Last night I had my thermostat turned off, but noticed that the unit outside the house was still running. I began to fiddle with the thermostat, turned the A/C on and the inside condensor began to arc. I shut the power off and when I checked out the condensor coils noticed that they were frozen up. We haven't been using the A/C so I was surprised to see this. I've let it sit all night and the ice is gone, filters cleaned etc. Do you think it is safe to turn it back on, or should I wait to get a service tech in? Any ideas as to the problem?
2007-03-13 02:17:37 · 5 answers · asked by Rabbit 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The unit was popping and there was a burnt electrical smell. That's arcing right?
2007-03-13 02:37:42 · update #1
Check that all your vents are all open.Either your furnace filter is dirty and not enough air is getting across the coil, or your unit needs a charged. The coil might also be plugged up if you have not been using a filter. If the fan motor in the furnace was not running the motor might be burned out. If you had the a/c off at the thermostat, the condenser still running, the contactor outside might be burned together. call a service tech.
2007-03-13 02:28:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a little puzzled as to why there was arcing on the inside. All the power in a central air unit should be outside with the compressor. The only part of a central AC unit on the inside is the evaporator coil which is what iced up. If the ice is gone and the filters are clear try the unit again. If you hear or see any arcing inside or out get a technician in to look at the unit
OK if it smells and pops turn it off and get a service technician in to look at it. There is no way that should happen.
2007-03-13 02:29:33 · answer #2 · answered by frozen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you turned thermostat off, the outside unit should have shut OFF. That is unless that power relay that controls the 220 has "hung up' in closed position. You may need a new relay. If you run a frozen coil, either condenser, or evaporator coil, that drives up the compression ratio and will damage the internal valves of the compressor in due time, so avoid that.
I would not put this on permanent run until you have it checked out, you can check it yourself The sparking you saw probably was the relay contacts breaking and or making, thats common and OK. Just start if back up and make sure neither the outside coil, condenser, nor the inside coil, evaporator are freezing up. You will not damage the unit.
2007-03-13 03:22:20 · answer #3 · answered by James M 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT:
IN THE CONDENSING UNIT, THE CONTACTOR POINTS STUCK CLOSED. RESULTS WOULD BE: EVAPORATOR ICES OVER BECAUSE THE BLOWER MOTOR IS NOT RUNNING. AFTER A TIME THE ICE WOULD CRAWL OUT THE LARGE SUCTION LINE PIPE AND THEN START ICING UP THE CONDENSER COIL.
WHEN YOU SHUT IT OFF AND DEFROSTED IT, THE DEFROSTING WATER WENT IN PLACES WHERE WATER DOESN'T NORMALLY GO AND WHEN YOU TURNED THE CONDENSING UNIT ON, THAT WATER CAUSED SOME ELECTRICAL ARCING. THE SOLUTION IS TO-"KILL THE POWER"- TO THE CONDENSING UNIT BY PULLING THE SAFETY DISCONNECT OR FLIPPING THE BREAKER OFF. OPEN THE CONDENSING UNIT SERVICE PANEL AND INSPECT IT FOR WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE WATER IN THE WRONG PLACE AND PERHAPS AN ANT HILL AROUND THE CONTACTOR. WHEN YOU ARE READY-TEST THE UNIT AND WATCH. BE AWARE THAT MANY UNITS HAVE TIME DELAYS SO THINGS DON'T JUST START WHEN YOU TURN ON THE BREAKER OR ACTIVATE IT AT THE STAT. THE CONDENSING UNIT SHOULD NOT RUN UNLESS THE INDOOR BLOWER MOTOR IS RUNNING ALSO. IF IT DOES YOU HAVE A STUCK CONTACTOR OR A BAD BLOWER MOTOR. THAT SAID-ALL OF THIS IS JUST GUESSING.
2007-03-13 06:03:33 · answer #4 · answered by hghjsln 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As long as it doesn't ice up you should be fine.Get it checked if it keeps doing this.
2007-03-13 02:20:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋