Air Conditioning - Desperate for A/C help

My A/ C unit is making a loud humming sound, it is producing steam that comes out of my floor vents and it smells like burning dust well, sort of. I thought at first it was smoke, but I know now it's just steam. To make the noise stop I have to turn the A.C unit down a couple of degrees and then it makes a lound sound like someone pouring water over a fire. Please help!!
I'm scared this could maybe cause a fire or something

Jen Taylor

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My A/C had been making a really loud humming noise lately that can be stopped if I turn the A/C down to a lower temperature. However while it is making this loud humming noise steam comes out of my floor vents upstairs. The steam has an oder that smells like dust. It's been getting cooler out lately and I hate to keep turning the A/C down just to make th noise stop. I'm scared something is really burning and this could cause a fire, also the copper pipe that is connected get really hot as well as the top portion of the entire unit. What is all this? I change my filters very reguarly.

Regards, Jem

info info helps. Is this a heat pump also??? when you say off is the out door unit running??? When off is the big copper line to the unit hot???? C old and wet when AC is on???fan inside run on fan on only???

ED ;)

This must be a heatpump. It sounds like it's reversing and turning on the resistance heat. Kind of like a backwards defrost cycle?? Either a bad defrost board, bad board on the furnace or bad thermostat. When you turn the thermostat down, I think the reversing valve is activating which would explain the sound like pouring water on a fire. Unless it's the thermostat, which is about the least likely cause, this probably isn't a problem you can fix yourself. Turn off the system and call a professional. Let us know what he/she finds. We might be able to help make sure it's honest.

Doug M.

Ok here is some info to the questions from Ed Imeduc. When I say off that means all of it is off to include outside. The copper tube thingy is really cold right now and it's all off. Also. I had a new thermostat installed because someone at work told me it could very well be the cause, this one is digital very neat! However the problem has kept comming back. So that wasn't the answer, but I think I'll keep it any way since it's cute. I don't know what heat pump means. It central air so does that help? and what does this questionmean? : old and wet when a/c is on? If you're referring to the smell of the steam it actually smells like burning dust, and that's what's freaking me out.
In response to dougm, I'm just curious to know about hom much all those really big import parts that you mentioned would cost to get fixed or are they items that get replaced? Is it normal for these thing to go out or breakdown, and what in the heck 'causes it to do so? D you know what makes the really loud humming vibration sound??????
Both of you I'm so grateful you responded and I'm really looking forward to more replies from you both and insight before I call someone. I'm lucky right now and don't have to run it at all for a few days, since the weather is cooling down. I'm just scared of what may happen when I have to kick the heat in gear!!

Thanks bunches
Jen ;)

A heat pump is a central A/C unit that reverses in the winter time to give heat. Have you ever noticed the outside unit running when the heat is on? Did the old thermostat have any type of setting for emergency heat or backup heat? The switch may have been labeled "EM HEAT" or something similar. I'm wondering if you have the right thermostat for the system. If it's a heat pump, it needs a special thermostat. Who installed the new one? Do you still have the old one? Is the old one original to the system?

It's very common for circuit boards to fail. Some are quite expensive and others aren't. It depends on the brand of the system and the type of board. Usually, when they fail, they're simply replaced.

I still think it's unlikely that the old thermostat was the problem, but the new thermostat may be compounding the problem. I would put the old one back in place until we figure out what's wrong. Is calling in a pro. out of the question due to finances? You might call one and have them come and diagnose the problem. Around here they usually charge between $60 and $80 for a service call. Get a repair estimate in writing and, if you can't afford to have the system fixed, post back here and let us know what the repair estimate says is wrong. Maybe we can help you find a less expensive way to get it fixed.

Doug M.

From the post I don't for sure know what's going on myself. Sounds to me like the the unit is a heat pump, the HP has electric aux heating coils, those heating coils are kicking on, they haven't been on for a while and are dusty, the "burning dust smell" is exactly that. Most likely the controls are faulty, or perhaps just not set properly. Who knows.

JEN I think you should call a tech to look at it .Be there when he or she comes and go over the unit with them so you kind of know what is what on it. You dont say anything about the air filter is it clean??

The copper tube thingy is really cold right now and it's all off.

That big copper tube should be cold and wet WHEN IT IS RUNNING. The small one warm . When you are on AC

ED ;)

I just found out mine is a Furnace. Something called HVAC unit. A Heil DC90 Here's the number off of the big part: MFG# NEPC 5530FC1 / The Model number is EPC 5530fc1. I looked at the thermostat and it's a Honeywell. It has On, Fan, and Auto on the left side and a lever to flip up or down to choose which one you want, the temp ranges from 60-90 left to right and on the right side says heat, off and cold and a little lever to flip up middle or down to choose what you want. Its not finances that are the problem, it's just that I've had a few things lately that needed to be looked at and I've been paying to get things fixed that actually had NOTHING to do with my problems and waisted money. Like a new transmission on my taurus when it was something totally different, and replacing a motor in my dryer when all it needed was to be serviced. I'm weary of unhonest poeple that try to take advantage of me, so my mom directed me to this sight. She lives 14 hours aways and tries to help me with advice. She's always saying I'm to nice and let people take advantage of me, I've noticed now that I've waisted 3 grand on usless fixits and replacements. So I'm trying this sight for the first time, and You all are so great!! Thanks so much. At least when I finally do call someone I'll be a little educated and wont have them take advantage of me.

Thanks bunches and please let me know if this info helps.

Jen

http://www.swiftserve.com/heil/hdc90.htm

Jen, Yes, this info helps. We can probably scratch the thought that this is a heat pump. Can you tell us what the big unit outside is? Is this a new house? New HVAC unit? If not, do you know how old the system is? There is a 5 year warranty on the whole furnace and probably similar or better on the outdoor unit. If the system is less than 5 years old, this repair shouldn't cost anything, but it has to be done by an authorized Heil technician. Do you know or can you find out who installed the system? If not, tell us what city you live in and maybe we can find someone to help.

Unfortunately it's not at all uncommon for repair people to take advantage of others when they think they can get away with it. You have to know something about everything these days and these forums really help. If you want, maybe you can schedule this repair at a time when one of us can be on line so you can ask questions as they come up. You can tell them your 400 pound body builder husband, who's also an HVAC technician, is at work right now, but on-line and very suspicious of other technicians who might try to rip you off. ;) Explain that he's out on bail awaiting trial on manslaughter charges for the death of the guy who replaced your transmission.:D

Doug M.