House A/C not working properly

[TwinStick]

So, house would only get to 74* & no colder but was running nonstop. Went to investigate.

1) Put fresh batteries in the thermostat.
2) Shut down the system & removed panel on the evap coils. It was frozen solid !!!
3) Got out the heat gun & a fan & went to work.
4) Water tray, tube & drain tube were plugged with slimy shit. Flushed the entire system & drain hose out.
5) Back to the de-iceing.
6) Water going everywhere. Clean that up.
7) With the de-icing completed, I googled why it froze up.
8) Changed air filter on blower.
9) Went outside to check the A/C cooling fins. WOW, WERE THEY PLUGGED UP BAD! Got the hose out, removed the fan & an hour later, they were good as new!
10) Put the entire system back together & ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, cold air again!

But for how long, IDK. The system is old. Installed in 1995. Anyways, I know I saved ourselves a shitload of money today by doing all that ourselves.

[Bill2014]

A yearly cleaning should eliminate that problem going forward...
Doing it yourself will save serious
Nice Job!

[TwinStick]

Yeah, I do the yearly maintenance thing. It went from fine to really plugged in 1 year. Looked like a LOT of dandelion fluff, leafs & those twirly bird seeds. Working good still, no more leakage from the evap cooler. Hard for me to a $135 an hour on top of the $2-300 sevice call. Evap coil looks pretty bad though, just a matter of time for that.

[TwinStick]

Well, I guess it's sooner rather than later. Everything's clean & it will only maintain 74-75*. Service guy comes out on Monday !

[Colibri]

Damn it. Thought you dodged that bullet for a while st least. Sorry to hear it twin

[olyelr]

How much cooler is the supply air than the return air? 15+- degrees less is where it should be.

Damn, that sucks. Good for you for trying though! I would be in bad shape if our AC quit right now!

[Pit Slave]

Sounds like you just need a recharge on the system. 1995.... I'm guessing R-22. I have about 15# left. They stopped making it a few years ago. Already moved on to the next formula. The new units will be either R-404a or R-410.... R-22 is scheduled to be entirely outlawed and baned 2030. The new units will most likely cost you half as much to run just buy guessing on the age of your unit. If the condenser is fine and doesn't need to be replaced, just recharge it. If the condenser needs to be replaced, you might as well change out the system for a new one.

Yeah, I smoked 'em, sometimes you just gotta #sendit

[TwinStick]

Well, verdict came in today. $550 to recharge & NO guarantee or $550 for recharge & $150 for stop leak & NO guarantee. Or $3000-3500 for a new system. Think we are going with a new system & hopefully get another 20 yrs out of it. He said furnace, circuit board, blower (no slop in the bearings or shaft) & motor (not even hot when running), heat ex changer look fine. No rust or corrosion. Nice guy, gave me a 10% Veterans discount & said the $90 service call will be deducted from the total bill. Appt for 10:30 tomorrow for install details. 10 yr warranty is included.

[Colibri]

Not too bad considering, glad you got an honest guy

[TwinStick]

I ended up upgrading. Old unit was a Rheem 2 ton. 12 Seer w/home grade evaporator. Went with a Rheem 2 ton, 16 Seer unit, & a commercial evaporator & all new plumbing to/from. I told him I like to keep the house at 68-69* on the hottest days, when I am working outside. I Wait till I can't take the heat anymore, then come inside get an ice cold drink & refresh for about 10 min & go back outside. I got 0% financing for 36 mos, for being a Veteran - at least that's what he told me anyways. It was almost as much for just a new a/c system as I paid for the a/c & furnace/chimney liner/air filter system/humidifier, 20 yrs ago ! Anyways, going in next month. Peace of mind again.

[MSCH2112]

for a minute i thought you were saying the AC wasn't working on your camping trailer....WTF....but it's your house house. yeah the more tonage you can put on the better. and a big ass blower to push the air through.

mike

[RustyPW]

for a minute i thought you were saying the AC wasn't working on your camping trailer....WTF....but it's your house house. yeah the more tonage you can put on the better. and a big ass blower to push the air through.

mike

I thought the same thing at first. Camper? Oh sh!t! Here we go.

[TwinStick]

Nope not the camper ! Although a camper a/c unit is cheaper but it is still expensive @ $700-$1000. The shrouds (inside the camper part) are now extra but used to come with the air conditioner. About $100 on top of the price of a/c unit. I have thought about getting one of the "low amp draw" models just to give me a/c with only 15-20 amp service. That would give us more options at campgounds, or at someones house.

[TwinStick]

Being installed now. Can't wait. 2 ton, 16 Seer unit w/3 ton evap coil. Definitely is bigger than the coils that were in there. Looks more HD as well.

[TwinStick]

It is unbelievable to me that someone who calls themselves "Professionals", would leave a job with so many air leaks in the system. I understand that I am responsible for the duct work that was already there but they should have at least made the new evap coil box airtight ! It was leaking a LOT of air. All sealed up now though. I can feel a noticeable difference on the 1st floor. There must have been at least a dozen leaks that would EASILY blow out a match ! Crazy what some people consider a "good job", compared to what I consider a good job.

[olyelr]

Nice to have AC this time of year!