Air Conditioning - Yes, another, "My a/c isn't blowing cold air," post...
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Yes, another, "My a/c isn't blowing cold air," post...
GadgetRick
06-09-08, 05:55 AM
Been quite warm here in the Northeast the last few days. Expecting it to be just as warm for the next few days. So, of course, my a/c decides to stop working yesterday.
Some background info:
Unit was installed two years ago (we had it installed). Has worked like a champ up until yesterday when it decided to blow not-so-cold air all of a sudden.
Last year, had gotten water underneath the condenser unit (in the basement). Silly me, I have to change the filter. Duh. Changed it, no water.
This year, haven't really run it until the last couple of days (an evening here or there but that's it until recently). Got water, changed the filter the other night. Water seemed to have stopped.
Yesterday, was like 97 with high humidity. Wasn't around most of the day. Came home, more water under the unit. Shoot! Not sure what it is now. Pulled the filter, (it's brand new) and, sure enough, it's clean as my 2 year old son's butt after a good bath. ;) So, what now?
I decide to try it without the filter for a spell to see if I still get water. I had switched the filter from the metal one I can't seem to clean to one of those adjustable electrostatic ones (not the kind you plug in) and wondered if maybe the flow wasn't good enough and caused the water by simulating a clogged filter.
A/C ran fine for about 30 minutes then, not-so-cold air! Was all of a sudden so I'm thinking it's probably not a freon leak (?) and thinking the coils--although possibly dirty--probably aren't the cause. Also, I'm not quite sure how to get in a check the coils anyway (I'm not the most handy guy in the world). I'm afraid it might be something more catastrophic?
The compressor turns on just fine. The blower blows just fine. Just not that oh-so-refreshing cold air I live for during hot times like this (I'm not into the heat thing).
Anyone have any suggestions on something I could try? All of my switches are on (those kill switches to turn off power to the unit). I haven't checked the lines on the compressor outside to see if one is warm and one is cold. I sweated through last night with just the blower running (I had read to let it run for a few hours if the coils ice up and it should help dry them) so the compressor hasn't run all night but I could give that a shot. Just don't want to do any more damage to the unit.
Thanks for listening and for any help you can provide!
Some background info:
Unit was installed two years ago (we had it installed). Has worked like a champ up until yesterday when it decided to blow not-so-cold air all of a sudden.
Last year, had gotten water underneath the condenser unit (in the basement). Silly me, I have to change the filter. Duh. Changed it, no water.
This year, haven't really run it until the last couple of days (an evening here or there but that's it until recently). Got water, changed the filter the other night. Water seemed to have stopped.
Yesterday, was like 97 with high humidity. Wasn't around most of the day. Came home, more water under the unit. Shoot! Not sure what it is now. Pulled the filter, (it's brand new) and, sure enough, it's clean as my 2 year old son's butt after a good bath. ;) So, what now?
I decide to try it without the filter for a spell to see if I still get water. I had switched the filter from the metal one I can't seem to clean to one of those adjustable electrostatic ones (not the kind you plug in) and wondered if maybe the flow wasn't good enough and caused the water by simulating a clogged filter.
A/C ran fine for about 30 minutes then, not-so-cold air! Was all of a sudden so I'm thinking it's probably not a freon leak (?) and thinking the coils--although possibly dirty--probably aren't the cause. Also, I'm not quite sure how to get in a check the coils anyway (I'm not the most handy guy in the world). I'm afraid it might be something more catastrophic?
The compressor turns on just fine. The blower blows just fine. Just not that oh-so-refreshing cold air I live for during hot times like this (I'm not into the heat thing).
Anyone have any suggestions on something I could try? All of my switches are on (those kill switches to turn off power to the unit). I haven't checked the lines on the compressor outside to see if one is warm and one is cold. I sweated through last night with just the blower running (I had read to let it run for a few hours if the coils ice up and it should help dry them) so the compressor hasn't run all night but I could give that a shot. Just don't want to do any more damage to the unit.
Thanks for listening and for any help you can provide!
Saturn
06-09-08, 12:41 PM
If a proper install was done you probably have a condensate drain pan overflow cutoff switch installed. I would say that your condensate pump is nonfunctional (maybe unplugged from the outlet) or the drain line is stopped up. Clean the condensate lines and check for proper drainage and check your condensate pump to be sure it is functional. You can check my theory by utilizing a wet vac to suck all the water out of the evaporator drain pan then if the unit restarts we have probably narrowed this problem down. If you had a hack install job done the condensate drain line may not be trapped/sloped or vented properly causing the water to build and overflow the drain pan, just so you know to look for that.