hmmmm....not good. ?? for any HVAC guys out there.

[Shooter7]

This started last night and has extended into today. Main ventilation fan will sound like it's running, but sometimes it's pushing air and other times it isn't. I turned off the a/c and just turned on the ventilation fan and though it was making its usual running noise when standing next to it, no air was coming out of the vents upstairs. After awhile though, it would start blowing some air and I'd kick on the a/c to try and bring the temp down some. Didn't work much. Temp in the house is reaching 80 degrees upstairs, a little cooler in the basement, but the tank temp is currently sitting at 82.2. Have to wait until tomorrow for a guy to come out here and take a look. Anyone here have any thoughts on what the problem probably is? Had the whole unit off all day today and when I got home there was a water puddle under it. I just don't get why it has the same running sound all the time, but sometimes it's pushing air through the vents and sometimes it's not.


Whatever the reason, it sucks 'cause it sounds like $$$ I don't have right now.

 

[Billybeau1]

Sounds like a frozen evaporator coil. Whens the last time you changed your air filter ?

 

[Shooter7]

About a week or two ago.

 

[Shooter7]

I must add that this is a different type of filter from what I usually use. My wife picked this up and it is one of those kind that is supposed to really filter alot of stuff out of the air, including pollen. Is it too much drag on my system?

 

[Billybeau1]

I could be. Try running the unit without the filter for a few hours and see if the air flow weakens again. The puddle of water probably means your evaporator has cleared up by now. If it freezes up again with the compressor running, you are likely a little low on freon. If there isnt sufficient return air flowing through the evaporator, it will freeze on you.

 

[Letmegrow]

That's what happened to the bar next to us last week. Thicker filter = frozen coils.

 

[capncapo]

Throw it away .... all they really do is limit the amount of air that gets blown through your coil.

Studies have shown very little benefit to using them.

I would NOT run the unit until you are absolutely sure that the coil isn't frozen.

Have you had the charge checked lately?

 

[Shooter7]

Alright, I've pulled the filter and will now throw it at my wife.

If this clears up, should I cancel my service call for tomorrow?

 

[Shooter7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8172501#post8172501 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capncapo
Throw it away .... all they really do is limit the amount of air that gets blown through your coil.

Studies have shown very little benefit to using them.

I would NOT run the unit until you are absolutely sure that the coil isn't frozen.

Have you had the charge checked lately?

:eek1:
How do I become absolutely sure the coil isn't frozen?

The charge hasn't been checked since last summer.

 

[levon15]

I would NOT run the unit until you are absolutely sure that the coil isn't frozen.


I think this infers you get the coil checked to make sure running it dosent do more harm.

 

[capncapo]

I wouldn't run it until tomorrow to make sure that it is thawed. You can always turn the heat on an let it run and shut itself off because of a thermal break but I would just let it sit.

Cancelling the service call is up to you. It could be a combination of things like being low on refrigerant and the restricted flow. It's anyones call at this point.

 

[Shooter7]

bah!....now I'm concerned enough to go ahead and have him out.

Thanks for the quick replies guys!

 

[Billybeau1]

You could also just leave your a/c off and turn the fan to on. This will help circulate the air and melt the remaining ice , if there is any.

If there is an inspection plate on the shroud where the coil is sitting, you could just open it up and take a peek inside with a flashlight.

 

[Boosted Rxp]

i agree with possible low charge/or hair dust blocks them from flow also

 

[Shooter7]

The refrigerant level barely registered on his meter today. Will likely need to replace the coil next spring. :rolleye1: Another big expense. Anyhoo, everything's back in operation again, a hundred bucks later.

 

[jestersv]

dave call me steve

 

[TWINPEAKS]

you got off cheap with it being just 100 bucks for a charge,normally the servace call alone is 75.00 plus freon.