Carolina Breeze HVAC wrote:

"Dave Solly" wrote in message
...

I have lived in this house since it was new, 20 years ago. This past
week, during the late afternoon, I would get condensation coming from the
air outlet closest to the air handler and right after the coil. I
remember reading on this group that this is probably caused by icing of
the coil. remembering that low air movement across the coil could cause
this, I changed the filter and this time used a filter that would allow
more flow ( I had one of those super duper ones that wouldn't let any
pollen through). For the next day or so, that seemed to fix the problem.
Now today, It has started again. I turned the AC off for about an hour,
then turned it back on and no more condensation dripping from the outlet.
I know, however, that it will probably return in another couple of hours.
It is presently 100 degrees outside. The humidity is about 40%. Inside
the temp is 77 degrees with a humidity of about 33%.

This is the situation. The compressor is out side. Everything else is
inside in the attic. Over the life of the AC, the filters have NOT be
changed out on a regular basis. For the first 15 years or so, I used the
el-chepo filters. Usually, when I did remember to change them, they were
clogged up with dust. Last year I had someone come out to do a checkup.
This was the first time in about 10 years. He measured the flow from the
vents and used the gauges (I have no idea what the measurements were but
he said the readings all looked good). He also checked the temp of the
air coming out of the vents. All was good for the unit I had. He of
course tried to sell me a new high effency unit, but when we finished
talking, the payback would be after I was dead.

So now I'm thinking that one of two things is wrong. Either the coil is
clogged up and won't allow enough air to flow through the coil and it
therefore freezes up, or the freon level is low(?). There seems to be
good air flow coming from the vents and the air is cool, but can the air
get around the coil? Or is it possible that some of the coil is clogged
and that's where the ice starts to form, and then it just gets worse from
there?

I know I'm going to have to call an AC guy out, but I'd like to have an
idea of what else the problem could be.

Thanks.

Dave





Dave...first of all....ignore the comment about the stat being too
low...turning the stat too low on a properly charged system does NADA...the
system knows only on, or off, and going too low will NOT cause freezing on a
properly charged and operational unit in summer temps...PERIOD.

Now, you probably answered your own question, but its impossible to see it
from here, however, your lack of normal service is screaming clogged
coil....DO NOT LET YOUR AC GUY PUT ANY REFRIGERANT IN THE UNIT TILL HE
INSPECTS THE COIL!!!!
Most guys will come out, with only a manifold and a nice green tank and
start juicing the unit..they never go inside, never take a lineset temp,
never take a RH% reading indoors, never get a dew point...never do any of
that and start to overcharge the unit, and then, WITHOUT a scale, they start
to dump refrigerant into the unit and then, with NO WAY to know what they
put in the unit, they proudly proclaim its working, and charge you for 3lbs
of refrigerant that they got for next to nothing and charge you $45 a lb for
it.
Low airflow across the coil, due to dirt, mold, etc, will cause the pressure
readings at the manifold to be, or appear low. (BTW, those pressures...mean
NOTHING to a trained tech...hes looking for temps anyway) A dirty blower
wheel will cause the same thing due to lack of airflow..lack of airflow,
means lack of heat being transfered to the coil, and thus, lower pressures.
IF the units not been serviced, its worth your while to get the evap
properly cleaned, the condensor properly cleaned, and THEN have the tech
look for the issue..chances are, if it is low, and the ONLY way hes gonna
know is to check the coils, clean the coils, and go inside and take temp
readings for starters...then its got a slow leak. Any legitimate company
will check the coils while they are servicing the unit for leaks..and use a
detector thats of decent quality...not soap unless its a question of
moisture setting the detector off..and if hes got a decent one, like CPS, or
LeBold, that wont happen anyway.
9 out of 10 leaks are at the service ports and can be repaired in seconds,
not hours normally.

Now...things you want to see..

1-Checking the evap coil, and cleaning if needed.
2-Taking temp readings of the suction line and return air temp indoors
BEFORE adding a damn drop of refrigerant.
3-a SCALE under that green refrigerant jug, so he knows EXACTLY how much he
put in....
4-a leak check if he adds any refrigerant.

You will want to ask him how hes gonna check the charge, and if he says, by
pressure, you can tell him to get on down the road..superheat, or subcool,
and HE wont know till he checks your metering device in the evap.

Now...if you want a gas-n-go.....then let him do whatever he wants, and dont
do anything but pay him whatever he asks...LOL

You should save this one as a template. Will save retyping it over and
over. Very thorough.

hvacrmedic