air handler coils froze up - question

[kenmac]

I guess my old Rheem didn't have a low pressure switch. The compressor just ran continuously when the coils were iced up and there was almost no refrigerant in the system. So of course, I had a new system installed a couple of weeks ago.

A low pressure switch can sometimes save your system

 

[Soundguy]

one of my VOM's also has the probe. Ilove it.

soundguy

 

[Chuck52]

Cleaning the outside coils can make a huge difference in the efficiency of the unit.

Chuck

 

[Soundguy]

outside coils are clean.. just had them svcd last year when we had it apart to replace the cap on the cooling fan.

soundguy

 

[tallyho8]

I still remember the time many years ago when I cleaned a lady's condenser coils and received a call from her 2 days later that her A/C was not cooling properly.

Upon inspection I found that the coils were completely covered with grass clippings. They mowed the grass while the unit was running and the discharge of the mower went right into the condenser so that unit went from squeaky clean to clogged in a few minutes.

I have also seen coils clog up in a few days when a nearby mimosa tree was shedding, so the only way you can tell if your coil is clean or not is by visual inspection.

 

[Bird]

I have also seen coils clog up in a few days when a nearby mimosa tree was shedding

And I sure was glad when the folks next door had that big old cottonwood tree removed. Is anything worse than a cottonwood?

 

[Chuck52]

SIL is in HVAC, so I get my service free, but after he showed me how easy it is to wash off the outside coils with the hose, I've done that job myself at the beginning of each summer. There's always some leaves, pine needles, cobwebs, grass clippings, or something in there. Takes a few minutes to spray it clean with the hose.

Chuck

 

[Soundguy]

As I said above.. outside coils are squeaky clean.. I had a seperate barrier built around my coils with plenty of breathing space around it back when the house was built.... no real way for debri to get to the coils.. especially not lawn clippings..

soundguy

I still remember the time many years ago when I cleaned a lady's condenser coils and received a call from her 2 days later that her A/C was not cooling properly.

Upon inspection I found that the coils were completely covered with grass clippings. They mowed the grass while the unit was running and the discharge of the mower went right into the condenser so that unit went from squeaky clean to clogged in a few minutes.

I have also seen coils clog up in a few days when a nearby mimosa tree was shedding, so the only way you can tell if your coil is clean or not is by visual inspection.

 

[kenmac]

The best way to clean is wash to them from the inside out. I laugh:laughing: when I see guys spraying them from the outside in

 

[Chuck52]

The best way to clean is wash to them from the inside out. I laugh:laughing: when I see guys spraying them from the outside in

Yup. For me the most time consuming step is finding the right size nut driver to remove the cover. Actually, come to think of it, finding the right tool is the most time consuming part of any job I do. :ashamed:

Chuck