Richard
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 4,826
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
- Tractor
- International 1066 Full sized JCB Loader/Backhoe and a John Deere 430 to mow with
As a function of some background, my system is probably pushing 8 years old. No less than that, no more than maybe 10. Heat pump system, unit for upstairs and unit for downstairs.
When installed, I had a weak moment and bought an extended warranty. Seems that was my lucky day as EVERY FREAKING YEAR since then, we've had a 'no cooling' situation in the spring time.
They found numerous leaks over the years, finally replacing as I recall, something internal to the outdoor compressor and last year, the coil part (?) in the air handler in the attic. It might not be the right name, but it's triangular shaped with like dozens of copper tubes snaking back/forth. Seems one of those connections (if not more) didn't have a good solder.
Ok, so here it is and my upstairs is 85 degrees again and not cooling. Call them for service he comes out Friday at 6:30. Hooks up his tool to the port outside and finds it DOES have freon inside. Pressure is something like 56 (or maybe 65?) what ever it was, he said it was dead on to what it should be and we had no leaks.
He grabbed the copper connection and said it was in fact cool and had I recently cleaned/replaced my filter.
Though the answer was yes, I looked after he left and indeed... it needed cleaning again.
Prior to looking at filter, I stood on chair, felt the air from duct and it did NOT seem "cold" air nor was it volumous.
I took the filter out and deduced that must have been the problem. Meaning, the filter was preventing the flow of air through the cooled coils and now with it removed, things would cool down.
That was 6 hours ago and it's STILL 85 degrees up here and it's been running full time since he left.
I just now took dogs out prior to bed and while out, heard an intermittent noise from where I knew the compressors to be.
Put dogs back in house, walked back and ironically, the upstairs unit has a "click" going on.
So, to paint the picture... upstairs air handler is on and running, thermostat is set to cool, auto and temp is set at something like 75 degrees. Thermostat reads 85 degrees and during all this, my compressor outside is NOT working, but making a singular type "click" every say... 20 seconds or so. Then silence... then "click" again.
I turned the outside breaker switch OFF for both units and the 'click' persisted as though I failed to kill the power. I put hand on unit, above where the tubes go in and could FEEL the click. Seems to me there is a solinoid behind there that might not be kicking over?
When the man was here, the compressor of course, was working absolutely FINE. I looked inside as best I could (dark out and I had flashlight with me) I did notice SOME dampness near/under the area but then, it has rained today so I can't be positive that's condensation or simply rain.
Ok, so that's the gist of my current problem. Unit is still under warranty but I probably won't be able to reach them until Monday, though I will try tomorrow.
Just wondering if I've seen enough & described enough to maybe clue someone here in as to what might be the issue and if it's something easy that I can do (like remove a dead spider from between electrical contacts)
I'm not an electrician, but I AM mechanically inclined and not afraid to remove some screws.
I do not know the brand of compressors nor did I notice any reset button. I thought/hoped hitting the breaker off would do same as reset. Seems I was wrong.
Oh, I then came inside, turned thermostat to OFF & waited a short while. Turned it back on and the same symptoms resumed.
Thanks for any thoughts
When installed, I had a weak moment and bought an extended warranty. Seems that was my lucky day as EVERY FREAKING YEAR since then, we've had a 'no cooling' situation in the spring time.
They found numerous leaks over the years, finally replacing as I recall, something internal to the outdoor compressor and last year, the coil part (?) in the air handler in the attic. It might not be the right name, but it's triangular shaped with like dozens of copper tubes snaking back/forth. Seems one of those connections (if not more) didn't have a good solder.
Ok, so here it is and my upstairs is 85 degrees again and not cooling. Call them for service he comes out Friday at 6:30. Hooks up his tool to the port outside and finds it DOES have freon inside. Pressure is something like 56 (or maybe 65?) what ever it was, he said it was dead on to what it should be and we had no leaks.
He grabbed the copper connection and said it was in fact cool and had I recently cleaned/replaced my filter.
Though the answer was yes, I looked after he left and indeed... it needed cleaning again.
Prior to looking at filter, I stood on chair, felt the air from duct and it did NOT seem "cold" air nor was it volumous.
I took the filter out and deduced that must have been the problem. Meaning, the filter was preventing the flow of air through the cooled coils and now with it removed, things would cool down.
That was 6 hours ago and it's STILL 85 degrees up here and it's been running full time since he left.
I just now took dogs out prior to bed and while out, heard an intermittent noise from where I knew the compressors to be.
Put dogs back in house, walked back and ironically, the upstairs unit has a "click" going on.
So, to paint the picture... upstairs air handler is on and running, thermostat is set to cool, auto and temp is set at something like 75 degrees. Thermostat reads 85 degrees and during all this, my compressor outside is NOT working, but making a singular type "click" every say... 20 seconds or so. Then silence... then "click" again.
I turned the outside breaker switch OFF for both units and the 'click' persisted as though I failed to kill the power. I put hand on unit, above where the tubes go in and could FEEL the click. Seems to me there is a solinoid behind there that might not be kicking over?
When the man was here, the compressor of course, was working absolutely FINE. I looked inside as best I could (dark out and I had flashlight with me) I did notice SOME dampness near/under the area but then, it has rained today so I can't be positive that's condensation or simply rain.
Ok, so that's the gist of my current problem. Unit is still under warranty but I probably won't be able to reach them until Monday, though I will try tomorrow.
Just wondering if I've seen enough & described enough to maybe clue someone here in as to what might be the issue and if it's something easy that I can do (like remove a dead spider from between electrical contacts)
I'm not an electrician, but I AM mechanically inclined and not afraid to remove some screws.
I do not know the brand of compressors nor did I notice any reset button. I thought/hoped hitting the breaker off would do same as reset. Seems I was wrong.
Oh, I then came inside, turned thermostat to OFF & waited a short while. Turned it back on and the same symptoms resumed.
Thanks for any thoughts