A/C or heat pump operating defect checklist FAQs.

This articler series explains how to fix an air conditioner or heat pump that is not operating properly - starting with a simple checkist.

Page top photo: a remarkable do-it-yourself home air conditioning system in the attic of a home inspected by the author: a kiddie swimming pool holds a portable window air conditioner that has been connected to home-made "flex duct" ductwork stolen from a New York city jobsite.

Air Conditioning System Maintenance & Operating Defect Diagnosis & Repair Guide: defect checklist

These questions and answers were posted originally

at OPERATING DEFECTS, AIR CONDITIONING - please check out that article.

 

Will increasing the SEER rating 2,3,or 4 points improve efficiency ?

Old house: Local installer said gas heat was added later, air flow not good, want to replace old gas furnace with new gas/electrial AC unit.

Question will increasing the SEER rating 2,3,or 4 points improve efficiency ? On 2016-01-16 by David

by (mod) - Question will increasing the SEER rating 2,3,or 4 points improve efficiency ?

Efficiency yes, airflow perhaps not.

First lets get a correct diagnosis of the problem.

Dirty blower fan, dirty filter, crimped or connected supply duct, inadequate return air, etc.

Fix that and then re evaluate

Outdoor Cooling Unit won't come on at all

My thermostat and fan are working fine. Air blows through the vent but the house never cools to temp.

The outdoor unit has not come on at all - it is making no noise whatsoever. Reset blower/furnace switch, checked over flow, no condensation being drawn out of the air through the lines.

Getting ready to check to see if I buy new fuses (pull-outs) if that will solve the problem

What else should I look for next? I am not even sure if I can tell if a fuse is blown. I have two pull-outs with two fuses each... not sure how much they cost. Just had gas added last year and cleaning, service.

The unit is not that old, estimated at 8-10 years. On 2012-05-29 by anon

by (mod) -

Outdoor:

If the outdoor unit is never coming on your system will not produce cool air. That's because no refrigerant is being condensed to liquid form for routing to the cooling coil inside your indoor air handler.

Make sure the compressor condenser has power, that your thermostat is in COOL mode and is calling for cooling. If the compressor condenser unit (the outdoor unit) makes no sound at all it may have no power or there could be a bad switch or relay.

Complete diagnostics are at LOST COOLING CAPACITY (article link in our ARTICLE INDEX)

Air Conditioner Condensate water dumps into a bucket at our air conditioner

Help, we have had out unit "fixed" each summer. We have tons of water coming out of our overflow pipes, instead of coming out of the main drains.

It is filling up a 5 gallon bucked with the overflow pipes at least 3 times a day.

They cleaned the whole unit last year, found some blockage, and had to replace the motor fan last year as well.

Frustrating since the unit is a Lennox, and only 5 years old. On 2011-07-19 by Molly

by (mod) -

Molly:

First, your condensate system needs to be one that empties automatically, either by draining by gravity or by using a condensate pump.

Next, it sounds worth looking into why you have so much condensate and whether the amount is really abnormal - it depends on the relative humidity where you live and of course building specifics.

If there were a source of water leaks or humidity in the building that needs correction you'd want to find and attend to that too.

On 2011-07-03 14:59:23.553149 by Carolyn

My air works, then stops and the house heats up. If I turn the air Off, then On, it starts working again. What can I check or do?

by (mod) -

Carolyn: your compressor/condenser may be overheating; check to see that it's airflow is not blocked, it's not too close to the building;

if you can cool down the outdoor unit with a water spray and you see that that gets it going, the system is overheating - could be an installation error (as I just described above) that blocks air flow, or the system compressor could be failing.

Question: Carrier 38 YXA Repair for Outside Unit: breake was tripped

My airconditioner is working on the inside but not working outside...lost its cooling capacity.

When I checked the main panel, the breaker tripped, when I went outside to check on the fan, it wasn't working, removed cover and checked the capacitor,

the "HERM" blew and the blue wire was burnt, the outside switch with the fuse, when checked, 1 fuse blew up.
I changed all the fuses on the outside switch and placed a new run Capacitor..

.I put it back on, the fan started turning but the condenser/compressor just made a humming sound and tripped the circuit breaker again and blew the 2 pieces of fuses on the outside switch...also installed a new contactor but same things happened over and over.

I just don't know what to do anymore. My unit is a carrier 38yxa. 11 years old. Any assistance you can help me regarding this matter is greatly appreciated. (May 14, 2014) james said:

Reply:

James this is a problem for an experienced hvac tech and a service call. It sounds as if your compressor condenser had a failed compressor motor or possibly a control board or a fan motor.

...

Continue reading at OPERATING DEFECTS, AIR CONDITIONING or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Defects Lists for Air Conditioners & Heat Pumps

• DEFECTS LIST - AIR CONDITIONING
  • A/C - HEAT PUMP CRITICAL DEFECTS
  • A/C INSPECTION CHECKLIST - OUTDOOR UNIT
  • A/C INSPECTION LIMITATIONS
• DEFECTS LIST - HEAT PUMP
  • DEFECTS LIST - HEAT PUMP SUBSYS
• DUCT SYSTEM DESIGN SIZE & DEFECTS
• OPERATING DEFECTS, AIR CONDITIONING

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OPERATING DEFECTS, AIR CONDITIONING FAQs at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMPS

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