Air Conditioning - Air conditioner sometimes not cold
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dover
07-26-06, 02:17 AM
hi all
I have a problem with my air conditioner and be gratful if I can get some expert help/ advice.
The air sometimes is not cold and sometimes is. I believe this to be because the condenser is either not getting enough air or cannot expel air quick enough. The unit is made by 'general' and is a 20,000 btu unit. It is s split type but called an eazy fit because the condenser is the size and shape of a window type a/c unit so sits on the window sill but has a separate air blowing unit inside the room.
The window sill is just big enough to fit the condenser unit and has only one open side (think of a cube with only one side open and put the air con inside) so that only the back (or front - the side with the grill anyway) is facing out to the open air. The sides and top and bottom of the unit is near enough enclosed - against the wall - about 1 cm of space. It has to be here since I am in a block of flats and this is where the air con unit will go. Cannot be put anywhere else.
What I want to know is if air is sucked in or blown out of the sides of the unit? What I want to do is turn the unit 90 degrees so that one of the sides is facing out and the grill side (back) is facing the wall instead. Since the unit is wider than it is deep then there should be more space at the front - maybe 10 cm or so. Do you think this would work? The other side will be on the inside of the cube and the grill (back) will be 10cm from the wall side.
Or any other suggestions? Like putting it diagonal or building a fan or funnel?
thanks for the help.
I have a problem with my air conditioner and be gratful if I can get some expert help/ advice.
The air sometimes is not cold and sometimes is. I believe this to be because the condenser is either not getting enough air or cannot expel air quick enough. The unit is made by 'general' and is a 20,000 btu unit. It is s split type but called an eazy fit because the condenser is the size and shape of a window type a/c unit so sits on the window sill but has a separate air blowing unit inside the room.
The window sill is just big enough to fit the condenser unit and has only one open side (think of a cube with only one side open and put the air con inside) so that only the back (or front - the side with the grill anyway) is facing out to the open air. The sides and top and bottom of the unit is near enough enclosed - against the wall - about 1 cm of space. It has to be here since I am in a block of flats and this is where the air con unit will go. Cannot be put anywhere else.
What I want to know is if air is sucked in or blown out of the sides of the unit? What I want to do is turn the unit 90 degrees so that one of the sides is facing out and the grill side (back) is facing the wall instead. Since the unit is wider than it is deep then there should be more space at the front - maybe 10 cm or so. Do you think this would work? The other side will be on the inside of the cube and the grill (back) will be 10cm from the wall side.
Or any other suggestions? Like putting it diagonal or building a fan or funnel?
thanks for the help.
Jay11J
07-26-06, 04:49 PM
Most unit the air sucks into the sides, and blown out the back. And what it sounds like is your compressor is shutting off due to not getting enough air to cool down the condensor coil.
If you are able to move the unit around in this shell, give it a try.
If you are able to move the unit around in this shell, give it a try.
dover
07-26-06, 10:28 PM
thanks Jay.
Does that mean freedom on the sucking in side is more important than the blowing out side? If the blowing out is blocked would the warm air not able to escape?
Also does it suck on both sides or one side normally?
I asked some a/c shops here and they said to move the unit out a little but keep the same orientation. However based on what you said this won't help as it still does not expose the holes/ vents at the side.
Moving it will cost as the pipes are just the right length at the moment and will need to be redo - and the freon may need to be refilled so I want to do all the investigation I can before commiting to it.
Does that mean freedom on the sucking in side is more important than the blowing out side? If the blowing out is blocked would the warm air not able to escape?
Also does it suck on both sides or one side normally?
I asked some a/c shops here and they said to move the unit out a little but keep the same orientation. However based on what you said this won't help as it still does not expose the holes/ vents at the side.
Moving it will cost as the pipes are just the right length at the moment and will need to be redo - and the freon may need to be refilled so I want to do all the investigation I can before commiting to it.