Telekat 100
Tele-Afflicted
If you're looking for your usual extreme heat, we have it. Want it back?
Feels like 110°F and...the A/C quit.
- Thread starter trapdoor2
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
rghill
Friend of Leo's
I was just talking with my coworker about how mild this summer has been for Phoenix. A number of days have been in the 90's, and only a handful peaking the dreaded 110 mark. We could use more monsoons, but we still have the month of August ahead of us.
No thank you, we're fine like we are!
trapdoor2
Poster Extraordinaire
Tech. showed up at 7pm. Cap was fine (first and most obvious thing to look at). He had to chase down a broken wire...took him 30min. $100 fee just to come out + $130 to find the problem and fix it. No complaints here!
A/C is back on and we're already 2° cooler. The humidity got up above 75% in here...the tile floors were sticky-moist. I checked on the banjos...those with calfskin heads were getting saggy...they'll tighten back up as the humidity comes down. That's why they're adjustable, so no big deal.
Having lived in the South for 60 yrs, the heat & humidity just feels "normal". Back in Huntsville, AL, there'd be no sea breeze like there is here.
A/C is back on and we're already 2° cooler. The humidity got up above 75% in here...the tile floors were sticky-moist. I checked on the banjos...those with calfskin heads were getting saggy...they'll tighten back up as the humidity comes down. That's why they're adjustable, so no big deal.
Having lived in the South for 60 yrs, the heat & humidity just feels "normal". Back in Huntsville, AL, there'd be no sea breeze like there is here.
trapdoor2
Poster Extraordinaire
Few basements in the South. We're on a crawlspace.
82f here. ENE at 17 with gusts to 22. 82% with a dew point of 76
Ceiling fans are running and there will a pool dip before rack time.
Ceiling fans are running and there will a pool dip before rack time.
Geoff738
Doctor of Teleocity
Yeah, my ac was doing funky things. Was hot. Normal hot here. So not crazy. I think it is sorted. We shall see. Hope all have cooling where required.
Cheers,
Geoff
Cheers,
Geoff
haggardfan1
Poster Extraordinaire
I'm lucky to keep my place at 77 during the day in summer. Poor insulation, and an inefficient old unit. It has cratered, during summer, five of the eight years I've lived here, and once in winter.
I've had one in my bedroom since 2018 I think. First time the central AC went out, we installed it on day two of 100+ days., Our whole family of five slept in there, including Flash who was an only dog at that point.
trapdoor2
Poster Extraordinaire
We bought a window unit when the main HVAC died in 2021. New unit took a week or so to get here, etc. The window unit did a good job...helps that the house is very well insulated. It was boxed back up and rests peacefully in garage storage...next to the emergency kerosene heater.
It is Hurricane season...so I've been assessing our emergency equipment, supplies, bug out bags, etc.
It is Hurricane season...so I've been assessing our emergency equipment, supplies, bug out bags, etc.
Monoprice99
Friend of Leo's
Well, the good news, most HVAC's have at least a 5 year warranty for replacement of the unit (split systems). You should only be out the labor. Just out of curiosity, same brand, same installer company ? That might be the problem there ?
If the heat pump still runs, it's most likely a freon leak or some other issue that involves one of the valves that no longer works or the seals where the copper pipes no longer seal for the couplings used. I'd be concerned the technicians are installing a time bomb for shoddy labor/work.
Another potential issue is a clog in the drain tube. There is a shutoff sensor that has a floating mechanism to keep the drain pan & pipe from backing up & overflowing. Cleaning that pipe & drain pan is a every 6 months to 1X annual maintenance project for me. You would be surprised that the filters shed their material to clog that drain pipe and as the coil in the garage condenses moisture that water backs up & triggers the float valve. Pays to stay on top of filter changes. I use the reusable electrostatic filters that are metal. I can rinse or vacuum them out as often as I want to. Bought 2 of them so I change them out quarterly. And while the MERV ratings may not be as good as the highest performing paper fiber filter, there is rarely a clog of debris. I just recall the 1st time I forced air thru that pipe and the filter material that blew out of it. Nasty stuff when the slimy mucous builds up & accumulates as part of the clog. I learned that at one apartment that never came around to each apartment periodically. The drain pan was metal, it rusted, the entire building had a common drain pipe, so everyone's HVAC slime had backed up & clogged that pipe at the ground level floors. The drain pan overflowed & leaked for the interior apartment air handler. Just a mess.
If the heat pump still runs, it's most likely a freon leak or some other issue that involves one of the valves that no longer works or the seals where the copper pipes no longer seal for the couplings used. I'd be concerned the technicians are installing a time bomb for shoddy labor/work.
Another potential issue is a clog in the drain tube. There is a shutoff sensor that has a floating mechanism to keep the drain pan & pipe from backing up & overflowing. Cleaning that pipe & drain pan is a every 6 months to 1X annual maintenance project for me. You would be surprised that the filters shed their material to clog that drain pipe and as the coil in the garage condenses moisture that water backs up & triggers the float valve. Pays to stay on top of filter changes. I use the reusable electrostatic filters that are metal. I can rinse or vacuum them out as often as I want to. Bought 2 of them so I change them out quarterly. And while the MERV ratings may not be as good as the highest performing paper fiber filter, there is rarely a clog of debris. I just recall the 1st time I forced air thru that pipe and the filter material that blew out of it. Nasty stuff when the slimy mucous builds up & accumulates as part of the clog. I learned that at one apartment that never came around to each apartment periodically. The drain pan was metal, it rusted, the entire building had a common drain pipe, so everyone's HVAC slime had backed up & clogged that pipe at the ground level floors. The drain pan overflowed & leaked for the interior apartment air handler. Just a mess.
Last edited:
burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
Make sure to check to see if it qualifies for the Energy Tax Credit, which is a credit not a deduction. I think they kept it but it may have some new requirements.
I got the credit last year when my 14 year old unit bit the dust.
Pops_Caster
Tele-Holic
Glad it was a cheap fix! Our main unit stopped cooling. It’s 20 years old as well. Tech is coming tomorrow morning.
I was going chime in that I spent a WHOLE lot of time in SC growing up (dad and his family were from right outside Columbia) and I don’t think I’ve ever been in a house with a basement there. Same where I grew up in west Texas. Nobody had a basement. Everything was built on slabs. Really old houses might have a crawl space.
no man, the whole climate change thing is working great here...
My unit is ten years old and only stops running in the very wee morning hours. It’s set to 72. I really think this has been the hottest summer since I’ve lived here. Or maybe I’m just old now. 
I know I’ve had very few indoor gigs this summer, and it’s been brutal. I never minded them before, but this year is tough.
OP- glad your fix was an easy one! I know my AC unit is getting long in the tooth. I need it to hang on 1-2 more summers and I might be able to get a new one. Fingers crossed.
I know I’ve had very few indoor gigs this summer, and it’s been brutal. I never minded them before, but this year is tough. OP- glad your fix was an easy one! I know my AC unit is getting long in the tooth. I need it to hang on 1-2 more summers and I might be able to get a new one. Fingers crossed.
tap4154
Doctor of Teleocity
I think we almost should feel guilty, but maybe we'll just enjoy it
Attachments
trapdoor2
Poster Extraordinaire
In Huntsville, AL, homes from the 1890s, in affluent neighborhoods often have basements. However, the whole area is Karst (home of the National Speliogical Society) so lots of limestone and caves). When you get off the hills, it is all red clay...tough/expensive to dig.
I think we almost should feel guilty, but maybe we'll just enjoy it
I only feel guilty if I commit treachery... and I never do dat!
Still foggy and cool here... perfect!
