I have noticed since I bought my house the the air conditioner keeps running and will not quit. The AC struggles to reach the set temperature. I have a programmable thermostat. I set it warm when I am at work and then set it low when I get home and when I get home the AC doesn't even come close to the "At Home" temp. What is wrong?
Air Conditioning keeps running, does not cycle
- Thread starter 440_chazz
- Start date
upbarleyboy
New member
Check your lines from the outside condensor unit to the house. They will be insulated, but on warm days, if they have frost and ice build up at the point of entry to the house, and/ or from the copper tubing leadiing from the unit itself, I'd be willing to bet the condensor coil is in need of a good cleaning. I've found the stuff in the link below works extremely well.
Good luck and stay cool!!
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/applia...idifiers/ac-safe/foam-coil-cleaner-22963.html
Good luck and stay cool!!
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/applia...idifiers/ac-safe/foam-coil-cleaner-22963.html
I had a similar problem last year. It turned out to be the blower wasn't able to push enough air into the house. We had a 3 speed direct drive blower in the furnace, and it only ran on low speed. Replaced the blower and all is good. A direct drive blower isn't cheap though. Good luck.
yamahauler
Active member
@ Scott L....a quick youtube search and there are a ton of videos..here is one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paV21wJaaHU
Check the basics first - Air Filter can cause this. If running with no filter or a dirty one for a long time, it will clog the ac A-coil which is nomally on top of your furnace. (upflow furnace - you can also get downflow.) The cooled air does not flow thru the furnace. If it is not an airflow issue, it is most likely yhr charge being to low or even high.
Best bet is to call a pro in and get your furnace cleaned - maintained.
Good Luck.
Best bet is to call a pro in and get your furnace cleaned - maintained.
Good Luck.
catdog
Member
If your line set is (the larger copper line) frosting over at your condenser, changed your filter on the furnace if that doesn't help you are low on Freon. A good indication of proper operation is to have the suction line (the larger copper line) sweating at the condenser. If you are setting your thermostat back while you’re at work you’re A/C has to recover from the heat of the day it may be better to let it run all day when it’s really hot out.
Ok, so I cleaned the air conditioner. Vacumned out the dirt on the fins and then took the hose and rinsed out the fins. Replaced the furnace filter. MERV value on the old one was 12. I bought a 7 MERV so air could flow more easily. Used it over the heat wave last week and it still has trouble keeping up. Insulated line is cool and return line is warm and no frost. I think just because it was so hot last week it was running constantly, but even in the evening after the sun goes down it was still running. You would think it would catch up. After from running so long it quits because the motor overheats. Could it be my thermostat also?
yamahauler
Active member
I do think you may have a different problem but this may help keep it a little cooler until you figure it out.
Do you keep all of the shades open and the sun beats in through the windows?
If so, close the ones that face the south and west. That sun heats up everything in your house and it can take a lot to get it cooled back down which would make an
A/C work non stop.
Do you keep all of the shades open and the sun beats in through the windows?
If so, close the ones that face the south and west. That sun heats up everything in your house and it can take a lot to get it cooled back down which would make an
A/C work non stop.
F
fusion
Guest
I had a similar situation on a condo I owned many years ago.
As has been said, this is probably a problem with a leak somewhere in the line between the unit outside and the furnace inside.
In the condo it was a big problem because the line ran through a crawl space and wasn't easily accessible. I ended up putting in a whole new system.
I had a leak on a newly installed unit about 10 years ago. In that case it was a leak right where the line tied into the furnace. Installer came out and fixed the leak - no more problem.
You could try pumping it full of Freon, see if it blows cold. Get yourself a digital A/C thermometer and put it at the vent closest to the furnace. (upstairs)
Monitor the temp and see if it holds output temp after filled with Freon.
Also follow the line from the condenser to the furnace and see if you can hear or see a leak. Sometimes you can see them/hear them.
Let us know how it goes.
As has been said, this is probably a problem with a leak somewhere in the line between the unit outside and the furnace inside.
In the condo it was a big problem because the line ran through a crawl space and wasn't easily accessible. I ended up putting in a whole new system.
I had a leak on a newly installed unit about 10 years ago. In that case it was a leak right where the line tied into the furnace. Installer came out and fixed the leak - no more problem.
You could try pumping it full of Freon, see if it blows cold. Get yourself a digital A/C thermometer and put it at the vent closest to the furnace. (upstairs)
Monitor the temp and see if it holds output temp after filled with Freon.
Also follow the line from the condenser to the furnace and see if you can hear or see a leak. Sometimes you can see them/hear them.
Let us know how it goes.
If all of the mechanical stuff is working, Yamahauler may be on to the main problem, heat gain..... Any HVAC is only capable of raising or lowering the temperature by so much.... Any attic may reach temps of 140 degrees or higher if not properly/ fully vented, couple that with too little insulation and you have an oven that blast heat into the living space all day. Also southern facing windows act as solar collectors increasing your heat gain.... Things that may help are: Add vents to attic, powered or passive, not forgetting the soffit vents (air intake) to make sure insulation does not block the air flow, adding insulation to proper R value, air leakage weather it is from old doors or windows but from your trunk lines and ducting (may be sealed with brushed on sealer or metallic tape [not duct tape] or any other gaps or holes that you find around pipes... All of these suggestions are inexpensive (except for doors & windows) and will help year round..... Good luck.
To start I would press the hold button on t-stat during hot days and set it for your at home temp all day. If the unit is a newer unit 13 seer or higher the newer units do run longer then the old units. They do that to remove more humidity. Most units on a 95 degree day are going to run non stop. I sent a PM with contact info give me a call and can go into more detail and ask more questions about your system.