Air Conditioning - Humid, Mold And Coils Icing Up
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jason17439
11-06-09, 10:38 AM
My mother's A/C has been blowing humid air for some months before if finally stopped working all together.
I went to inspect her A/C, she would turn it on at the thermostat and with my ear on the outside unit I could hear it start humming faintly but it wouldn't come on. We turned it off for a little bit and then back on multiple times and on the forth try it finally kicked on. Is this normal behavior? I know the A/C doesn't always kick on right when it is turned on but the humming in the outside unit seems strange.
Also I opened the inside unit when it was on and could see visible vapor coming off of the coils and getting sucked into the blower, within 10 minutes there was water dripping off everything in the unit and not long after that the coils iced up. There is mold all inside the unit and duct work.
Before we deal with the mold we have to get the A/C fixed. From what I've read the icing could mean the coolant levels need to be checked but what would cause all the moisture?
As for the mold I've resigned myself to the fact that we'll have to replace the ducts which are easily accessible luckily. But is the inside unit salvageable? Is it possible to decontaminate it, I'm really worried because it has that thin layer fiberglass insulation inside it which seems like a breeding ground for mold.
I went to inspect her A/C, she would turn it on at the thermostat and with my ear on the outside unit I could hear it start humming faintly but it wouldn't come on. We turned it off for a little bit and then back on multiple times and on the forth try it finally kicked on. Is this normal behavior? I know the A/C doesn't always kick on right when it is turned on but the humming in the outside unit seems strange.
Also I opened the inside unit when it was on and could see visible vapor coming off of the coils and getting sucked into the blower, within 10 minutes there was water dripping off everything in the unit and not long after that the coils iced up. There is mold all inside the unit and duct work.
Before we deal with the mold we have to get the A/C fixed. From what I've read the icing could mean the coolant levels need to be checked but what would cause all the moisture?
As for the mold I've resigned myself to the fact that we'll have to replace the ducts which are easily accessible luckily. But is the inside unit salvageable? Is it possible to decontaminate it, I'm really worried because it has that thin layer fiberglass insulation inside it which seems like a breeding ground for mold.
clocert
11-06-09, 11:27 AM
From what you just described, this unit must not been maintained for a long time. Sounds like you have problems with both inside and outside units and also the duct...How old is the system anyway ? If you don't know much about Air conditioning, the best way is call a HVAC tech to check out the whole system. and get his opinion first, also estimated dollar amount to fix it and then post them back here, some one here should be able to help you.
airman.1994
11-06-09, 05:40 PM
did you have the door off of the unit when it iced up. If you did that is why! Unit and duct can be cleaned up no need to replace.
GRIMKNOTME
11-08-09, 02:53 PM
Duct can be fogged , you must have insulation in your duct ?
airman.1994
11-08-09, 05:02 PM
Fogging is what jack legs do and you do not have to have insulation in your duct.