tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post8738187799747178545..comments2024-03-28T20:53:49.167-04:00Comments on The Adventures of Roberta X: Jeepers!Roberta Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-23860615451503367332011-09-05T20:01:26.430-04:002011-09-05T20:01:26.430-04:00I checked (and changed) the filter first. It was ...I checked (and changed) the filter first. It was pretty fuzzy.<br /><br /> Getting to the "input" side of the A-coil is...not impossible; any good HVAC tech with an afternoon to kill could do it, after pumping down the system. But I'm not one, and lack the hardware and hands-on time. So it's probably going to be a Butler M-K job. <br /><br /> So far, the weather is cool. Payday is Friday. Any questions? ;)Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-6117132846538801382011-09-05T16:57:16.610-04:002011-09-05T16:57:16.610-04:00PS- I'd suggest blowing the coil out with comp...PS- I'd suggest blowing the coil out with compressed air, or, if it's really gummed and you can handle the mess, a pressure washer. In my experience you can't get enough suction with a vacuum cleaner, even if with the pipe right on top of the vanes.<br /><br />Back in the bad old days we'd sometimes clean theater ACs (gummed up with a mix of dust and popcorn oil... nasty!) with Freon direct from the tank. Lots of pressure, scrubbing action from the evaporating liquid, plus the solvent nature of the Freon itself. (Remember those electronic bench cans of TF?)<br /><br />Ozone layer? What "ozone layer"?Old Grouchhttp://oldgrouch.mee.nunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-88795707102281330662011-09-05T16:36:52.415-04:002011-09-05T16:36:52.415-04:00I'd suspect a low charge problem... you need y...I'd suspect a low charge problem... you need your pressures checked. Aa properly set-up air conditioner doesn't run it's a-coil below 32degF, specifically to prevent the problem Og and Crucis are talking about. (If it doesn't get below freezing, it can't freeze up... duh.)<br /><br />Having said that, I've run into more than one residential unit that was intentionally "undercharged" in an effort to squeeze a bit more cooling out of the system. Running the coil below freezing works fine until the airflow gets reduced or the interior humidity goes sky high (like when you restart a system after returning from summer vacation, or if you suffer from kids who leave the doors open). <br /><br />If yours is a premium unit, it might have a stuck expansion valve (advantage: much more efficient operation, disadvantage: more parts). A gauge test will tell the tale.Old Grouchhttp://oldgrouch.mee.nunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-27819147468424559842011-09-05T14:41:47.157-04:002011-09-05T14:41:47.157-04:00Our A/C only ices up when we don't replace the...Our A/C only ices up when we don't replace the furnace filter on time ~90 days or so.Crucishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15441911110953212619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-74143869544768949352011-09-05T10:43:08.755-04:002011-09-05T10:43:08.755-04:00As cool as Tam makes Broad Ripple sound, I'm n...As cool as Tam makes Broad Ripple sound, I'm not sure I could live somewhere where you can tell the seasons by which bugs are running around. Ick.greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10282685892329599436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-63339983485517588152011-09-05T10:35:27.865-04:002011-09-05T10:35:27.865-04:00Yeah, either air flow is restricted (dirty filter ...Yeah, either air flow is restricted (dirty filter or dirty coil) or refrigerant is low.Fuzzy Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03802539927743643041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-13945554737667966882011-09-05T10:01:24.074-04:002011-09-05T10:01:24.074-04:00Dumb question, but did you check your air filters?...Dumb question, but did you check your air filters?Tomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-44240893831482206772011-09-05T08:34:48.620-04:002011-09-05T08:34:48.620-04:00The cat hair is a good guess.
The mechanism of th...The cat hair is a good guess.<br /><br />The mechanism of this trouble is that the coils are supposed to get cool but not cold. Water condenses on them and runs out.<br /><br />If the water can be convinced to stay in place, such as with a "Wick" of cat (or dog, or human) hair, the coils will freeze it. <br /><br />Having fought this battle a time or nine, I can tell you that until you get the "Wick" out of the coil, this situation will continue. <br /><br />A combination of vacuuming from the inside (may be impossible) and blowing from the outside is usually the most effective. In some furnaces the offending stuff can be blown down through the heat exchanger into the fan compartment. Most fan blowers can be easily removed for service, so you could run your vacuum up through the heat exchanger.oghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07551049745184408924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-15672095647043052682011-09-05T06:29:08.200-04:002011-09-05T06:29:08.200-04:00What's not to like about big bugs?
...All: I ...What's not to like about big bugs?<br /><br />...All: I can't get at the A-coil well enough to clean it. I may not even be able to vacuum it. The access opening is tiny -- smaller than the smallest face of the coil. Looks like they set it on top of the furnace and set the ductwork over it, leaving just enough room to connect to it.Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-18463924883012149672011-09-05T00:53:32.225-04:002011-09-05T00:53:32.225-04:00Thats why we don't live back there.
Big bugs a...Thats why we don't live back there.<br />Big bugs and snow.<br />Plffft.Skiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05684179171065794525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-81983730334552521092011-09-05T00:48:36.149-04:002011-09-05T00:48:36.149-04:00Clean the A coil. Use a purpose made coil cleaning...Clean the A coil. Use a purpose made coil cleaning solution and rinse thoroughly. If it's still icing up you're probably a tad low on refrigerant. What 'R' number does your system use?Hat Trickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08789313677285831256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-33175044690298645392011-09-05T00:34:22.170-04:002011-09-05T00:34:22.170-04:00Sounds like your freon is contaminated with some w...Sounds like your freon is contaminated with some water. A new receiver/dryer, expansion valve and a flush followed by vacuuming the system down before adding the recycled freon back should take care of the problem.Jeffrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06873138122305060834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-69443180247229172532011-09-04T23:28:00.069-04:002011-09-04T23:28:00.069-04:00Glad you have salvaged a Labor Day weekend!Glad you have salvaged a Labor Day weekend!Keadshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09982258812373127063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-51649520656816944992011-09-04T23:23:42.325-04:002011-09-04T23:23:42.325-04:00If your coil's freezing up, an A/C guy can rec...If your coil's freezing up, an A/C guy can recharge your system for not a whole lot of money, and it'll probably cool better too.<br /><br />But you probably know that already...KurtPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12205267944616413162noreply@blogger.com