A/C heat pump problems again

old · Jul 10, 2011

Well lets just say it is hot out as in 95 or so. Well yesterday the thing froze up 3 or 4 times. I have been keeping an eye on it today and so far no icing but did notice that only one side of the A coil is getting cold so what the heck is wrong. I had the compressor replaced about a month or so ago and the whole unit is less then 4 years old

Dodgeit · Jul 10, 2011

(quoted from post at 14:59:38 07/10/11) Well lets just say it is hot out as in 95 or so. Well yesterday the thing froze up 3 or 4 times. I have been keeping an eye on it today and so far no icing but did notice that only one side of the A coil is getting cold so what the heck is wrong. I had the compressor replaced about a month or so ago and the whole unit is less then 4 years old

It could be a couple of things.

Not enough insulation in the house

Not enough freon ( most likely since somebody was just in it)

Somebody is leaving a window or door open because they are cold.

Very old unit that just can't keep up with current heat wave.

They put the wrong size compressor in

Somebody or age has loosened one or more duct fittings.

The icing up comes from the unit not cycling for some reason

Dblair · Jul 10, 2011

what is the temperature of the big line at the outdoor unit at 95 degrees ? if it's cold , lack of air moving , if it's froze half way . if it's warm , low charge , that would explain half the coil being cool and half warm . my bet is low charge. how many times have they been out ? when they leave is the big line cold , put a thermometer on it , at 95 degrees it should be in the low 50's .

Bob · Jul 10, 2011

Besides POSSIBLY being low on freon, one of the multiple capillary tubes, the one that leads to the area NOT freezing, could be clogged.

On the other hand, for the area that is freezing up are you SURE it's not plugged/restricted with dust and lint, restricting airflow?

Can you put a light on one side and see through the fins?

old · Jul 10, 2011

The side that is freezing up has been cleaned with a special spray mix they heating and cooling place sold to me for a cost of $20 fir a half gal of it so I know it is clean

Hay_Man · Jul 10, 2011

If they had to replace the compressor, could be lots of metal filings in the tube going to the coil that froze up left over from the old one, stopping it up, if they didnt give it all a good flushing out before installing the new one. If that's the case metal in the system will make for a short life for the new compressor. A low airflow across the coil will cause it to freeze also........

Anonymous-0 · Jul 10, 2011

Just go down to the mailbox and get your dole check and buy a new one.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 10, 2011

(quoted from post at 00:15:35 07/11/11) Just go down to the mailbox and get your dole check and buy a new one.

rotchity... you spelled check wrong.. it should be...cheque... you did not have a good breakfast did you ...LOL

Bill of TN · Jul 10, 2011

If it's four years old it should be under warranty.

Place a service call.

tlak · Jul 10, 2011

5000 btu A/Cs are $100 at wally world. In this heat that's what I would probably do.

George NJ · Jul 10, 2011

Unit is overcharged .Charge on heat pump must be weighed in.Call for service And Don't take NO for a answer.

pat sublett · Jul 10, 2011

Probably incompetent service people. Under-charge will cause problems as described. Having a compressor changed out is a gamble. Specific proceedures including maintaining a flow of nitrogen during brazing is required. It is usually hard to get a reputable contractor to change a compressor because their employees are incompetent, they get a lot of call-backs. techs use to charge a unit until the suction line started sweating, most still do but that causes big problems. The method for charging requires measuring superheat and subcooling, especially if the unit has a thermal expansion valve. The best approach is to have the whole condenser unit changed, not as much room for screwups. If you had the compressor changed, there is likely a leak in the system and you are low on refrigerant.

old · Jul 10, 2011

I wish. Compressor has a 5 year warranty but the unit has a 2 year one. Still cost me $700 plus for a new compressor which to me is not right but now days life seems to be a ripe off

old · Jul 10, 2011

Ok so that would mean spending $500 plus just to get the house down cool enough to live in as in 5 units and that in turn would cost 10 times more then this heat pump should if it was installed correctly in the first place to cool my house

tlak · Jul 11, 2011

No it would mean one in the bedroom. You've been whining about it for a week or two on here and it's still not fixed. whatever

M-MAN · Jul 11, 2011

The restriction isn't going away by it's self. With only one side of the coil working your btu tonage has been cut in half so you're down to a couple window units now. Make sure you didn't kink the capillaries while cleaning.

You could have the A coil replaced but the crud floating around from the compressor burnout will stop the new one up too. You could try having your tech pump down the system, pull the piston in the evaporator and screen and clean it for a little more time also. For about $50 you can have a freeze stat(Supco) installed on the evap so you won't have to worry about the freezing up.(or do it yourself - it's simple) Then you can start shopping for a new contractor to replace the complete system. Stay away from the el cheapo's and the high end unit's. Middle of the roads give the best service for the money.

sotxbill · Jul 11, 2011

low on freon will do that.

tlak · Jul 11, 2011

And if you paid $700 under warranty i don't see how $500 is more. Then it also would become zone cooling where you might even turn some completely off.

Hay_Man · Jul 11, 2011

I've been looking at those zone AC systems. I really like what I am finding out about them. Compressor only runs to match the inside units demand. Should save a bundle on Elect. Bill. Compressor is DC with an inverter supplying dc current as needed. I am thinking of getting the Condenser Unit and one or two inside units then add more later. Try to keep the initial cost affordable. We have window units now. I think I can convert to the zoned system and phase out the window units over time.

A/C heat pump problems again

old

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Dodgeit

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Dblair

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Bob

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old

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Hay_Man

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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Bill of TN

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tlak

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George NJ

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old

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old

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