Q&A about the different types of air conditioing system & eqiupment.

This article series provides a guide to types of air conditioners & cooling or heat pump systems.

Q&A on Air Conditioning System Types

These questions & answers about the energy source used by different types of cooling or air conditioning systems were posted originally at AIR CONDITIONER TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES - be sure to see the guidelines given there.

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2019-01-06 by (mod) - home made condenser installation

Looks to me [photo above] like a home-made or modified AC system - the "attic box" you describe is probably the air handler.

But look further. Somewhere we need to find the fan and coil that cools hot compressed refrigerant gas back to liquid refrigerant - that ought to be outdoors.

On 2019-01-06 by Jennifer

Curious if anyone has seen this type of a/c unit - single family home split into two units with one of each of these for each side. Delivery is by a large "box" located centrally in the ceiling of each unit.

On 2017-01-30 by Ibrahim ali

Thanks for guide me

On 2016-08-08 by (mod) - where the air filter needs to be located

Ca

There is no single always & exactly-correct answer to where the air filter needs to be located, though it does need to be in the return air path and in an accessible location so that it can be cleaned; Usually a manufactured home has a single air return inlet; that's a good place for the filter. That can be ahead of the cooling coil or "A" coil as may be present in your system.

On 2016-08-07 by carose

I have a crazy question, I've been working on my Air Conditioner. I have a mobile home, system in vented closet door in hall. It's the "A" shape type coiling system as in the diagram @ the top of this page.

I replaced the filter (2nd time since the 1st was insulated), I woke up to it being frozen over. After going to YouTube, etc. and leaving it turned off all night so the ice would melt, I cleaned everything.

But noticed as I watched several videos that 1, very few show EXACTLY where the filters should be placed and 2, very few talk about systems in Manufactured Homes.
1 video showed a filter being placed 1 on each side of the "A", for a total of 2 filters. No filter at all, sitting on the top, with the lip holding it.

My thoughts...I have not a clue which is the correct way?

I also was wandering, after looking all day on this site (which I love, thank you all very much!!)

Should there not be a filter that keeps the dust from entering the blower? It seems that it would help the blower with drawing dust in, as it draws air into the blower.

Can someone PLEASE explain? I'm just a common sense kind of woman, that once worked making heating elements for many yrs. But....can NOT understand this (should be) simple task lol.
Please help, it's SO HOT here right now!!

On 2015-10-26 by Dale Hampton

Have 2000sf ranch home built on concrete slab with extremely low attic space. Have ductwork already in place.

Am told the new air handlers are taller and would not fit in attic space. Have a 23 yr old Trane unit that needs to be replaced as it is only 10 seer. Help! What kind of units would fit our needs and not cost tens of thousands of dollars?

On 2015-08-12 by Emil

What is the first step to use the manual windowtype who has thermostat number 1 to 12 and low fan high fan lowcool high cool thanks

On 2013-03-02 by melissa

i have an old window unit heating and cooling. it seems old. i live in a crappy cheap apartment. the enourmous plug practically needs a oven mitt to unplug. my question is. 1. there is no auto option- so it just runs and runs and my apartment gets so hot.

i can't turn it off- because then the air runs out and the heat has to heat the whole apartment again.

what is the best affordable way to deal with a unit that does turn off when it hits a wanted temp. it is an old dial unit. also, at what point can i say to my landlord- its time for a new air conditioner. god knows how dirty it is inside and how much energy its using. thank you!

On 2012-11-02 by Judy A adsen

I have an american standard heat and a/c system in my sunroom that will no longer heat. Just blows cold air. It is like a unit in a motel room on wall. Model PTEC1501JCA Any suggestions?

On 2012-08-20 by

We have an air handling unit in the attic. One of the intakes is only 2-3 feet from the unit. But the flexible duct work snakes six feet and almost kinks. Is there a reason it comes in behind the wall makes a right turn comes down goes back and then into the unit? ken

On 2012-08-04 by (mod) - a bad connector or on occasion a partial short or leak in the low voltage wiring could drop the voltage at the contactor.

Coastal, thanks for that excellent suggestion made to Anon below. It makes sense to me too that a bad connector or on occasion a partial short or leak in the low voltage wiring could drop the voltage at the contactor.

Dan

On 2012-08-03 by Coastal - Have you measured the voltage at the contactor?

Have you measured the voltage at the contactor? (Not at the transformer) With the contactor
not pulling all the way in, it sounds like you don't have 24 VAC at the contactor.

If this
is the case,

check the connections between the transformer and contactor for a resistance
joint. Could be a wire-nut connection or the t-stat resistance (either via a relay or a
collector feed).

On 2012-07-26 by Anonymous

New package system a/s 10 ton first stage of cooling works perfectly when both stages of cooling are called for contactors will noy pull completly in .Yes good ground,208 330 yes 24 volts at transformer .Trane has no clue.

A/c contractors have no clue .

Installed new honeywell t stat in side pkg unit at factory wiring .Yes changed transformer yes have changed both contactors yed there is a matching unit next to this one both wired same other unit runs perfectly .Im at a total loss 30yrs exper s.O.S. Mp#3 954 -803- 1646

On 2012-07-15 by (mod) -

Brian, we've taken your suggestion and have begun adding advice specific to window air conditioner units. See the link WINDOW / WALL AIR CONDITIONERS found at the ARTICLE INDEX

On 2012-07-15 by (mod) - window A/C unit condensate drip pans and condensate disposal troubles:

Brian: about window A/C unit condensate drip pans and condensate disposal troubles:

A window or through-wall air conditioner already includes a condensate drip pan inside the unit.

The drip pan includes a condensate drain port that either drips directly out of the bottom back of the unit, usually at a corner, or the port, a small metal tube, can be connected to a drain hose to route condensate to an acceptable location so that it does not drip, for example, on the head of someone walking below.

That's a particular problem when the A/C unit is installed over a door as we often see at business entrances.

Best practices to control condensate dripping from a window or over-door air conditioner include:

- make sure that the unit is properly leveled or slopes slightly towards the outdoors - else condensate can overlow the pan sides and leak into the building or into an uncontrolled location.

- make sure that the drain port at the unit's condensate drip tray has not become clogged with dust and debris. Often a toothpick or soft small wire can clean out crud blocking that opening without having to disassemble anything. (Don't jam a wire way into the unit as you may cause damage)

- connect a plastic condensate drain hose to the window A/C unit drip port or pan to collect and route condensate down the building wall or door frame to the ground so that it does not drip onto people.

WATCH OUT: in some municipalities it is not permitted to drain A/C condensate across a sidewalk - in such cases the property owner has to route condensate to a floor drain or similar location. When there is no drain close by that can be reached by gravity, you can still solve this problem easily by having the A/C condensate routed to a small condensate pump that then pumps condensate to an acceptable drain location.

On 2012-07-14 by Brian B

Does anyone have a good idea for a Window AC drip pan? The window its in is above a door. Maybe a good DYI website?

On 2011-08-26 by (mod) - ZoneAire contact information

June:

ZoneAire, at least current modern ZoneAire equipment are a series of portable air conditioners and are a Friedrich product - try their customer contact information at the friedrich dot com website or contact Friedrich air conditioners at 10001 Reunion Place, Ste. 500
San Antonio, Texas 78216
(210) 546-0500
(800) 541-6645

and ask for a service manual.

Daniel

On 2011-08-22 by Anonymous

Eric you can decode data tags on air conditioners to read the BTUH ratings - see DATA TAGS on AIR CONDITIONERS (link at page left); also in that article we give links to two decoding documents that should have what you need.

On 2011-08-21 by June Hayes

I can't find any info on my old Zoneaire(?) a/c model #30FC0060AB serial #J875255109. The tag is unreadable. I had the model & S/N written in a book. How old is this unit and how many tons? Thank you!

On 2011-08-21 by eric

24aba342a30010 carrier a/c unit
need to know how many btus it has

On 2011-07-05 by khin zaw oo

Thanks for this article ,it helps me a lot for our budget reviews .

On 2011-06-29 by Catheirne

Thanks for this blog I got all the information regarding air conditioning system as well as with the photos it helps me a lot for my reviews.

And according to this site they can answer all the issues regarding air conditioning problems and helps to maintain its good condition.

Question: how can I add air conditioning / cooling for my apartment

(June 18, 2014) Anonymous said:

I recently purchased a co-op which had what I thought to be a heating/ cooling system like in many motels. Instead, I discovered that the unit is only a fan that brings air up from a central heating and AC unit in the basement.

What's more, the two cannot be viable at the same time and that causes problems during the transition months. Now, today was the first really hot day where I live and when the temp reached the upper 70s it had trouble cooling the room.

When it rose to 90 degrees, the unit was almost worthless. I live in a studio apt that has about 500 square feet.

Please advise me on how I can cool my apt? I like it at about 65-67 degrees w/ little humidity. Today the humidity was 35%. I cringe when I think of those 95 degree, 95% humidity days and nights. Help!

Reply:

Anon you may be able to install a portable, window, or through-wall A/C unit as well as closing off a register that's supplying heat when you don't want it. Review this concern with building management.

Certainly some co-ops have restrictions on what you can poke through a wall or out of a window.

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Continue reading at AIR CONDITIONER TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS
• AIR CONDITIONER TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES - topic home,

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