My air conditioner SUCKS! But it doesn't blow. Can you help?

Question

Heres the problems:

1) Main floor: 75% of the entire amount of cold air coming out the vents to the main floor comes out a single vent (there are 4 total) down in a hallway. Pretty crappy! THe other ones have almost NOTHING coming out. Tiny air flow.

2) On the second floor, only one vent (the bathroom) gets much air out of it at all. The other vents (1 in each of the 3 berooms) gets almost nothing. This is the worst because I can't sleep when its hot! (question: Would plugging the vents in the other 2 rooms get more into mine?)

3) Overall the coldness of the air coming out is GREATLY diminished last year from last.

WHAT SHOULD I DO!? Is it safe to try and fix the conditioner unit yourself? I've heard you should clean it and this may be what is preventing it from cooling effectively. What about air exchanges?

As a side, my bedroom has two exchanges...one up high, and one down low on the wall. One was plugged with carboard. Which should be open (or both)

Answer 1

Air Conditioners need to be cleaned on a regular basis... as do the ducts and air filters... if you haven't done them in a while, they could be restricting the air flow.

You CAN clean your outdoor unit on your own... with a hose. The small slats on the side get bunged up with dirt. REmove the cover, and hose it out with a good high-pressure attachment (NOT a pressure washer...)

Guaranteed, if you're not getting the flow you think you should be getting, it's because it hasn't been maintained.

Answer 2

first if you are not handy think about spending money vice time.
good flow coming out of some vents, others are turned off, plugged,or disconnected. did you change anything since last year that would effect the flow. Wall being torn down, now the duct is disconnected. follow the ducting from the registers back to ac unit.
needed flashlight and inspection mirror. not working as well as last year does not tell us anything use a thermometer and put it in the vent ir when you set it for 70 on the wall and it comes out of the vent at 75 be happy but if in two weeks you try it again and it comes out at 85 you will probably need service. right now service on ac is a gold mine so do not do it unless you absolutely have to. change filter yes, at least once a month. plug the working vents NO you MAY increase the air flow but that maybe what is causing the problem in the ducts someone Else's plan and if you restrict the rate of flow you may help burn up the fan pushing that air. End of the season call someone and have a complete check out.

Answer 3

If you have a Basement, go down and look at the Duct work as it leaves the main Plenum, there should be a Lever on each duct, that controls a Damper, open the ones where no air is coming in and close down a bit the ducts getting to much.
Your bedroom two vents, the upper one is a Cold Air return, the other an outlet, both should be open- make sure all Cold Air vents are open, AC works by recirculation, across the Condenser coil, removing moisture at each passing, removing humidity is half the battle. Make sure you have a new Filter, once a month.

Vents in a Hallway- ? only thing that should be in a hall is a Cold Air return vent- Do you understand HVAC at all. You must have an equal sq inches of Cold air return as you do Outlet air for it to work. If you don't or if they are closed off (Cold air) a Vacum is created in the house, a Vacum will cause hot air to be sucked in from every crack and opening in the outside walls, and around doors and window,s this defeats the AC- as it never can cool the air in the home as its always added to by air Sucked in.

Answer 4

u have to change the filers every 30 days....dont run the system with out filters, the coils will get dirt and dust on them and this will make the unit run longer and if the coils r dirty the cold air will be cut as much as half, not the amount of air , but the temp of the air!

also, if air flow is not equal, give or take a few cfm, at all vents, then u need to have ur system looked at. tell the hvac man that u want him to install dampers and redirect the air equal.......

also, tell him to check the " back pressure"......

i would have him clean the coils while he is there also......

boost the system with freon........

if he is any good at his job, he should check the temp of the air coming out of vents and then check the air at the return.should be about 12-18 deg. difference......

another thing, ask him does he think u have enough returns in the house.......this is a big part of making the system work right...



lic. gen. contractor

Answer 5

You shouldn't have any of the vents blocked, you can close them to increase the out-put in other rooms but don't seal them completely. You may have loose ducting, a lot of times cheap companies duct tape the ducting (only) to save money, and after a year or so the seal dries out and the ducting may not even be connected. That is just one possibility. If you can get into your attic or crawlspace to investigate, do it. If not have a reputable company look at it. You will pay more, but they usually fix it correctely. And first make sure your air filters all of them are clean and replaced monthly especially if you live in a dusty area. Hope this helps some.

Answer 6

All of the vents where you are should be open. If there are rooms that you don't use the vents should be closed. It sounds more like a vent blockage if you're getting cold air. Can you check the vents? If the vents are clear, then look in the paper for a cleaning special. Call someone out to clean the unit.

Answer 7

Well, I would check and make sure that your belt, for the blower motor is in good shape and tight.

Check your vents downstairs, by the furnace, they should have louvres on them, (little handles on the pipes, that flip and will turn the vent on or off), make sure each of those handles is face toward the pipe, and not at a 90degree angle, (if at a 90, then they are shut off).

If they are shut, then open them and you will get the air flow that you desire.

They are usually just off the plenum, (big box that the air comes out of, on top of the furnace).

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 8

When the the last time u service your air-con. The carrier man can........

It is best to ask a air-con tech to do it,

Probably,

1) Air-leakage. Need compression.

2) It is good to learn the correct way to clean and maintain your air con. It will save u a lot of mainteance cost.

3) I think it is best to call an air con guy to do it because you have quite a complicated split system.

Answer 9

Yes first change the inlet filter see what you get. then check and see if your pipes leading to your vents or rooms are pluged up. If you have mice or rats you may have to clean all of them out.
Next check your blower make sure the fan blades are clean from dust and such.
If all are clean then you may need to look at getting another blower motor. Old one may have internal shorts making it slow down RPM wise.

Answer 10

if you want to it to blow colder, the condenser coil should be cleaned once a year and you should have your pressure checked in your freon line, as for the blowing problem, all vents that are closer to the furnace will naturally blow harder. try closing them, if that doesnt work you need to have them cleaned. cleaning the coil is easy and diy capable