Air Conditioning - Vent(s) cold but no forced air?

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View Full Version : Vent(s) cold but no forced air?


ashtonbritney
06-10-08, 07:29 PM
Yes..I am sorry another question regarding not cooling. My vents are cold and I can feel very faint air.
Air conditioning unit outside
Furnace in crawl space

How should I go about finding out what is wrong?
Blower motor?, Fan? Capacitor? Whats the right steps to diagnose the problem?

Thank you for all of your help and suggestions...I am in NC and it has been 100 this last week...cant take to much more of this. A quick call with the yellow pages wanted 175 just to show up! They said they are overwhelmed..double that for emergency service...


Saturn
06-10-08, 07:42 PM
The smyptons that you describe seem to indicate a frozen evaporator coil. Shut the unit down for at least 4 hours and allow it to thaw. While it is turned off replace the return air filter with a new FREE FLOWING spun blue fiberglass filter. Restart the unit after 4 hours and check the airflows if it does this again we will need to perform a evaporator coil cleaning. If it still freezes after the coil cleaning then it is probably low on refrigerant and you will need a service call. You should be able to take care of the first two steps yourself. A lot of times people have bought the super duper allergy return filters not realizing that they restrict the airflow tremendously sometimes to the point where the coil freezes into a solid block of ice and then of copurse air cannot flow thru the coil. After the 4 hour wait time you might want to first turn the blower fan switch to on and see if you have good vent airflow if it seems to still be partially blocked wait another 2 hours before restarting the AC, you can let the blower fan run during the latter 2 hour period as long as you are getting partial flow and it should speed the thawing process. Let us know what type of filter you are currently using and if it was dirty.

ashtonbritney
06-10-08, 07:51 PM
Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate you taking the time!!!..I already have turned of the unit and will wait and see. Of course we have the super duper filters...my wife wants the cleaner air.


Saturn
06-10-08, 08:06 PM
If you feel the need to utilize the highly restrictive return filters you will need to add more return filter face area. You will probably need at least 200 sg inches of return filter face for a MERV 5 or less filter and much more for the higher mervs and HEPA type filters. I would toss that filter in the trash for now. You will destroy your compressor if you keep freezing the coil, liquid refrigerant can be returned to the compressor and liquid cannot be compressed in a AC compressor. If the little woman is not reading this swap that filter out without telling her until you can get more return installed. She will never know the difference unless you tell her LOL

ashtonbritney
06-11-08, 03:50 AM
I took out the filter and turned off the unit over night and this morning when I tried the fan I had great air flow. Is there anything I should do now? Clean it? How can I check the freon levels?
Dont worry my wife would rather have a working a/c vs a few dust/pollen particles. She felt bad as she was the one who got the Dupont Pro Clear 2010 filters....

Thanks again for all of your help!