Air Conditioning - Rheem A/C problems, outside unit turns off

I have a 4 1/2 year old Rheem A/C central unit with heat pump. A year later, there was a squeaking, whirreling noise on the inside unit whenever the heater turned on. Almost like something needed lubrication. It was only for a few seconds. When the outside unit tripped,there will be no heat and the inside unit would sometimes not turn off. We called the the person who installed it, and he said it was due to the freon and change of weather (live in Florida). He suggested to remove some of the freon to prevent the unit from tripping. Otherwise, there was a button to reset on the outside unit. A metal wire/tool? that was kept in there was said to be responsible for the whirreling noise. Everything checked out ok. The noise continued over the years. This past winter, the outside unit tripped all the time and no heat. I always knew it tripped if the inside unit didn't turn off. The outside unit wasn't that loud as it usually was. Called the same guy reporting the same symptoms and said it was due to the dirty filters. I asked why we never had a problem with the a/c. The response was that for the heat, the air/pressure and freon is going into the house is blocked while for a/c, it's going out. Sorry if this isn't right, but my memory isn't good now. He showed me a 3rd permanent filter that went under the unit, and I never knew there was a 3rd one. Now I'm having the same symptoms with the air conditioner, except for the squeaky noise. It might have started a week ago because there were a few times it didn't feel cool as normal. I thought it was due to the summer heat. A few days ago, the a/c inside unit didn't turn off and no cold air. I went to reset the button on the outside unit, cleaned and replaced the filters, but no cold air. On the outside unit, first the fan shuts off and then the unit itself after 5 minutes.

Is there anything I can do before calling for service?

You dont say where in FL?? I lived there 20 years and a heat pump there is just a waste of $$$$ if you are in the south.
He showed me a 3rd permanent filter that went under the unit, and I never knew there was a 3rd one. Now I'm having the same symptoms with the air conditioner, except for the squeaky noise. I hope you took that #3 filter out and now put new filters in the other 2 every 30 days
That poor blower. Has anyone tried to oil the motors Inside and outside?? Is the AC coil clean. Is the condenser outside coil clean No bushes tight around it so it can get air
On the outside unit, first the fan shuts off and then the unit itself after 5 minutes.
Sure sounds like you need a new condenser fan motor here. DONT LET THE OUTSIDE unit run. Till you get the fan fixed
You have a lot of IFS here.

ED;)

Hi Ed. I live on the west side of Florida.

Yes, I did replaced the filters and cleaned the 3rd filter every 30 days.

As far as I know, nobody has oiled the motors although it was checked out and ok'd. And I'm pretty sure with the coils too. However, on the outside unit, there was a part that was worn out and replaced back in January. I don't think it had anything to do with the problem. Everything is clean around the areas of the outside unit.



Sure sounds like you need a new condenser fan motor here. DONT LET THE OUTSIDE unit run. Till you get the fan fixed


What causes that to break? It was doing that since the problem started, but it worked fine after I hit reset button the first few years and after he cleaned the permanent filter.

Was over in west Palm. Now the unit cant pull through all 3 filters. All the air has to go through just one filter some where is all. Not sure but it comes back to the condenser fan is what is causeing it all. You dont have to reset the high head all the time thats not right. And if the fan dont work right then the unit will go off on high head. If the unit is charged right you dont have to go back anytime it goes from heat to cool.
If down the line the heatpump goes out. just get an AC unit and use just the strip heaters for heat. For the few days you need heat. A heat pump dont pay down there. I know over on the west side they try to sell them all the time. you have to be way up north in FL for them to pay off

ED;)

Hi,

THanks for the info. I gonna see if it's still under warranty. I was almost gonna buy better filters because the 2 disposable ones I had were not recommended. Before they were only replaced every 60-90 days sometimes more if I didn't forget. Wouldn't the coils still need to be cleaned? The permanent filter was filthy. Also, which filters should be kept since 3 is overdoing it?

You can go how you want on the filters. Just the one by the unit. Or one in each filter grill if that is what you have. Just think the air going back to the AC has to go through one filter for sure. Down there a MERV #5 filter every 30 days cause the AC runs a lot there.
Most units have just 5 years on the compressor only.
Check the coil and see if it needs cleaning after all of this.

ED;)

Hi Ed,

I called someone to look at it and it is the condenser fan like you said. Thank you. Also, would have the cause been discovered right away or early on if the outdoor unit shut down only after a few times?

I found my repair bill from February and it says bad contactor replaced. Could this be another cause for the outdoor unit shutting down?

Since it's not loud as normal, is it because the compressor not turning on?

If I call the same person back and he says it's the contactor again, would I still have to pay the labor/service call? Another repair guy that checked it said the parts for my Rheem warranty will only apply to the person who installed it.

I think Id ask around where you live who the other people use or call to work on their AC units. Id get some one else to check it out.

ED;)

I live in south florida but have no idea of your problem (not very experience with hardware).

Unfortunately, the guy that looked at it was referred by a friend, and he came off really rude. He also said he can't fix it because the Rheem warranty won't apply to him. And I called others that were referred to me, and they said they didn't think so either. Still looking... My dad use to repair a/c. Only if I had paid attention.