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Message
A/C periodically having very weak air flow
Posted on 5/19/22 at 1:26 pm
Posted on 5/19/22 at 1:26 pm
About 3 times in the last week my A/C suddenly had very weak air flow and was struggling to keep the house cool. Each time it didn't last very long...maybe an hour at most. Then it would go back to normal. The air coming from the vents still felt cold, just barely blowing, so I guess it's an issue with the fan in the attic unit. Every time it's happened has been later in the evening, around 7-9pm. All of those days were in the 90s during the day, so my best guess after googling around is that maybe it had just been running non-stop all day and either overheated, or the coils froze over and impeded some air flow. All I did to fix it each time was just run the fan without the A/C in case it was just the coils being frozen to help de-frost them, and usually within an hour of doing that it was back to working fine.
Anybody have this happen? I have an appointment through the home warranty to have somebody come check it out, but I'd rather not drop $100 for someone to come out when it's working fine and not be able to diagnose anything. We've tried to be a little more mindful about giving the unit some breaks during the day and that seems to have avoided the issue the last few nights.
It is an older unit. Not sure the exact age of the attic unit, but the outside condenser is probably 25 years old.
Anybody have this happen? I have an appointment through the home warranty to have somebody come check it out, but I'd rather not drop $100 for someone to come out when it's working fine and not be able to diagnose anything. We've tried to be a little more mindful about giving the unit some breaks during the day and that seems to have avoided the issue the last few nights.
It is an older unit. Not sure the exact age of the attic unit, but the outside condenser is probably 25 years old.
9
Posted on 5/19/22 at 1:49 pm to Neauxla_Tiger
Sounds to me you are on the right track to isolating the potential problem possibly being with the air handler/furnace blower motor. You hearing any high pitched sound from the motor possibly indicating a bearing issue? One can check the amperage draw on the blower motor and compare to it’s rated load amps to isolate it as potentially on its way to failure.
Certainly low air flow across the coil caused by a failing blower motor can cause it freeze up and reduce air flow, then as you say, running HVAC in fan mode only will hasten defrosting of the coil.
Alternatively, you could be slightly low on refrigerant and the evaporator coil is freezing in late in the evening which again will restrict air flow through the coil while it is frozen.
Anyway, a HVAC tech will need to diagnosis, but you really don’t to keep operating the unit in this fashion too long and potentially cause more damage to the unit.
Certainly low air flow across the coil caused by a failing blower motor can cause it freeze up and reduce air flow, then as you say, running HVAC in fan mode only will hasten defrosting of the coil.
Alternatively, you could be slightly low on refrigerant and the evaporator coil is freezing in late in the evening which again will restrict air flow through the coil while it is frozen.
Anyway, a HVAC tech will need to diagnosis, but you really don’t to keep operating the unit in this fashion too long and potentially cause more damage to the unit.
Posted on 5/19/22 at 1:56 pm to Neauxla_Tiger
how familiar are you with the system? Is it a 2-stage system?
Posted on 5/19/22 at 2:42 pm to Neauxla_Tiger
quote:
Not sure the exact age of the attic unit, but the outside condenser is probably 25 years old.
Bruh...you need to seriously consider getting a new unit then. You'll probably save $25/ month and maybe up to $100 in the summer on your electric bill. Now, that's not reason to go and drop $5000+. I'm not one to just replace older equipment. But realistically something that old isn't going to likely have parts available these days anyway.
But yeah, it could be any number of issues its hard to say. I wouldn't think 7-9pm would be the hardest on it though to be honest. It may be when your attic is hottest though and its having the hardest time?
Posted on 5/19/22 at 2:43 pm to Neauxla_Tiger
sounds like ice buildup on indoor coil restricting air flow.
during day its hot enough to keep pressures higher so the ice isnt created then or gets melted away as fast as it builds up.
you are low on freon or indoor coil is clogged with dirt and needs cleaning
also, sorry to kill your expectations but just to come out is $100 service charge on top of the $150 plus to diagnose the system issues. you are gonna be lucky if it just costs you $250-$300 just to tell you whats wrong with it and what it costs to fix it. if its just cleaning the coil and freon all in you might be around $500 or a little less if you are lucky. if its 25 yr old and has r-22 freon that shite costs like $50 a pound or more if they even still have it.
my honest opinion is the best bang for your money is bite the bullet now and replace the whole system but thats most likely about a $10k price tag right now
we just had our unit cleaned and checked as routine maint for the summer and it cost us $250, no one is going any where near your unit for just $100, prices that low died many years ago
during day its hot enough to keep pressures higher so the ice isnt created then or gets melted away as fast as it builds up.
you are low on freon or indoor coil is clogged with dirt and needs cleaning
also, sorry to kill your expectations but just to come out is $100 service charge on top of the $150 plus to diagnose the system issues. you are gonna be lucky if it just costs you $250-$300 just to tell you whats wrong with it and what it costs to fix it. if its just cleaning the coil and freon all in you might be around $500 or a little less if you are lucky. if its 25 yr old and has r-22 freon that shite costs like $50 a pound or more if they even still have it.
my honest opinion is the best bang for your money is bite the bullet now and replace the whole system but thats most likely about a $10k price tag right now
we just had our unit cleaned and checked as routine maint for the summer and it cost us $250, no one is going any where near your unit for just $100, prices that low died many years ago
This post was edited on 5/19/22 at 2:53 pm
Posted on 5/19/22 at 6:10 pm to keakar
$100 is the trade call fee. Im still under the home warranty from when I bought this place in August. I've had a few claims on various things so far and I haven't had to pay a dime extra (fingers crossed).
I'm not opposed to spending the money to get it fixed, I just wasn't sure if this was a non-issue and not worth paying a guy to come out and say there's nothing wrong.
In fact I'm kinda rooting for there to be a big enough issue that the tech recommends a full replacement while I'm still under warranty
I'm not opposed to spending the money to get it fixed, I just wasn't sure if this was a non-issue and not worth paying a guy to come out and say there's nothing wrong.
In fact I'm kinda rooting for there to be a big enough issue that the tech recommends a full replacement while I'm still under warranty
Posted on 5/19/22 at 6:16 pm to baldona
quote:
Bruh...you need to seriously consider getting a new unit then. You'll probably save $25/ month and maybe up to $100 in the summer on your electric bill. Now, that's not reason to go and drop $5000+. I'm not one to just replace older equipment. But realistically something that old isn't going to likely have parts available these days anyway.
Yeah see my above post, I'd love to replace it. I know it's just a matter of time.
It's a two story house and the outside condenser unit for the upstairs has already been totally replaced for free by the home warranty. I'd be ecstatic if I can get the downstairs unit replaced too. I'm hoping the tech says the same thing that there aren't parts out there to even attempt a repair and just puts me down for a full replacement.
I'll just keep my appointment,sounds like it's something that's going to keep popping up or get worse. Here's hoping I get lucky with some free shite
Posted on 5/19/22 at 6:46 pm to Neauxla_Tiger
quote:
In fact I'm kinda rooting for there to be a big enough issue that the tech recommends a full replacement while I'm still under warranty
ya you really are lucky if that can happen. im not sure the exact going rate right now, but r-22 is like liquid gold because its no longer made and whats left is stuff they recovered, recycled, and reused, all at astronomical costs
you might be in luck because i think you have a 50/50 shot he will tell you it has to be replaced if its leaking.
i would never suggest you do this, but if a rock from lawn mower punctured the tubing of the outdoor unit and you left it run, the compressor would burn up and require the system to be replaced. might have to replace fuses or reset breakers a few times until it dies for good, but it will kill it.
the punctured tubing is 70%-80% always gonna require a new unit be installed unless its still new and in factory warranty, but if you want 100% certainty the compressor needs to burn up.
the down side is, it could be weeks to a month at this time of the year before you can get it replaced and you would need a window unit to survive on till then.
This post was edited on 5/19/22 at 6:56 pm
Posted on 5/19/22 at 9:45 pm to Neauxla_Tiger
Have you installed a high efficiency filter in it? Those can be bad for older units and restrict flow I've been told.
Posted on 5/19/22 at 11:17 pm to Neauxla_Tiger
Clean the coils first, esp the evaporator in the attic if you think it’s freezing up.
Posted on 5/20/22 at 7:02 am to mingoswamp
I forget the merv rating of my filter but it's middle of the road or so. But I tried pulling it out altogether and the air flow didn't change at all, so I ruled that out.
Posted on 5/20/22 at 7:11 am to keakar
Haha thanks for the anonymous tip. Even if it doesn't get replaced this go-round I've got until August before the HW runs out. And if it's still chugging along, I'll probably renew the HW another year because this thing is just a ticking time bomb. Thankfully I've had a nice experience with this HW on my other units condenser replacement. I had a terrible AC replacement experience with a different HW company on my last house.
Yeah, that'll be rough, but at least I'll have a working upstairs unit and I can put a window unit in our master. Have a window unit already in a sunroom off the living room, so I think we can make due for a bit. My upstairs unit crapped out mid-winter so we got lucky with that one.
My last house was smaller and had only one unit that went out mid-June and it didn't get replaced for 6+ weeks. The tech that HW company used was terrible. And they nickle and dimed me on everything. My current HW company has been light-years better about just forking over what they owe and not wasting weeks of time processing a claim.
quote:
the down side is, it could be weeks to a month at this time of the year before you can get it replaced and you would need a window unit to survive on till then.
Yeah, that'll be rough, but at least I'll have a working upstairs unit and I can put a window unit in our master. Have a window unit already in a sunroom off the living room, so I think we can make due for a bit. My upstairs unit crapped out mid-winter so we got lucky with that one.
My last house was smaller and had only one unit that went out mid-June and it didn't get replaced for 6+ weeks. The tech that HW company used was terrible. And they nickle and dimed me on everything. My current HW company has been light-years better about just forking over what they owe and not wasting weeks of time processing a claim.
Posted on 5/20/22 at 8:02 am to Neauxla_Tiger
25 years old? Is that thing still on R22? I bet that refrigerant is kinda hard to find now.
Posted on 5/20/22 at 8:29 am to Neauxla_Tiger
quote:
In fact I'm kinda rooting for there to be a big enough issue that the tech recommends a full replacement while I'm still under warranty
My guess is the home warranty depreciates it fwiw, I’d be incredibly surprised if they don’t. If they don’t, there’s no way they will replace it unless there’s a part needed that can’t be found.
So you are likely looking at $1000 home warranty payment and you footing the rest, best case scenario. I’m surprised a home warranty would even cover anything 15+ years old. That’s beyond the avg rates lifespan of any appliance or equipment.
Posted on 5/20/22 at 9:20 am to baldona
quote:
My guess is the home warranty depreciates it fwiw, I’d be incredibly surprised if they don’t. If they don’t, there’s no way they will replace it unless there’s a part needed that can’t be found.
So you are likely looking at $1000 home warranty payment and you footing the rest, best case scenario. I’m surprised a home warranty would even cover anything 15+ years old. That’s beyond the avg rates lifespan of any appliance or equipment.
I have dealt with home warranties on this before. They have to provide the customer with a functioning system. Even if new systems are much more efficient than what he has, they will replace it with the cheapest version of what is currently available (assuming it can't be fixed). The customer should only be required to pay for any extra $ to upgrade to a system nicer/better than the absolute bottom barrel system.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 7:48 am to notsince98
Update:
I didn't mention this in the OP because I thought it was just coincidence, but after it rained yesterday the issue creeped up again last night. Now at least 3 of the 4 times it's done this was shortly after a rain, so maybe this is somehow related to the outside condenser.
Have a tech scheduled for Monday, so I'll update when he diagnoses
I didn't mention this in the OP because I thought it was just coincidence, but after it rained yesterday the issue creeped up again last night. Now at least 3 of the 4 times it's done this was shortly after a rain, so maybe this is somehow related to the outside condenser.
Have a tech scheduled for Monday, so I'll update when he diagnoses
Posted on 5/22/22 at 8:07 am to Neauxla_Tiger
Next time it does it, go up in the attack and peak inside the system. Coil is most likely frozen.
Posted on 5/22/22 at 9:51 am to Neauxla_Tiger
Change the unit out. 25 years old lol
Posted on 5/22/22 at 3:33 pm to Hamma1122
quote:
Change the unit out. 25 years old lol
Yes I know, this has been discussed already. I just bought the place in August and it needed TLC in lots of areas. Gotta go through the motions to see if the HW will replace for me before I drop 5-10k.
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