File this under, you never know what you can do until you try.
Turned on the AC earlier this week to wring some moisture out of the air, and the thing began to act up. Our main AC is a Friedrich "Wallmaster" unit, that according to the plate was built in Feb 1990, but we've only had the unit since about 1997. It was an eBay purchase (surprise),being auctioned off by a man who was moving out of the area, and according to him was "newish" when he purchased it and he had not used it much.
Any who back to the story. Unit was cleaned last year "coils, condenser etc, by moi and was not in any hurry to do that again. Called a few local AC shops about having the unit taken out and steam cleaned/inspected but costs were too dear for the work that would be done. You see these units are mounted through the wall and are PITA to get out, with tons of mess every where. My problem with the unit was that the condenser would only come on for about 10 minutes, then shut off, only to come back on again several minutes later and so forth. Since the unit is rather old, every repair place tried to sell us on a new unit, offers I passed.
First rather like this "old" unit as it blows really cold air, and have not heard really great things about many newer air conditioners. Sure many models are more efficient than previous units, but the EER on this unit is 9.5. Wallmaster units sold today by Freidrich have an EER of about 10, so can't see the savings there. At $600 or so for a new unit, didn't think the cost would be recouped via energy savings anytime soon either.Especially as one only uses AC for about three months of the year.
After spending last night in stifling air, decided to give things one more shot. Having pulled this unit out of the wall so often am getting frequent flyer miles, did it yet again late last night to open up the front and get a peek at the thermostat. Figured that somehow it was causing the unit to cut out early. Also though if worse came to the worse, could at least get the make/model information and order a new thermostat to either replace myself or give to a repair man (and save the mark up), to install.
Once the unit was opened decided better than to remove the thermostat, but did take down the numbers to call Freidrich with and order a new part. Since was there figured a few quick sprays with canned air around the contacts couldn't hurt. Then put everything back together. However before putting the knobs back on, thought of something.
Since last year, and probably before, noticed that the temperature knob wouldn't "click" until it was way down below "one". Now it struck me that many of the air conditioner service companies I telephoned offered to come out to clean the AC, and "recalibrate" the thermostat as part of a "Spring Cleaning" offer. This service was anything put cheap, and has previously mentioned had already cleaned the coils and such so not sure what more they could do to justify the hefty fee. What I did was using my fingers,turned the thermostat until it clicked,then put all the knobs back on. Lord and behold the new setting for the thermostat is now at "1" instead of way down past that number.
Result of all this palaver? Well fired up the AC hours ago and the condenser has been working like a champ ever since. Incoming air several hours ago was about 85F, with the out going near 67F. Recent test has incoming air at 79F or so with out going down to about 63F. Peeked at the condenser coils and at the bottom is water proving the unit is finally operating and wringing the moisture out of the air.
Am that well chuffed with myself that think will go shopping with the $100 or so saved by not calling the repair service.
Now if all will excuse me, need to go and put on a sweater!
*LOL*
L.
Turned on the AC earlier this week to wring some moisture out of the air, and the thing began to act up. Our main AC is a Friedrich "Wallmaster" unit, that according to the plate was built in Feb 1990, but we've only had the unit since about 1997. It was an eBay purchase (surprise),being auctioned off by a man who was moving out of the area, and according to him was "newish" when he purchased it and he had not used it much.
Any who back to the story. Unit was cleaned last year "coils, condenser etc, by moi and was not in any hurry to do that again. Called a few local AC shops about having the unit taken out and steam cleaned/inspected but costs were too dear for the work that would be done. You see these units are mounted through the wall and are PITA to get out, with tons of mess every where. My problem with the unit was that the condenser would only come on for about 10 minutes, then shut off, only to come back on again several minutes later and so forth. Since the unit is rather old, every repair place tried to sell us on a new unit, offers I passed.
First rather like this "old" unit as it blows really cold air, and have not heard really great things about many newer air conditioners. Sure many models are more efficient than previous units, but the EER on this unit is 9.5. Wallmaster units sold today by Freidrich have an EER of about 10, so can't see the savings there. At $600 or so for a new unit, didn't think the cost would be recouped via energy savings anytime soon either.Especially as one only uses AC for about three months of the year.
After spending last night in stifling air, decided to give things one more shot. Having pulled this unit out of the wall so often am getting frequent flyer miles, did it yet again late last night to open up the front and get a peek at the thermostat. Figured that somehow it was causing the unit to cut out early. Also though if worse came to the worse, could at least get the make/model information and order a new thermostat to either replace myself or give to a repair man (and save the mark up), to install.
Once the unit was opened decided better than to remove the thermostat, but did take down the numbers to call Freidrich with and order a new part. Since was there figured a few quick sprays with canned air around the contacts couldn't hurt. Then put everything back together. However before putting the knobs back on, thought of something.
Since last year, and probably before, noticed that the temperature knob wouldn't "click" until it was way down below "one". Now it struck me that many of the air conditioner service companies I telephoned offered to come out to clean the AC, and "recalibrate" the thermostat as part of a "Spring Cleaning" offer. This service was anything put cheap, and has previously mentioned had already cleaned the coils and such so not sure what more they could do to justify the hefty fee. What I did was using my fingers,turned the thermostat until it clicked,then put all the knobs back on. Lord and behold the new setting for the thermostat is now at "1" instead of way down past that number.
Result of all this palaver? Well fired up the AC hours ago and the condenser has been working like a champ ever since. Incoming air several hours ago was about 85F, with the out going near 67F. Recent test has incoming air at 79F or so with out going down to about 63F. Peeked at the condenser coils and at the bottom is water proving the unit is finally operating and wringing the moisture out of the air.
Am that well chuffed with myself that think will go shopping with the $100 or so saved by not calling the repair service.
Now if all will excuse me, need to go and put on a sweater!
*LOL*
L.
