I changed my a/c filter on the inside of my home but my thermostat still shows "service filter". Which side of the filter should face toward the unit? I have tried both and still same message. Also, my outside unit runs all the time, even when I turn the thermostat inside to "off". Is this normal? I rent and don't want to call the landlord because someone just came out here a few months ago to work on the outside unit(heats and cools) after lightning hit my home. I'm afraid he'll raise my rent if he has to keep calling someone to fix things. My light/ac bill is $258 month for a trailer, and I am wondering if there is an ac problem. It cools and heats fine.
2006-09-21 03:07:10 · 7 answers · asked by happyendingsonly 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
'Service filter' means that when you changed the filter, you didn't press the little button in the thermostat that tells it you did so. When you change the filter, look on the sides of it. There are little arrows and it says 'air flow'. So put the back of the arrow toward the room and the front toward the intake vent. When you turn an AC to 'off' it should still run for a few minutes. If it is still running in like 5 minutes, you might have a problem. The lightning may have damaged the AC. Your landlord can not legally raise your rent if you have a contract. I don't know where you live, but if it is hot there it will be hard to keep a trailer cool. I lived in one in SC for years so I know. Trailers are really really bad about having leaks. Use weather stripping around windows and doors. You can get it cheap at Wal-Mart. It all depends on how cold your thermometer is set on and how many electrical appliances you use. IE do you turn lights off and is the TV always on. That bill seems high, but if it is hot outside and you keep the temp at 68 and the lights on...that is about right. Trailers just can not be insulated as well as houses so the sun on the roof makes it hard to cool.
2006-09-21 03:26:53 · answer #1 · answered by mrslititia 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know anything about the A/C filter or the thermostat, but I want to address your concern about your landlord raising the rent on you for asking him to fix things. Do you have a written lease agreement? If not, I would get in writing the terms of your lease of the trailer stating how long the current rental rate is applicable and under what circumstances he can increase the rent. You should also come to an agreement in writing about the maintenance of the trailer. If you do this, then you shouldn't have to worry about him increasing your rent without notice. $258 per month seems kind of high for your energy bill but then again I don't know what the energy prices are like in your area. The A/C unit should trip in and out depending on cooling needs. It shouldn't be on constantly. The state/province/municipality in which you live probably has specific renter's rights and sample lease agreements that you can use, if you don't have a written agreement.
2006-09-21 03:30:26 · answer #2 · answered by Nibby 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The "service filter" on your thermostat is a signal internal to the thermostat. It would need to be reset by hand following the instructions in the manual. I assume you don't have this, since you are a renter, so since you have replaced the filter, you can just ignore it. If the thermostat has batteries, removing them should also reset this signal, but will also lose the programming for temperatures & time, so may not be worth it.
As to the AC running constantly -- yes, unless you are having amazingly hot days and nights, this is a problem. This needs to be checked -- you may have a frozen thermocoupler or a bad sensor. This unit may still be under warranty if it was repaired just a few months ago. Even if not, it needs to be fixed or it will burn out the unit. Call -- that is what landlords are for. And if you have signed a lease, I don't think he can raise the rent on you anyway. Good luck!!
2006-09-21 03:15:20 · answer #3 · answered by Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The only filter I know of in a central heated and cooled house is the one in the Air inlet. You say you changed that one, make sure the arrow on sides points in the direction of air flow.
Your problem may be a sencor in unit is bad that tell you air flow. Will not hurt anything in short term.
Also when you rented you house, your landlord took on the upkeep of units like that. Upkeep on AC, and such is standard cost. He or she should not raise you rent cause of a proplem with it.
2006-09-21 03:17:26 · answer #4 · answered by jjnsao 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you will need to clean the unit outside make sure that there are no obstructions. once everything is clean, replace the filter inside the home. After that is done you should figure out how to re-set the thermostat to 0 hours on the new filter. That replace filter is just a timer based on how long the system runs.
2006-09-21 03:12:17 · answer #5 · answered by Whoa_Phat 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
check your rental laws, I am pretty sure that raising rent due to maintenance is against the law,, you need to get it worked on sounds like your coil might be dirty and you need a tech to clean it
2006-09-21 03:16:20 · answer #6 · answered by Shadow Kat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There should be a reset button somewhere. Push that.
2006-09-21 03:13:56 · answer #7 · answered by Jessie P 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋