Air Conditioner Unit and Air Conditioner Maintenance Questions

Q. My Rheem split just got serviced and was said to be working fine. While the fan works perfectly, the compressor is creating a major trouble. Nothing helped in spite of checking the breakers, and resetting the fuses. I do not get to hear any noise either. Can you give me any advice?

A. There can be many factors. First check that the contractor is getting twenty four volts. Push it in with an insulated screwdriver. If pulled in, check two hundred and thirty volts on both contractor sides. It may be mad for capacitor units though. Refer to professional for further air conditioner troubleshooting or air conditioning maintenance.

Q. Even at 90 degrees, during daytime, the A/C is not delivering enough cold air. The pies are icy. The filer was last changed a year back, probably. What do I do?

A. There could be two reasons: evaporator could airflow lack or low refrigerant are. Turn off the unit and replace the filter. After turning it on, put it on a few hour check run for any ice.

Check the Freon level by testing it for bubble leaks in soap water. Ensure the fittings are tight and in case of no pressure, which you may not be able to find, get someone to fix up the thing for you.

Q. My two ton Goodman air conditioner installation is a decade old. After setting the thermostat on cool, the fan begins to come on but the compression never is. The contractor relay had twenty four colts on the relay but it does not make any difference. After putting gauges in, the head pressure’s Freon was two hundred with the low pressure being one hundred and twenty. It was not running. The capacitor terminal’s had rust, making it impossible to improve the connection. I have turned the contactor it off and will get it replaced now. Can anyone tell what is the problem and is there any scope of resetting the unit?

A. Check the capacitor, perhaps the fan is fine but the compressor is bad, if it is a dual capacitor unit. Or maybe the wire is burnt at compressor terminal blocks. It is common for Goodman models.

Q. The blower air flow coils are creating trouble, by icing up and disallowing vent-air flow. The air blowing is perfect with the heat is open, so the blower (being shared by the heat share and A/C) is not the factor. What is the problem then?

A. Ensure the air conditioner coil and filter are clean and discard the 1″ pleated filter, if any, using the fiberglass one instead. If these options do not apply seek professional help for refrigerant check.

Q. My outside unit is noisy when it just turned on, for first few seconds. Is it this compressor or low air conditioner Freon?

A. maybe it is the compressor sound of developing pressure. Leave it if the unit works fine, though ensure air conditioning maintenance.

Q. My thermostat was probably set on low overnight. In the morning, when the temperature was turned up, the unit made sounds and shut the blower off. It is perhaps frozen now. Is the problem self correcting? How to avoid it again?

A. Get it checked. The noises are not normal, suggesting some blower cut loose.

Q. My central air conditioner has a basement condensate pump. Can I use this pump for feeding the drain line as well?

A. This could overburden the pump and even reduce its life. However, it can be trusted to work.