window air conditioner unit troubleshooting

43,218 posts, read 43,024,441 times 4,764 posts, read 6,583,048 times I will add that appliances and things which can be repaired have "Service Manuals" available from the manufacturer of the product. They will give the purchaser of a product (consumer) an "Instruction Manual" and sometimes a separate "Installation Manual", but NOT the "Service Manual". Factory Service Manuals will go into great detail with step by step troubleshooting, provide diagrams of systems, electrical schematics, programming information for electronic devices, etc. Many times parts listings with part numbers.These have Factory Service Manuals available which can be 4 phone book size books and a total of 2000 pages! Not available at auto parts stores, get from dealer.) Here is an example of an A/C service manual. Notice how detailed it is... the partially clogged evap behaves pretty much like a partially clogged metering device. one correction , at the metering valve you want very little of the liquid to turn into gas.

you want the liquid to make it through the evaporator as it is the change of state of going from liquid to a gas that removes most of the heat in the evaporator. huge amounts of heat are absorbed in order to go from a liquid to a gas. there will always be a certain amount of freon converted to a gas as it goes through the metering device but the bulk should be a low pressure liquid. the higher the difference in pressure between the high side and the low side the more refrigerant will be wasted going through the metering device. that is why we have many types of freon for different applications. Originally Posted by Billy_J real men don't need no stinkin service manuals ha ha ha Originally Posted by mathjak107 Yes I had such a "real man" working at an auto parts store tell me I did not need to evacuate my car's A/C system, which had been open to the air, with a vacuum pump prior to filling with refrigerant! He also said I did not need to replace the accumulator/dryer!

(Contrary to the repair instructions in the Factory Service Manual, which I choose to follow instead.)How do you troubleshoot an air conditioner thermostat? To troubleshoot an air conditioner thermostat, identify the type of thermostat that is in use, check that the unit is receiving power and ensure the unit is installed properly. Most thermostats are either electromechanical or electronic, which affect how the room's temperature is determined. How do you replace the resistor on an air conditioner blower fan? There are several steps needed to perform common troubleshooting on either thermostat type.Replace the filtersBefore troubleshooting the thermostat, check the filters and replace if necessary, as dirty filters are a common culprit.Check the powerMake sure the thermostat is receiving power, either through batteries or through the main electrical panel. Use a voltmeter to test the power. Also make sure the thermostat itself is on and set to "cool."Inspect the thermostat's interiorEnsure the power is off for this step, and remove the thermostat cover to reveal the interior wires.

If the interior is dusty or dirty, use a small brush or a can of compressed air to clear away the debris. Then visually inspect all of the wires to ensure they are all attached properly and are in good shape. Tighten any loose wires or screws and clean or replace any corroded wires.Ensure the unit is levelOlder thermostats need to be level for the temperature sensor to operate properly. Use a level to ensure the thermostat is installed properly to the wall.
buy air conditioning window unitsWiggle the anticipator Gently push the metal tab, called the anticipator, that is mounted on the round dial.
wall mount ac unit pricesIf this does not solve the issue, the anticipator may need an adjustment from a professional.
can you run an ac unit without a filter

Replace the unit or consult a professionalIf common troubleshooting tips do not solve the issue, price out replacing the unit versus consulting a professional and proceed as necessary. What information is in an air conditioner manual? The content for air conditioner manuals varies by type of unit, model and brand, often highlighting unique features and operational parameters of different... Where can you buy Dyna-Glo heaters online? What are average residential natural gas prices? What is a kitchen exhaust fan? Is baseboard heating safe for dog's health? How can you find out current prices for AmeriGas propane? What are the three properties of air?What you will learn from Frozen Air Conditioner article:the major two reasons why your air conditioner has ice on it somewhere (otherwise you likely wouldn’t be here)the difference between a heat pump and an air conditioner in winter and summer operationwhy airflow is essential to a central air conditioning systemenough about HVAC refrigeration to help you determine the problem of a frozen air conditioner.

We have many other related articles. Frozen Air Conditioner HVAC TroubleshootingIce on Air Conditioner - This is a common problem for people and it can be caused from one of two things:Lack of airflow across the evaporator coil orA problem with the refrigeration system.Most people figure out they have a frozen airconditioner when they are outside and see ice building up on the outside condenser unit or ice on the refrigeration pipes.Others know they have this problem when they see the air handler and the pipes running into the air handler have ice. This, in addition to a noticeable decline in cooling capacity, is a sure sign you have problems that need to be resolved immediately. The best thing to do once you notice your air conditioner is frozen is to turn it off. On the thermostat turn the fan on but leave the cooling off. This will melt the ice on the evaporator coil. If you leave it on it will continue to make ice.If the coil is frozen when the technician arrives he cannot do anything.

The coil must be defrosted to properly charge the system. Make sure you turn the cooling off but leave the fan running. If it is summer and you have a frozen heat pump (a heat pump provides heating and cooling using the process of refrigeration) you can turn it to heating mode and everything will defrost. However, be aware that if an excessive amount of ice is on the evaporator coil (located at the air handler usually inside the home) defrosting the frozen heat pump may overwhelm the condensation drain. It is possible you will have some water damage as a result. This may happen either way you defrost the system especially if the air handler is located in a hot attic.Necessary StepsTurn the air conditioner to the off position and turn the fan switch to on (manual on) on the thermostat selector switch. This will help aid the defrost of an icy evaporator coil and the rest of the frozen air conditioning unit. This type of air conditioner problem can cause severe water damage because the ice melting from the air handler overwhelms the drain.

So be aware of that potential additional problem if your AC system is frozen.Why is the Air Conditioner Frozen? Possible Cause Number OneThis is enough to cause concern because the air conditioner pipes have ice on them. Ice on the pipes is not normal. An airconditioner or heat pump is not designed to make ice. An air conditioning unit is designed to cool the home or business and it is abnormal for ice to form on an air conditioner. A heat pump will form frost or ice on the outside condenser coils in the winter time but frozen condenser coils is common and the heat pump is equipped with a method to defrost the condenser coils.To solve the problem you need to look at airflow first. Every airconditioner or heat pump system is designed to have a specific amount of air flow go through the evaporator coil when the unit is in the cooling or air conditioning mode. Unless you have a high-velocity air conditioning system (most people do not) the evaporator coil needs at least 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of airflow across the evaporator coil per ton of air conditioning.

If you have a 3-ton air conditioning unit or heat pump you need 1200 CFM’s of airflow across the evaporator or the air conditioner will freeze up. This means that if you have a:Extremely dirty filter orToo many supply vents closedCollapsed duct workBad blower motorSomething obstructing the ductworkDirt built up on the evaporator coil Airflow ConclusionOr anything else which would restrict airflow you will get ice build-up on the airconditioning system. This will cause a diminished capacity for the system to cool if it will cool at all. Defrost the system and then check the airflow. Make sure the entire system is defrosted before checking the airflow of the system. It may take several hours to defrost the air conditioning system completely. The important part is to make sure all the ice has melted from the evaporator coils before checking airflow. After checking the airflow and you find a problem then have it repaired or taken care of. If you don’t find a problem then proceed to the next air conditioning problem below.2.

Possible Cause Number TwoA frozen air conditioning system can also be caused by a refrigeration problem. The most common problem is a refrigerant leak (refrigerant is commonly referred to as Freon. Freon is a trademark name of DuPont Corporation). This means that the air conditioning is low on refrigerant. This leak needs to be repaired and then the system recharged by a professional. When the refrigerant leaks out the air A frozen air conditioning system can also be caused by a refrigeration problem conditioner pressures drop in the evaporator.A pressure drop in the evaporator coil means that the refrigerant will likely be colder than the dew point. When the evaporator coil in your air conditioner or heat operates below the dew point the moisture or humidity in the air will freeze to the coil. A little frost will appear and then more frost on the air conditioner evaporator coil. This will eventually form into ice and restrict the air flow of the air conditioning system. An air flow restriction in the air conditioner will only exacerbate the problem.