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View Full Version : Home ac doesn't blow enough volume


grabbyzz3
Jul 6, 2014, 10:23 PM
I've read a similar post on various websites, but have another factor to add.
My AC blows cold, I have had freon checked, filter cleaned, etc. I run it all day, and it cools it down, about 2-3 degrees. When I run it, it also doubles my power bill. It worked fine, until I came home and the kids had turned the thermostat down to 50, it was 65 in the house when I noticed. I have noticed a few times, ice on the pipes from the outdoor unit. Also part of my question, would the problem be with the outdoor unit or the indoor part. Any ideas?

ma0641
Jul 7, 2014, 11:28 AM
Don't see what the problem is, surprised you got to 65 degrees. Central AC draws a lot of current so power bill increase is expected. With high humidity, ice is not uncommon. If the unit only cools 2-3 degrees, how did it get to 65, that's at least a 10 degree below what you might run

drtom4444
Jul 8, 2014, 10:53 AM
You have the number one problem with all air conditioners and all refrigeration units: It's dirty. The coils indoors are full of dirt, slime molds, black mold, and bacteria. The dirt goes through all filters and eventually builds up enough to block the air flow which causes the normal load to lessen and it therefore ices up. You will get all kinds of stupid answers because almost no so-called HVAC mechanics will do the right thing and pull both the fan unit and the inside evaporator coils and clean them with a pressure washer and coil cleaner. It's about a $400-600 job, if it's done right, and it should be done once a year unless you install an oversized HEPA filter. The filter area should be twice the size of the footprint of the inside unit. That means that if the bottom of your inside unit is 20 x 20 then you need at least two 20x20 filters, or better get two 25x25 HEPA filters. Then you may clean it only once each two years or so. Never get cheap filters. Get at least 2" thick pleated filters. You will have to adjust your unit for them to fit, but it's easy to do. You will have to stubbornly insist on having your coils cleaned correctly, and watch them. They will have to pump all refrigerant into the outside unit (which needs to be cleaned, too.) and cut, then weld copper pipes shut while they clean them, plus the pipes leading outside until he is done. Do not let him just tape them-you will get moisture in lines from the air. Do not let them sell you a new unit. That's why they do not want to clean it. Good luck. (When they come around once a year for a "check-up" they should have told you that it needed cleaning, but they had rather scam you and then when the unit fails from dirt, sell you a new one.)