I have a new A/C (1 yr old). I have it set on 74 degrees. Its 95-100degrees outside. My house is 81. The A/C guy said as long as it is 20 degrees below what the temp is outside, the A/C is working. They told me that last year. That doesn't seem right! I paid alot of $$ for that thing and I expect it to be 74 degrees. Am I wrong?
2006-07-31 14:37:26 · 14 answers · asked by daweeney 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
No, that a/c guy is full of sh*t. if it runs all the time and never cycles off you have some problems. its hard to give good advice on your problem without seeing it. it could be many things.
given that the mechanical part is working right. it could just be undersized, i think the 20 deg part that he was talking about was the difference between the supply and return temp. in that case that part would be correct. if its under warranty i would demand that they fix it right.
2006-07-31 16:12:47 · answer #1 · answered by teabagme 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You are right, if you have it set to 74 there is no reason why it should not be 74. It is hard on the A/C to have to keep the house that low but it should be able to do it. I would insist that they come over and check it, do you have a warranty? It may have leaked out the cooling agent, I think it is called R-22, it used to be called freon.
Our A/C has always been able to keep the house at 73/74 degrees when the outside temp was well over 100. It has been as high as 114 and we kept it 73 in here. Of course this year it is breaking down and leaking so we have to replace it but it is 20 years old!
A quick check you can do yourself is to look at the hose that is connected to the outside condenser unit (the thing that has the big fan in it) if the hose has ice on it, you have a problem! Also put your hand up to one of the vents and make sure the air is coming out cold and strong, if not that is another indicator it has frozen up.
Two other things I would suggest is to make sure your intake vent is not blocked, I have a couch in front of mine and I have to make sure it is not pushed up against it. Make sure you change the filter every month.
The final thing you need to consider is how well your house is insulated. If you have single pane windows and no attic insulation, then it would be impossible to keep the house cool.
I hope this helps you figure things out. I know how miserable a hot house can be, I am waiting for the estimate from the A/C company in an 83 degree house, it is not pleasant.
2006-07-31 21:54:50 · answer #2 · answered by Sadie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, The A/C guy's a bum. I've had my A/C system for 15 years ( It's a vent system, different vents throughout the house where the air comes out) and have only had 1 problem with it, which was last year. Also, it was near 100 where I live, and my thermostat says the house is at 74 degrees. I suggest you have someone else look at your A/C. The guy u have now might not want to be bothered for some reason.
2006-07-31 21:46:03 · answer #3 · answered by FootballFan1012 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a limit to the A/Cs ability. I believe it's about 1 ton , ( 2000 )BTUs per 500 sqft. If the temperature outside exceeds what the outside condensor coil is rated at (105F?), the unit will work in a derated fashion.
Try closing off rooms you don't need, if it's a central A/C maybe the inside ducts need to be checked for leaks. A very good temperature coming out of the vent is 57 degress F. this is not going to happen when it's a thousand degrees outside, but will when it's within the unit's rated temperature range. I hope that helps.
2006-07-31 21:48:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not wrong. However, there are many variables involved. How well is your home insulated (walls and attic)? Is the AC unit and ductwork big enough for your house? How many cubic feet to cool? Are the AC condensor and evaporator clean? Is there a lot of in & out traffic (children playing)? Is there a basement? Cool air will travel downward if the door is left open. Are windows single or double pane glass? Trees outside to block sun, or is the house in direct sunlight all day? The list could go on and on. Find another reputable Technician and ask advice. Close doors and AC vents to unused rooms.
2006-07-31 21:49:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may be unrealistic about what the AC can accomplish in the face of the heatwave outside. Make sure that you have pulled down shades on all the windows so that solar energy doesn't work against you. If this is a window unit, I hope it has enough BTUs for the space you are cooling. If you have central air, try to close off vents and doors in rooms you are not using to maximize the cooling power in the areas you need it most.
2006-07-31 21:46:45 · answer #6 · answered by just♪wondering 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when it's that hot outside your ac will run a bit warmer than usual because it's working overtime. Although when you have it set on 74 it should be close to that temp. You might just need a shot of freon or it may actually have a small leak, requiring freon. If it's been installed only last year you should have a warranty on it still and it's parts. Call whomever you purchased it from.
2006-07-31 21:45:29 · answer #7 · answered by Weebles 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The A/C might not be a high enough Rating to handle your room at those temperatures. There should be a Btu rating on your ac but i dont know the number u need for each size room. on normal days is it enough? 95 -100 would tax almost any unit.
2006-07-31 21:49:05 · answer #8 · answered by magikalwolf1975 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems like a fair expectation. Maybe you just need some better weather stripping around your windows. Also remember that things like cooking, the dryer and taking hot showers will raise the temp. around your house, try to limit those acts until the evening.
2006-07-31 21:42:37 · answer #9 · answered by chinoster_7u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The temp on the ac unit is for the air coming out of the ac unit, not the room temperature. If you want it colder you must turn down the temp!
2006-07-31 21:41:42 · answer #10 · answered by Daniel Z 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋