AC-Appliance Pros Air Conditioning Service Tips Keep It Clean All dirt and debris should be removed from the condensor (outdoor coil). read the instructions that came with your air-conditioner on how to clean the coil, or call a technician. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THE CONDENSER WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE POWER. Keep the condensing unit unobstructed Allow ample air-flow around the unit. (Cut down those bushes and other vegetation at least 12 inches back from the air-conditioner. Do not build sheds or roofs over the air-conditioner. Keep the evaporator (indoor coil) unobstructed Make sure the evaporator is not blocked to insure proper airflow across coil. (This may require a professional service technician to clean coil). Coils should be cleaned in order to preserve the efficiency of the unit. Change or clean filters every 30 days If you have household pets might have to do it earlier. Do this when you pay your utility bill as a reminder. This is far more important in air-conditioning than in heating. The easiest way to ensure your system operates efficiently and economically is by keeping the air filter clean. There are several types of air filters and several possible locations for the air filter. Ask your service contractor where your air filter is located and which type of filter to use. Keep the outdoor coils cleaned Outdoor coils can be cleansed with a special solution of coil cleaner and water. (Recommend non-foaming/non-acid type). Do not bend the coil fins Use caution not to bend Fins on the coils. They are fragile and can be easily damaged. Use gloves and read manufacture recommendations on all chemicals/cleaners. Keep the indoor coils cleaned Indoor coils may be cleaned using a special coil (evaporator) cleaner. A soft brush may be needed. AC unit adjustments Items such as electrical, refrigerant level (freon), pressures, and temperatures should be accomplished by a professional technician. These checks/adjustments require proper instruments/gauges. Also, special licenses are required by the Environmental Protection Agency to handle refrigerants. Ice on the pipes at the evaporator coil Is there ice on the pipes at the evaporator coil (the indoor portion of the air-conditioner)? If there is, turn off the unit and call a technician. WARNING: DO NOT SET THE THERMOSTAT BELOW 68 DEGREES. THIS CAN CAUSE A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS WITH YOUR AIR-CONDITIONER, INCLUDING FREEZING UP. Temperature differential Air-conditioners are designed for a 20 degree temperature differential. When it is 105 degrees outside, be happy if it is 85 degrees in your house. A temperature swing greater than this is unhealthy. Trees over AC unit If you have pine trees or oak trees near the air-conditioner, you may want to place something over the air-conditioner in the winter season. Do not cover the air-conditioner completely. IF YOU DO PLACE SOMETHING OVER THE AIR-CONDITIONER, MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE IT BEFORE TURNING THE AIR-CONDITIONER ON. Thermostat The most economical operation of your system comes from setting the thermostat properly. Set the thermostat properly. Set the thermostat at the highest summer setting or the lowest winter setting at which you are comfortable. Typical settings ar 78 degrees for summer cooling and 70 degrees for winter heating. When cooling, your operating costs increase from 3% to 8% for each degree your thermostat is lowered. When heating, your operating costs increase for each degree your thermostat is raised. Keep heat away from the thermostat Make sure no heat-generating appliances are near your thermostat. These include lamps, TVs, stereo and computer equipment. Keep doors and windows closed Close all doors and windows to the outside. This will reduce the heating load in winter and the cooling load in summer. Your system will operate more economically as a result. Keep vents and grills unobstructed Arrange your furniture and drapes so that all output vents and intake grills are free from obstruction. This will reduce the cooling and heating load on your system for more economical operation. Avoid excessive use of exhaust fans Excessive use of kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans will make your system work harder. This will increase energy consumption and costs. Keep costs in check by making wise use of exhaust fans. Control direct sunlight Let the sun in during winter. Keep the sun out during summer. In summer, direct sunlight increases the load on your cooling system. Use of window shades and awnings will reduce the amount of direct sunlight and lower the cooling load. In winter, direct sunlight reduces the load on your heating system. Open window shades and awnings to increase direct sunlight and lower the heating load. Keep the condenser coil clean The condenser coil (the unit outside your house) should be kept clean to ensure efficient operation. If the condenser coil becomes restricted by dirt, lint, paper, grass clippings, leaves, or other debris, system efficiency will deteriorate. Use a garden hose to keep the condenser coil clean. Insulate air ducts Be sure all air ducts are well insulated. Ducts also should be sealed with a vapor barrier. Keep an air-tight house Ensure maximum retention of heated or cooled air by adding insulation to outside walls and to the attic. Seal cracks and use storm doors and/or insulated doors to prevent air leaks. Properly vent clothes driers Be sure your clothes dryer is vented to the outside. Also ensure that your clothes dryer is vented away from your outdoor unit. Trouble Shooting Chart WARNING: Disconnect all power to unit before servicing. Contactor may break only one side. Failure to shut off power can cause electrical shock resulting in personal injury or death. Symptom Possible Cause Remedy Unit will not run Power off or loose electrical connection Check for correct voltage at contactor in condensing unit Thermostat out of calibration-set too high Reset Defective contactor Check for 24 volts at contactor coil - replace if contacts are open Blown fuses Replace fuses Transformer defective Check wiring-replace transformer High pressure control open (if provided) Reset-also see high head pressure remedy - the high pressure control opens at 450 PSIG Outdoor fan runs, compressor doesn't Run or start capacitor defective Replace Start relay defective Replace Loose connection Check for correct voltage at compressor - check & tighten all connections Compressor stuck, grounded or open motor winding, open internal overload. Wait at least 2 hours for overload to reset. If still open, replace the compressor Low voltage condition Add start kit components Insufficient cooling Improperly sized unit Recalculate load Improper indoor airflow Check - should be approximately 400 CFM per ton Incorrect refrigerant charge Charge per procedure attached to unit service panel Air, non-condensibles or moisture in system Recover refrigerant, evacuate & recharge, add filter drier Compressor short cycles Incorrect voltage At compressor terminals, voltage must be ± 10 % of nameplate marking when unit is operating. Defective overload protector Replace - check for correct voltage Refrigerant undercharge Add refrigerant Registers sweat Low indoor airflow Increase speed of blower or reduce restriction - replace air filter High head-low vapor pressures Restriction in liquid line, expansion device or filter drier Remove or replace defective component Flow check piston size too small Change to correct size piston Incorrect capillary tubes Change coil assembly High head-high or normal vapor pressure - cooling mode Dirty outdoor coil Clean coil Refrigerant overcharge Correct system charge Outdoor fan not running Repair or replace Air or non-condensibles in system Recover refrigerant, evacuate & recharge Low head-high vapor pressures Flow check piston size too large Change to correct size piston Defective compressor valves  Replace compressor Incorrect capillary tubes Replace coil assembly Low vapor - cool compressor - iced indoor coil Low indoor airflow Increase speed of blower or reduce restriction - replace air filter Operating below 65°F outdoors Add low ambient kit Moisture in system Recover refrigerant - evacuate & recharge - add filter drier High vapor pressure Excessive load Recheck load calculation Defective compressor Replace Fluctuating head & vapor pressures TXV hunting Check TXV bulb clamp - check air distribution on coil - replace TXV Air or non-condensibles in system Recover refrigerant, evacuate & recharge Gurgle or pulsing noise at expansion device or liquid line Air or non-condensibles in system Recover refrigerant, evacuate & recharge If you don't know which firm to call, ask if the contractor is a member of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). consumers can call (972)247-5383 or 1-800-260-8041 to confirm the contractor is a member or to locate a contractor who subscribes to the organization's code or ethics. ©2007 AC-Appliance Pros All Rights Reserved 1701 North Greenville Ave. Suite 606 Richardson, Texas 75081 972-664-0055 TACL B00027067E

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