6 yr. old central air not cooling house very well, what could be the cause?

Question

It was serviced 2 months ago and worked fine, but then the compressor died so we had a new one installed. I get very cool air coming out of the vents but it just doesn't seem cold enough. We've had crazy high temps lately and when it gets to be 105 outside I can't get the air inside the house to be less then 84 even though the unit runs night and day and is set at 70. The house is only 6 years old also so it's not because of it being old with drafty, poorly insulated windows. I don't recall having this problem last summer and it got pretty hot then too. Any idea what could cause this?

Answer 1

Sounds like the guy that repaired it, did not put enough freon in it. Also check to see if the coils are dirty...
Another thought there is a 21 degree drop from outside temp to inside temp---thats not bad--I would have the guy check it again just to be sure---then turn all the ceiling fans on high and shut all the blinds.. 105 degrees is hot so the A/C may not get any lower

Answer 2

oops , now its time to pay for the guy who really does know what he is doing. I can think of a buffet of problems with your system.

Just look at all the half baked ideas that you get on here from consumers that have been taken to the cleaners before.

If your unit is older than 5 years, you should have just replaced the whole thing. If you think it was better before, it could have been. For the amount of money it cost you to repair that nasty thing, you at least think it should be doing better. Let me guess, $500 - 1100. More ? oops!

The best price is not always the best deal. This is a comfort product and if it ain't makin you feel good, what good is it?

You have already paid once, now pay another $150 - 250, to have a pro come over and go through your entire system and give you the good and bad news. You should not have called Uncle Billie Bob's heating and lawn care in the first place.

I either want to be the first guy on the job, because there won't be any behind me, or the last guy because I will fix it and you will pay me a small fortune.

Answer 3

A couple of possibilities:

- The refridgerant is leaking out slowly

- The "new" compressor isn't working as well as it should (replacement was a different size?)

- Filters are clogged and not letting enough air flow through.

- Area under your roof not properly vented to allow heat to escape.

Also think about other seemingly non-related things that have changed since last year. New appliances/electronic equipment that may be producing more internal heat. Increased use of washer/dryer/stove/oven, etc.

Answer 4

Have you had the fan speed checked on the furnace?

I remember that we had to switch it from one setting for winter heat and another setting for summer cooling.

Even though you have good windows and insulation, it is extrememly difficult for the A/C to cool it from 100 outside to 70 inside. Why you want it at 70, is beyond me. We keep ours set to 78. You must be spending a fortune on electricity.

Answer 5

Check the freon in the unit. That's what makes the air cold.

Answer 6

I had the same problem...check the plastic water condensation hose coming off your furnace going into the floor to see if it is clogged, pull off from furnace and blow debri out and reconnect.
p.s.
pull hose out of hole in floor before blowing debri out, then put it back in

Answer 7

its called ambient temperature. most cooling units (i.e. a.c., portable refrig. ) can only 20 degrees cooler than what it is outside. so if your a.c. is getting to 84 degrees than it is working as hard as it can just to keep it that cool. you should be ok.

Answer 8

It's better to replace it with a new one then to get it repaired.

Answer 9

the freon is low..have the guy who put it in bleed and recharge the system

Answer 10

ok