Air Conditioning - Air Conditioning problem

We live on the beach side in a 7 year old home on pilings. October 2005, a new evaporator (10.5 seer rated Rheem) was installed due to a leak. March 2006, a new condensing unit (10.5 seer rated Rheem) was installed due to a leak. It ran ok until last week upon the weather getting hotter. One afternoon we noticed the temperature in our home was 81 degrees and getting hotter. We keep our thermostat set on 78 degrees day and night as we work from home. The next morning we called our air conditioner man and he came out and it was checked and all the freon had leaked out. Upon putting new freon in and checking for leaks, none could be found. It ran for two days normal and after the third day, the same problem of higher temperatures began. He came back and said he could not find the leak after we had kept our air conditioner off for 24 hours. When he left, we turned the air conditioner back on and cold air was coming out of the vents (54 degree air) and said to run another few days and let him know if there is a problem. Again, setting it on 78, the temperature inside will not go any lower than 80. It is not cooling below that and continuously runs. Our air conditioner man is stumped. He says that we will have to turn our air conditioner off for 3 straight days in order to check to see if there is another leak. (95 degree weather) We've spent $3,000.00 and still do not have cold air.

Please, any suggestions are appreciated.

Get another A/C man...seriously.

like said get them back now or get another HVAC guy or gal. Just kind of a rule of thumb. If the freon leaks out fast when the unit is off look on the suction side of the unit. If it leaks out fast when the unit runs look on the high side

ED;)

We live on the beach side in a 7 year old home on pilings. October 2005, a new evaporator (10.5 seer rated Rheem) was installed due to a leak. March 2006, a new condensing unit (10.5 seer rated Rheem) was installed due to a leak. It ran ok until last week upon the weather getting hotter. One afternoon we noticed the temperature in our home was 81 degrees and getting hotter. We keep our thermostat set on 78 degrees day and night as we work from home. The next morning we called our air conditioner man and he came out and it was checked and all the freon had leaked out. Upon putting new freon in and checking for leaks, none could be found. It ran for two days normal and after the third day, the same problem of higher temperatures began. He came back and said he could not find the leak after we had kept our air conditioner off for 24 hours. When he left, we turned the air conditioner back on and cold air was coming out of the vents (54 degree air) and said to run another few days and let him know if there is a problem. Again, setting it on 78, the temperature inside will not go any lower than 80. It is not cooling below that and continuously runs. Our air conditioner man is stumped. He says that we will have to turn our air conditioner off for 3 straight days in order to check to see if there is another leak. (95 degree weather) We've spent $3,000.00 and still do not have cold air.

Please, any suggestions are appreciated.


I know when I came across a leak like that, I would cut the system into 3 sections. The condenser, the coil or air handler, And the line set. I would use nitrogen to charge the 3 seperate sections to about 250 lbs and leave a gauge on each one. I would then come back after 3 days and see what one had less pressure. At that point I would know what the problem was.

I do not know how many people would do that type of leak check.

Also keep in mind you live on the water. Salt aire will eat those things good.

Down on the coast in FL you get about 3 years on the high side outside is all.

ED;)

I suspect it's leaking 24/7. But it may be leaking faster at certain times. A good tech should be able to find the leak one way or the other.

Good luck.

It could also be that the coil has become pourous. If that is the case you need a new one.

Yesterday our air conditioner man came out to check the unit because it is now running continuously. Still set on 78, at about 2:00 p.m. it begins to read 82 and rising.

He still cannot find anything. He also said it had not leaked freon at this point even though it had completely leaked last Tuesday.

Today it has never shut off and is rising again. We have another service man scheduled today. Supposedly he says that if he can't find out what is wrong, I owe him nothing.

Suggestions are still appreciated.

I'm a bit confused. It appears from the post that the temperature rises at certain times. One time the tech says it's out of freon. Another time (with the same symptoms, I assume) the tech says there is no leak.

Hmmmm. Does this problem only occur on very hot days and during the hottest part of the day (late afternoon)?

I question if there really is a leak. Maybe all of us are looking down the wrong path (just speculating here). Perhaps there is some other problem like under sized equipment, condenser fan that shuts off, etc. Again I'm just speculating, and that's all any of us can do without being there.

Perhaps others can offer additional advice.

I'm a bit confused. It appears from the post that the temperature rises at certain times. One time the tech says it's out of freon. Another time (with the same symptoms, I assume) the tech says there is no leak.

Hmmmm. Does this problem only occur on very hot days and during the hottest part of the day (late afternoon)?

I question if there really is a leak. Maybe all of us are looking down the wrong path (just speculating here). Perhaps there is some other problem like under sized equipment, condenser fan that shuts off, etc. Again I'm just speculating, and that's all any of us can do without being there.

Perhaps others can offer additional advice.


You make some valid points. I think we are all going by the service tech added freon.

I am reading his problem over and over, Is it possible the tech did not change the piston.
Does he have Hi and Low returns and the low is open? How about air flow, it is also a scroll compressor is it possible a seal flipped and the straightend out.

I think we need to know the following.

1) Air flow is it good
2) filters clean
3) is the large line on the condensing unit wet
4) what is the temp of the air going into the return and what is it comming out of a supply.

What temp out side and what is the temp inside. Keep in mind 15 degree split.

I do not think the coil is leaking as it is new as is the condenser. So if there is a leak it is either in a braze joint or the line set.

The new Air Conditioner Technician arrived and left with incredible news. He said there is no leak. The new evaporative coils that were installed were defective and only half of them were working. The technician took us into the attic to show us this. He also said our other air conditioner man did not install a dryer by the condensing unit outside. He said this knowledge should be "Air Conditioning 101". This service call cost $125.00 but was well worth it. His cost to repair the warrantied coils is $900.00 to include the dryer. We are opting to go with him and not let our old air conditioner man to do good on his warranty as we don't feel we will know if he can do the work properly. At this point, we will always go with a big reputable company from now on. This will be put in Saturday, so we will see how it works after that.

Your first guy is what we call around here a JACK LEG, ban him from your property, people like that do more harm than good.