might* have it figured out.

[Edited on May 28, 2007 at 1:41 AM. Reason : units, and charges for that matter can last way longer than you fools think...]

5/28/2007 1:40:44 AM

yeah i meant to wright that in .... the "i don't think you're this dumb but just in case" comment
but the girl called and i lost interest

5/28/2007 1:53:49 AM

look up this guy Lee, he's the main HVAC person for nc state, he came out and put in a system for the house i'm working on, he might be able to hook you up

5/28/2007 8:02:48 AM

did you get that shit fixed?

i learned a lot doing apt. maint. for 6 years.

5/28/2007 1:06:44 PM

bastard keeps freezing up

5/28/2007 1:13:47 PM

most likely it's low on freon. but check the simple stuff first. first, make sure your filters are clean. if so, check the evaporator coils (inside the air handler which is inside the house) for dust/dirt buildup. if they appear to be dirty, don't try to clean them with a fork like some idiots suggest. you risk damaging them and the only way to fix them is to replace them which is costly. i have a coil brush if they need cleaning. then check the condenser coils (on the outside unit). remove the top cover that the fan motor attaches to. use a garden hose and spray water through them from the inside out. wash off any grass, dirt buildup, etc. if it still does it after you do all of that, let me know and ill come check the freon level and add if needed. i have some R-22.

5/28/2007 3:30:41 PM

I'm waiting for a callback atm for someone to come hit up my freon. It's hot as fuckall in here.

5/28/2007 3:46:09 PM

^ yeah but if the coil is frozen now, you will need to go ahead and remove the side of the evaporator, put a fan on it and wait several hours for the ice to melt. Then you can figure out if you have an air restriction, low air flow or low refrigerent.

My bro in law's unit had a section of flex duct in the return that had the wire material removed during construction, which sucked itself in and blocked the airflow resulting in a frozen coil, that was his only problem.

Friend of mine turned his unit on when it was 80 in the house set his stat for 72 and his coil froze. Turned out it was only SLIGHTLY low on charge but running it that long with maybe a slight restriction made it freeze up. He let the ice melt and it's been running fine ever since.

5/28/2007 3:52:15 PM

joel, gimme a call if you you haven't got it fixed by now, and i'll swing by there, i still have my gauges and tanks and shit in the truck from a job this morning

5/28/2007 4:23:53 PM

jenn called and got some guy over here already, hes working on it now... costing me an arm and a leg im sure.

he turned the furnace on to thaw it quickly, makes sense and shouldnt have took too long cause i switched the unit off at like 10 this morning.

5/28/2007 4:37:32 PM

that sucks, i only charge 4 beers an hour

5/28/2007 4:57:02 PM

I got a dude that I work with coming over to look at mine now, I only wish he had his damn coolant certs so he could do that too.

5/28/2007 4:58:19 PM

of course, dude wants to sell us a unit

he added 2lbs to the system, so far its not freezing up... YET

5/28/2007 5:33:01 PM

Oh how I envy you now.

5/28/2007 5:41:42 PM

^^ thats fairly normal, most systems lose about 2 ounces a year

did he give you the whole high efficiency unit short payback period in lower power bills line?

5/28/2007 5:56:27 PM

My guy pretty much said my evaporator is fucked and my blower motor is as well....he then said that it's probably going to be almost as cheap to just buy a new air handling unit...sucks to be me.

5/28/2007 6:42:58 PM

$1800 for me to get my AC back on but damn if it won't be worth it.

5/29/2007 4:29:58 PM

hmm mine was hella nice last night but might be playing catch up a little today... no more freezing up though so its cool.

5/29/2007 7:41:19 PM

I'm really looking forward to my unit working tomorrow as long as the guy I handed $1500 cash to today doesn't dick me over.....

5/29/2007 7:50:45 PM

Im a cheap bastard A/C hasnt been turned on yet this year

5/29/2007 9:16:07 PM

i can use some more easy sidework, i'm trying to get out of the general contracting shit and back into the electrical/plumbing/hvac shit, send some stuff my way and i'll cut some good deals, i am turning down a shitload of full renovation/addition stuff and subbing out most of the framing/drywall.painting/demo/scrub stuff, not much money in it, for once i am not busier than i can handle just by word of mouth since i am turning down shit i just dont want to do now

6/21/2007 11:45:59 PM