Old AC Repair or Chuck?

[danemodsandy]

DADoES:

Hmm. I always found the exhaust provision to make a huge difference here in Georgia. Maybe Texas's climate makes it less useful. One of the big benefits I found from having the exhaust was that you could leave the units running on "FAN" with the exhaust open during cooler weather, and get a cooling effect without having to run the compressor. Also, doing the same thing while you're at work keeps down the musties without having to leave windows open, which is a damn-fool thing to do here in the Atlanta area; you might as well leave all your stuff on the front lawn with a sign saying "Here It Is, Burglars!"

Again, Texas may be different, but I loved having the exhaust provision, and I detest the little Fedders bedroom units (made by LG) I have now that do not have it. They were cheap in every sense of the word.

 

[toggleswitch]

The Economizer, was it called?

IDA KNOW KIDS.
The exhaust mesh opening IIRC [even in a 23k BTU/h A/C] is no larger than 3 x 3 inches.

Personally I leave the 18" wide bathroom window open about 1 to 2 inches from the top (it locks in that position) weven with the A/C on when it is cool or dry enough outside to make it reasonable to do so.

Of course when REALLY cool and/or dry, I stick a box fan in the top story open window (pushing air out) and open the basement windows, without A/C. This method lets the heat out and admits cooler air from the bottom.

Whole house stays minty fresh.

Decades ago during the 70's energy crisis there was an automatic system with a damper damper that would do this on the return side of a central HVAC system. It would allow air in when certain wet-bulb and dry bulb-condtions were met. Air outside had to be sufficiently cool and / or dry to allow this system to operate to pull air in and distribute it via the central cooling ducts.

The compressor did not run unless the two-stage thermostat sensed a net rise in room temp. Then both would the compressor would work and the damper would open, working together to lower cooling costs.

Of course can't find it on the web...



I have read that a 3" (75mm) dampered, controllable-flow duct added to the return side of an A/C system that sucks air in from outside is a nicety as well.

 

[toggleswitch]

Mechanical Ventilation.

a high-tech solution to a low-tech problem.... *LOL*

PIPE:

(Lady L. Please do forgive me for hijacking. At least we'z still discussin' A/C!)

http://yourhome.honeywell.com/Consumer/Cultures/en-US/Products/Ventilation/

 

[launderess]

Here's The Skinny

Peeped into local appliance store just to check out the latest AC offerings, and met up with a salesperson I've dealth with before. Guy gives good information, and will do so even if you buy somewhere else, which in my book always gets a vote.

Explained my sad tale of woe and misery, and he advised chucking the unit and buy new or even a "newer" used unit from a estate sale or eBay. It was then explained to me that just removing the compressor and swapping it out with a new one is just half the battle, the new compressor must be charged and so forth. For a 17 year old AC, he did'nt feel the $600 or so it would cost was worth it since one could have a new Friedrich for the same or less, and it probably would use a tad less energy. Though most of the savings on today's units come from cycling the fan with the compressor.

Someone else told me that buying the compressor on my own isn't going to do me much good as a qualifed and licensed person must install not only do the swap out, but drain the coolant from the old compressor and charge the new one. It may be possible to find someone who will do the work, but was advised that unless they are licensed and offer a good gaurantee, I might find myself with worse problems down the road. It was also explained to me many reputable repair places just do not like people wandering in with their own stuff, regardless of where it came from.

So there we are; still haven't heard back from the repair place about how much they are going to charge for the part.
A quick peek on Craigslist shows several Wallmaster units going quite cheap. You'd be surprised how many people buy such units and find either they are not what they need (there is a very misunderstood difference between "sleeve" and "through the wall" units. Or, due to the transit nature of city living, buy an AC, and not one or two years later are moving house and have no need for the thing.

So that's me for you.

L.

 

[petek]

I think it sounds like too much money to sink into it unless the machine holds some great sentimental type value to you.
I'd look for a second hand replacement myself, sometimes they're a dime a dozen but go fast when the thermometer rises like it has. Our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore had half a dozen window units back in March of varying sizes, most in looking good shape, all certified working for $30, none were sleeve units though, those are harder to find and cost a lot more around here just like the sliding window vertical units do. You can hardly find vertical units much anymore I noticed. I don't think HD even had any on their website. I'm looking for a good portable unit myself for our upstairs but they cost twice if not more the cost of a window unit as well.

 

[launderess]

Don't Count The Old Girl Out Just Yet

Spoke to another repair person this morning (my first choice, but never got back to me in time), and he also stated replacing a condenser on such an old unit was folly. His rationale was if you buy a new AC, the condenser has at least a five year warranty, while most repairmen only offer three months if that.

Anywho, asked what else could cause the condenser to show sings of burning out, and repairman said if the condenser coils were not cleaned regularly. Explained that the condeners coils were just cleaned about one month ago, but he said "front and back"? Had never thought of the back of the condenser, so now had me a Saturday morning project.

Took the damn AC out of the wall again, and took off the metal shroud over the condenser, and what did one see? A coating of what one thought was foam with a few dead insects. On closer inspection it wasn't foam, but years pet hair, muck and god only knows what else. Sooo got to scrubbing.

Several hours later the coils were as clean as they were going to get without a professional steam/hosing down job. Also noticed that the fan motor had directions on it's plate regarding oiling. Now I have never in all the several years of owning this unit ever oiled anything. Opened up the ports on each end and added several drops of 3in1 oil. Put everything back together and let the unit dry out for a bit.

Results?

Well the old girl is running, and from what one can tell the condenser is not cycling nearly as much as before. That is it stays on longer than 10 minutes. Incoming register air temp is about 81F, outgoing from the top of the unit is about 59F or so. Will leave the unit on while I take a much deserved nap and see what things are like later. It is only in the low 80's here today, not the best test of an AC, but if the house gets stuffy and hot, will simply give up on this unit and chuck it to the scavengers.

OTHO, if this cleaning did do the trick, am going to be on the phone with the repair service that the condenser was shot without even looking at possible reasons why.

Thanks for listening guys!

L.

 

[whirlcool]

I am glad that this worked out for your Laundress. A lady must keep her cool, you know!

 

[danemodsandy]

That Could Well Be It...

Hi:

That hadn't occurred to me, Launderess, given your penchant for Joan Crawford-level housekeeping ("Cleanliness is next to Hollywood Boulevard!" Thank you, Charles Pierce).

But I had a similar experience with the reefer in the house I'm in for the moment, which is a rental. The unit was struggling and running all the time, ice cream wouldn't stay truly frozen, the icemaker was verrrrrrrry slooooooooow, and the ice cubes in the icemaker bin were stuck together. I pulled the old girl (a GE from the early '80s) out and gave her the cleaning of her life, getting her condenser coils clean with a coil brush. I pulled out what must have been five pounds of the most disgusting crap from her underside.

Now, she runs fine, temperatures are what they should be, and the icemaker pumps ice like crazy. That was all it was- dirty coils.

 

[launderess]

Launderess 1 - AC Tech 0

Well after several hours of running the AC has a healthy amount of water in the pan under the front coils, meaning it was cooling like it should. Climate is cool and dry rather than hot and stagnat. Evaporator coils facing the outside are "hot" meaning a good rate of heat exchange is going on, so will conclude for now things are working as they should. Won't really know until the first really hot day as temps today only reached low 80's. Still even under such night temperatures as 78F, the AC wasn't doing what it should, so think I've turned the corner.

Should all this turn out to be true, now you understand my reluctance to call a repair person in the first place, as most seem only to wish to schtup any unsuspecting consumer. Instead of at least looking to see if all the coils were clean, or another reason to cause the condener to work hard/over heat, the man simply pronouced my condenser on death row, took my money and left me to it. Am Ssssssssssssoooooo glad didn't fork out for a new AC nor condenser right away. However am here to tell you someone is going to get a rather unpleasant phone call Monday morning.

Will keep an eye on the unit and see how things go on the next really hot/humid day we have. If the old girl makes it though this summer, will send her out for a deep steam cleaning/tune up in the Fall.

Thanks for helping guys, this group is the greatest.