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View Full Version : A/C Troubleshooting steps


jhwmonk
Sep 26, 2009, 08:28 PM
Last day or two, A/C not pushing air hard enough or cool enough. Read some of the tips here and did the following...

1. Checked filter - Clean
2. Checked PVC drain pipe to the extent I could, seems to be draining.
3. Noticed ice around the brass pipe (which has a black rubber insulating cover) and read that I should, a. Shut off cooling b. run fan at room temp.
4. Ice melted fairly soon, to the extent that I didn't get a drip pan in there and I didn't expect the water to pour down in and around the unit. I went to the fuse box and shut off main power to clean up water. I pour a little bleach with water down the pvc pipe and by a little I mean a capful and 1/3 cup water or so. I'm looking for the green light to turn it back on or should I leave it off and have a pro come look.



There are three photos here... the first is the top part, initially that brass line, covered in black foam rubber or whatever it is, had about 3/4 in of ice around it and up and down most of it.

That pvc is where I poured the water/bleach, without being able to inspect it outside properly due to darkness.

The second and third pics, indicate how the unit sits in my house, in a closet with about a 3 x 3 x 4 foot area for air flow underneath.

My question is, what's my next step? Turn on main power and see if it runs? Call a repair guy (due to someone reading my symptoms and knowing what it is) or run the fan some more? I don't know... thanks.

letmetellu
Sep 26, 2009, 09:08 PM
The ice forming on the pipes and the coil above the furnace is the reason that you are not getting the air force that you should or the coolness that should be there.

Now the reasons for the icing, there could be several. One is the dirty filter which you said that you checked and it was clean. Well instead of thinking it was clean you need to take it outside to a water hose and was the filter good, even to the point of taking the filter apart if it comes apart.
This filter is very fine mesh and it does not take much dust to slow the air flow down.

Next you should check all of the openings in the different rooms making sure that they are all open. You do this because anything that slows the air flow down can cause the icying.

The next thing is a possibility that the freon level is low, this will also cause the coils to ice over.

If none of these are the problem that leaves a possibility that the coil itself is dirty from having a dirty filter and it not stoping all of the dust.

If none of these are the problem let me know and I will try to think of something else.