AC question Set at 83, current temp in CYV 89, humidity is 55-56. All OK?

[E Cascade]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Tom52]

I would say you have a problem. Temperature in my house is very consistent to set temperature on thermostat, never 6 degrees warmer.

[retiredguy123]

It is definitely not OK. The temperature in the house should be within one degree or so to the thermostat setting. The first thing I would do is to verify the actual temperature with another thermometer. Then turn down the thermostat to 80 degrees and see if the AC unit comes on. Also, check the breaker to see if it is tripped and check the condensate drain line to see if it is clogged.

If the house is less than 5 years old, the HVAC system should still be under warranty. If it is a Carrier Unit, you can write down the model number and the serial number from the inside air handler unit. Then, go to the Carrier warranty website and it will tell you the exact status of the warranty.

[Bill14564]

Did the friend mention whether both the inside and outside unit were running and whether they felt cool air from the vents?

At that differential I would expect the unit to be trying to cool the house.

I have had the blower fan stop working - the outside unit was running but no air was moving through the coils.

I have had the drain line clog and the float switch turn off the outside unit - the inside unit was running and moving air but the outside was not.

A common issue is the starter capacitor at the outside unit - the inside unit would be running and moving air but the outside unit would not. In this case, you might hear a hum at the outside unit.

There have been a lot of lightning storms this year. It is at least possible that the breaker for the outside unit might have tripped. Easy enough to look in the breaker box.

[TommyT]

I see an A/C repair service in their future.....

[CarlR33]

Check your smart thermostat setting's would be a basic starting point? If not the issue then you should probably have a pro check it out.

[Keefelane66]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
I posted last month my A/C thermostat is 5° off reading higher than temp recorded by 2 digital thermometers and one analog. A/C thermostat set at 83° whole home is 78, 47% humidity.

[Altavia]

I posted last month my A/C thermostat is 5° off reading higher than temp recorded by 2 digital thermometers and one analog. A/C thermostat set at 83° whole home is 78, 47% humidity.

If you are seeing a difference between another thermometer and the thermostat reading, calibration of the HVAC thermostat may be off or accidentally set incorrectly.

If the temperature displayed on your Ecobee thermostat is incorrect, follow these steps to correct it:


1) Go to the main menu on the thermostat.

2) [Select “Settings” > “Installation Settings” > “Thresholds” > “Temperature Correction.”

3) Adjust the temperature correction value to calibrate the sensor.

Help Centre (https://support.ecobee.com/s/articles/How-to-use-Temperature-Correction-on-your-ecobee-thermostat)

[retiredguy123]

Somebody actually read the question!

If the other thermometer is correct, calibration of the HVAC thermostat may be off or accidentally set incorrectly.

If the temperature displayed on your Ecobee thermostat is incorrect, follow these steps to correct it:


1) Go to the main menu on the thermostat.

2) [Select “Settings” > “Installation Settings” > “Thresholds” > “Temperature Correction.”

3) Adjust the temperature correction value to calibrate the sensor.

Help Centre (https://support.ecobee.com/s/articles/How-to-use-Temperature-Correction-on-your-ecobee-thermostat)
I read the question, but if the inside temperature is 89 degrees, it sounds like the AC is not working at all. My unconditioned garage has a temperature of 89 degrees. That is why I suggested turning down the thermostat to see if the AC kicks on.

[Bill14564]

I read the question, but if the inside temperature is 89 degrees, it sounds like the AC is not working at all. My unconditioned garage has a temperature of 89 degrees. That is why I suggested turning down the thermostat to see if the AC kicks on.

Plus, the original post mentioned the "actual temp that is being read on the thermostat." It is the thermostat that is reading an inside temp of 89 while being set to 83, not a separate thermometer.

[Velvet]

On my ecobee thermostats at both houses the temperature difference between the set temperature and the actual temperature recorded on the ecobbe unit is never more than 2 degrees - if I have not changed the settings recently.

[Altavia]

I read the question, but if the inside temperature is 89 degrees, it sounds like the AC is not working at all. My unconditioned garage has a temperature of 89 degrees. That is why I suggested turning down the thermostat to see if the AC kicks on.


Plus, the original post mentioned the "actual temp that is being read on the thermostat." It is the thermostat that is reading an inside temp of 89 while being set to 83, not a separate thermometer.

You both may be right, the post is ambiguous (to me) about what/where the lower temperature is being measured.

I read the post as the separate in house measurement was a thermometer with the humidity gauge.

Lots of good advise here, hopefully the OP will figure it out.

[rjm1cc]

If your humidity is staying under 60 I think you will be ok until you get back. I have had a bad thermostat that I had to replace and currently I can get several degrees difference in various rooms. But to be save seems like you need someone to verify that the A/C is running and cooling the home. For now ask your friend to turn the temp down to say 70. Then see that the fan comes on in the heater and that the outside air compressor is working. That may answer your question. Espically if the temp does not start dropping.
On my heater their is a peep hole that I can look into the heater and see the current code. The code could be a good or bad one and they may change. Your friend can try and find the peep hole. Look up the manual on the internet for what the codes mean.
My guess is you might have a bad condenser (outside unit) and this is rather easy to fix. I am guessing this as your unit is not too old.

[Stu from NYC]

I would call for service

[thelegges]

Have your Person check to see if AC is running constantly, but not cooling the house..That will be an ugly electric bill. Happened to us while we were away bill was over $300. yep we had a leak chuck farrel came out next day and fixed it.

[MSchad]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
Do you have temperature profiles? If so do you have an “away” profile? We do and I have the away profile set 5 degrees higher than other profile settings.

[mtdjed]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Has anyone mentioned the AC Start capacitor? Supposedly this is the number one reason for AC performance loss. If the Thermometer is set for cooling and you notice that the temp difference between set temp and actual temp is increasing , your first check should be the outdoor fan. If the fan is not turning or turning slowly, there is a high chance that the AC Start capacitor has failed. Sometimes a manual assist can get it going. (use care, no hands, I've used a thin twig). If the fan starts its normal speed, the unit will start producing cool air until set temp is reached and then stop. It may not start again unless urged again. The start capacitor (if working) normally assists the start.

These start capacitors cost around $20 on Amazon.

Check this UTUBE Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQisFmMtAis

[Topspinmo]

IMO if you got thermostat set at 83 the house should be 83 to 84. IMO your ac not working either compressor not kicking on as mentioned start capacitor or thermostat not calling for cooling. Humidity IMO has nothing to do with actual temperature only how human body react to humidity.

[ithos]

First find out if the outside fan is on and blowing hot air. If it isn't and then time for a tech unless you have a DIY friend to investigate further.

[Jameson]

The humidity seems okay (below 60%). I would pay more attention to that until you can figure out the stat difference. I had problems with another home getting warmer air from the wall behind the stat. I sealed up the hole behind the stat so it better sensed the room air and temp and not air from the wall cavity.

[Lyarham]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Something is obviously wrong with the unit

[GoldenOwl]

You ARE OK! The perfect humidity for your house is 50-55% per the HVAC companies. That is what you want to have it be all year round. I leave every summer, and I bank my house at 85 degrees. I have a smart thermostat so I can see my temperature and humidity from my camper in NY. My house stays right at 50-55% humidity. When I do see it rise to 60% I turn the temperature down to 80 and the humidity drops to 50% or less, and I know all is OK, because the A/C unit brought it down within hours. Humidity is what you look for not temp. %%% is perfect + or - 5%.

[bonrich]

When we are away for an extended period, we set our A/C at 80 degrees and our humidity at 55%. When the humidity gets above 55% the A/C turns on and runs until humidity is back to the proper setting. A/C does not turn on at a house warm level, but on at a humidity level. At least that was what was told by builder. Our home was built 12 years ago so our thermostat has humidity settings for time away.

[retiredguy123]

you are ok! The perfect humidity for your house is 50-55% per the hvac companies. That is what you want to have it be all year round. I leave every summer, and i bank my house at 85 degrees. I have a smart thermostat so i can see my temperature and humidity from my camper in ny. My house stays right at 50-55% humidity. When i do see it rise to 60% i turn the temperature down to 80 and the humidity drops to 50% or less, and i know all is ok, because the a/c unit brought it down within hours. Humidity is what you look for not temp. %%% is perfect + or - 5%.
not ok

[SaucyJim]

95% the drain condensate line needs to be vacuumed out and then flushed with hot water — not vinegar. Just hot water from the tap. That will clear the shutoff switch and the AC - not just the blower - will fire back up. I own two homes here and proactively flush mine monthly so vacuuming the line is not necessary.

Trust me. It’s not your thermostat. It’s not your electric panel. And it’s not the underpants gnomes. 😎

[mkjelenbaas]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
You should have a humidistat connected to your thermostat so you can set the humidity accordingly - in addition your a/c may have a problem as mine once did that and needed a shot of freaon??

[BobGraves]

I'm assuming you have the Ecobee smart thermometer. Log in on Ecobee WEBSITE and click HOME IQ, then SYSTEM MONITOR. This will show you system run times.
I had this problem. Compressor was running $$$ but fan was not. Had new fan installed under warranty (Tank God). System showed constantly running but would not cool because no air movement.

[Nana2Teddy]

I don’t know where your villa is located, but last week down south of 44 many homes in some villages were affected by a lightning strike on a transmission line in Coleman, that caused a “blink”, which tripped random breakers in our panels. We had 8-10 breakers tripped, as did many villagers here in DeLuna, plus there were some in Richmond and likely other villages down here. We had to call SECO the next day to ask what happened because there was zero communication from them about it. Not likely your issue, but thought I’d mention in just in case.

[Girlcopper]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Positively a problem. A few degrees off is normal but that’s too much.

[polirudb]

I'm assuming you have the Ecobee smart thermometer. Log in on Ecobee WEBSITE and click HOME IQ, then SYSTEM MONITOR. This will show you system run times.
I had this problem. Compressor was running $$$ but fan was not. Had new fan installed under warranty (Tank God). System showed constantly running but would not cool because no air movement.

I've had an Ecobee for years and was not aware you could log in and see that information. Thank you for posting that.

[Kells]

Humidity is likely low because humidity in Central Florida is low this past week (because enesto sucked humidity out) but that will change today with temps to 96ish all week.

If the water catch pan or the drain is clogged, it would shut off outside cooling unit but inside fan would still be running, usually continuous.

This is 95% likely the problem. I had to flush my drain yesterday after it clogged up.

Call for service.

[Albany]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
It is probably fine. The humidistat overrides the AC, which will not come on until the humidistat hits 55 and activates it. It is simple to find out. Turn the humidistat to ON from the 55 setting. Wait a little, if the AC comes on you do not have a problem. The system is operating as it should. Then turn the humidistat back to 55.

[retiredguy123]

It is probably fine. The humidistat overrides the AC, which will not come on until the humidistat hits 55 and activates it. It is simple to find out. Turn the humidistat to ON from the 55 setting. Wait a little, if the AC comes on you do not have a problem. The system is operating as it should. Then turn the humidistat back to 55.
Note that, if the system were trying to control humidity, the house temperature would be lower than the thermostat setting, not 6 degrees higher. The only way to reduce humidity is to overcool the house. Unless you have a real humidifier with reheat, which most Village houses do not have, the optional humidity setting will overcool the house by about 3 degrees below the thermostat setting to reduce humidity. To me, a house temperature of 89 degrees indicates that the AC may not be cooling at all.

[westernrider75]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Just a point of reference, my a/c comes when temp is one degree higher than what it is set at.

My snowbird neighbor had this same problem several months ago and there was something wrong with her a/c. Minor fix now all is well.

[DAVES]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

I think the real question is, you do not want to stick your friend in the middle. "Not in the house at this time," you do not say how long you will be gone. Apparently your friend has a key. A service call will cost about $100. It is not like the service person will not realize you are not home. IF, I was the friend, I would not be willing to mess with it. I would lay out the money for you and get a receipt for you-assuming you have a good history. Simple cheap stuff. Drain line clogged. Filter needs replacing.

[Bill14564]

It is probably fine. The humidistat overrides the AC, which will not come on until the humidistat hits 55 and activates it. It is simple to find out. Turn the humidistat to ON from the 55 setting. Wait a little, if the AC comes on you do not have a problem. The system is operating as it should. Then turn the humidistat back to 55.

Are you saying that the thermostat cannot control both the humidity and the temperature? If I ask it to control humidity then the temperature can rise well above the set point as long as the humidity is low? That isn't what I would have expected.

I would expect my thermostat to keep my home near the temperature setting. If I have the dehumidify function enabled then I would expect the AC to EXTRA, if necessary, to keep the humidity level down.

If I have the AC set to a high temp, maybe 85, then I would expect that the humidity might rise and the AC to run to dehumidify the home. This additional running might keep the temp below 85 at times. But I would never expect the thermostat to ignore the temperature setting and allow the home to get very warm just because the humidity level has not risen.

I didn't see this "dehumidify-only" setting in the manual for my old, dumb thermostat. Is it a feature of the newer, "smart" thermostats?

[biker1]

The system has some issue(s). There is a high probability that it is a clogged condensate tube that is tripping the float valve or a failed start capacitor. This has already been suggested as a possible cause. There are numerous other possibilities such as low refrigerant from a leak. Without the capability of checking the two highly probable reasons, the home owner should engage an HVAC professsional. It appears that the system may still be under a 10 year parts and 5 year labor warranty (unless the default warranty has changed since I bought my home new). Relative humidity is a strong function of temperature. You can drop the relative humidity by increasing the temperature with the same absolute amount of moisture in the air. The actual moisture content of the air is higher than it should be if the temperature set point was being met with 55% relative humidity. This means the system has not been running and removing moisture. I have never seen a properly functioning system sustain a 6 degree temperature difference between the actual temperature and the set point.

I have had both a clogged condensate drain and failed start capacitor cause my system to stop. I regularly pour vinegar and hot water down the condensate drain and preemptively replace the start capacitor every two years. It is a $15 part and takes 10 minutes to swap out. Yes, that is overkill but we are gone a fair amount.

It is probably fine. The humidistat overrides the AC, which will not come on until the humidistat hits 55 and activates it. It is simple to find out. Turn the humidistat to ON from the 55 setting. Wait a little, if the AC comes on you do not have a problem. The system is operating as it should. Then turn the humidistat back to 55.

[retiredguy123]

The typical thermostat in The Villages has an option humidity setting that will reduce the humidity by allowing the AC to run longer than it needs to, so the house temperature will occasionally drop below the temperature setting. It is a "compromise" because the only way to control both the temperature and the humidity is with a real humidity control system that has a reheat feature. With a reheat feature, both the temperature and humidity can be controlled simultaneously by cooling and reheating the air to obtain the desired temperature and humidity. Personally, I never use the optional humidity setting because it makes the house too cold, and a real humidity control system is expensive and not worth it.

[rjm1cc]

95% the drain condensate line needs to be vacuumed out and then flushed with hot water — not vinegar. Just hot water from the tap. That will clear the shutoff switch and the AC - not just the blower - will fire back up. I own two homes here and proactively flush mine monthly so vacuuming the line is not necessary.

Trust me. It’s not your thermostat. It’s not your electric panel. And it’s not the underpants gnomes. 😎

Good suggestion, clogged drain line is common. I run about a gallon of water through each month and then a cup of vinegar.

[Altavia]

I'm assuming you have the Ecobee smart thermometer. Log in on Ecobee WEBSITE and click HOME IQ, then SYSTEM MONITOR. This will show you system run times.
I had this problem. Compressor was running $$$ but fan was not. Had new fan installed under warranty (Tank God). System showed constantly running but would not cool because no air movement.

Good tip - thanks!

Here's a link:

https://www.ecobee.com/consumerportal/index.html#/devices/thermostats/411935960765

[Altavia]

I don’t know where your villa is located, but last week down south of 44 many homes in some villages were affected by a lightning strike on a transmission line in Coleman, that caused a “blink”, which tripped random breakers in our panels. We had 8-10 breakers tripped, as did many villagers here in DeLuna, plus there were some in Richmond and likely other villages down here. We had to call SECO the next day to ask what happened because there was zero communication from them about it. Not likely your issue, but thought I’d mention in just in case.

Off topic: Would be interesting to know if homes with the SECO or other surge protectors had tripped breakers.

So I hope you don't mind I copied your post to one of the surge suppression threads so people can reply to that question there.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/many-villagers-concerned-about-lightning-surge-protection-351593/index3.html

[JRcorvette]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

The variation should only be 2 degrees but your Thermostat may not be reading accurately

[JRcorvette]

Clogged drain line… check that first. If not that it is probably your capacitor. Buy on Amazon for about $12 easy to install or hire any handyman. An AC company will charge your $180-$225. Rip Off.

[Altavia]

The system has some issue(s). There is a high probability that it is a clogged condensate tube that is tripping the float valve .

Adding, The float valve may be wired to also cut power to the thermostat.

If so, the thermostat goes blank when the floor valve activates.

[Karmanng]

things may need cleanings including the fan blower and the bottom part of the air unit plus the outside..........may need new capacitor mine needed all that after 5 years and over $1000.00 later and I had people here that took care of it for a bit and regular maitnence

[Karmanng]

Clogged drain line… check that first. If not that it is probably your capacitor. Buy on Amazon for about $12 easy to install or hire any handyman. An AC company will charge your $180-$225. Rip Off.
mine was free just because I had the warrenty transferred over for 100

[DrHitch]

If the breaker is (somehow) tripped, then your thermostat won't get 24v power and a remote (eg Nest) will be blank (no wireless).

In this case, the OP is seeing a setpoint much lower than the actual house. As others pointed out, likely a blown blower motor or clogged condensate line.


Off topic: Would be interesting to know if homes with the SECO or other surge protectors had tripped breakers.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/many-villagers-concerned-about-lightning-surge-protection-351593/index3.html

[rjm1cc]

My thermostat has a red light that comes on when their is a problem. Yours might too.

[DonnaNi4os]

If your thermostat is set at this high a number your ac should have no problem reaching that temp. Definitely a problem. I had a 4 degree difference two summers ago and ended up with no ac at all. First SunKool changed the coil, then the capacitor, then the compressor before it finally worked. This all took 3 weeks in stifling heat in August 2022. It was brutal. Despite me telling the service man over and over again with every service visit that my thermostat wasn’t reaching the set temp, he would tell me that it was normal in the heat of the summer. It is NOT NORMAL! Your ac should bring the temp to what you set the thermostat. Call your service company and if it’s SunKool get another company!

[Bill14564]

If your thermostat is set at this high a number your ac should have no problem reaching that temp. Definitely a problem. I had a 4 degree difference two summers ago and ended up with no ac at all. First SunKool changed the coil, then the capacitor, then the compressor before it finally worked. This all took 3 weeks in stifling heat in August 2022. It was brutal. Despite me telling the service man over and over again with every service visit that my thermostat wasn’t reaching the set temp, he would tell me that it was normal in the heat of the summer. It is NOT NORMAL! Your ac should bring the temp to what you set the thermostat. Call your service company and if it’s SunKool get another company!

I know my system will cool my house at least 25 degrees below the outside temperature, but there is a limit. I wouldn't expect to be able to cool my house to 50 degrees on a 100 degree day but cooling to 75 degrees works just fine. Since replacing the compressor made yours work properly, you obviously were not asking for anything excessive.

[DonnaNi4os]

I know my system will cool my house at least 25 degrees below the outside temperature, but there is a limit. I wouldn't expect to be able to cool my house to 50 degrees on a 100 degree day but cooling to 75 degrees works just fine. Since replacing the compressor made yours work properly, you obviously were not asking for anything excessive.

My thermostat was set to 74. In the morning the temp would be 74-75 when I woke up. By noon the actual temp in my home was between 78-80. This was an ongoing situation that the serviceman claimed was normal and that I would never get my temp to any less than 10 degrees lower than what was outside. (BTW the thermostat was no where near a window in case you were wondering). So he was trying to convince me that if it was 95 outside I would never get the inside temp to lower than 85. I call bull-oney since that was ludicrous. So again, when it finally completely went it took 3 weeks in brutal heat with the only cool air coming from the portable unit I bought. I learned a lot about air conditioning that summer and was very grateful that my house was under 5 years old so still under parts and labor warranty. I also learned that by calling Carrier directly I finally got the needed parts installed.

[retiredguy123]

My thermostat was set to 74. In the morning the temp would be 74-75 when I woke up. By noon the actual temp in my home was between 78-80. This was an ongoing situation that the serviceman claimed was normal and that I would never get my temp to any less than 10 degrees lower than what was outside. (BTW the thermostat was no where near a window in case you were wondering). So he was trying to convince me that if it was 95 outside I would never get the inside temp to lower than 85. I call bull-oney since that was ludicrous. So again, when it finally completely went it took 3 weeks in brutal heat with the only cool air coming from the portable unit I bought. I learned a lot about air conditioning that summer and was very grateful that my house was under 5 years old so still under parts and labor warranty. I also learned that by calling Carrier directly I finally got the needed parts installed.
Baloney is correct. The achievable temperature difference between outside and inside temperatures should be at least 20 to 25 degrees. I would suggest that you write down the model number and serial number for your Carrier system from the sticker on the inside air handling unit. Then, go to the Carrier warranty website where you will see the exact status of your warranty. You can also find the authorized Carrier dealers in the area. The most prominent dealer is Munn's.

Some HVAC repair companies claim that they can do Carrier warranty work, but I suspect that some of them will partner with another contractor. For example, if a non-authorized company diagnoses a defective compressor, I doubt that Carrier will send them a new compressor under a warranty claim because the compressor could have been damaged by a faulty installation.

[jrref]

Baloney is correct. The achievable temperature difference between outside and inside temperatures should be at least 20 to 25 degrees. I would suggest that you write down the model number and serial number for your Carrier system from the sticker on the inside air handling unit. Then, go to the Carrier warranty website where you will see the exact status of your warranty. You can also find the authorized Carrier dealers in the area. The most prominent dealer is Munn's.

Some HVAC repair companies claim that they can do Carrier warranty work, but I suspect that some of them will partner with another contractor. For example, if a non-authorized company diagnoses a defective compressor, I doubt that Carrier will send them a new compressor under a warranty claim because the compressor could have been damaged by a faulty installation.

The best way, and probably the most accurate way to check if you A/C is running correctly temperature wise is to take a temperature probe and stick it through the foam return duct at your air handler and take a reading then do the same at the output at the top of the air handler. The most you should see is a 20 degree temperature differential. 15-20 degree differential is considered "normal" but it should be close to 20 degrees once running for about 15 minutes. This will remove all the other variables trying to measure against the outside temperature. You can then take blue tape and cover the holes for next time. These HVAC temperature probes are available on amazon. Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Thermometer-Klein-Tools-ET05/dp/B071JRZB49/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1D9MTLYSB3OG7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AH6cvPwVJoLlr13eQ4Ct9Cl5mFplsg9EE jycTmsvGll7VJNuC-e3T1-xo4KhWPRLXgnzNbG-V8drD94JfDGR714tdiEe7kJ-E-A3gTNv68sLYVZOoIGQuSLNlF0bZHRB_QKs07AyuWniR6WTS0ve hIzTN3MxZbcLS6aff3spikIO2C3r3EehurlScfYTZDtvtCTiAL gqfOGl-BzHky-GSmPiM0uJpzk_-t_H0cKcvvc.gokQaIvhi6oVpNIKh6kGG0zRt__ZKf245M2EpVD 1OKk&dib_tag=se&keywords=hvac+thermometer&qid=1724326791&sprefix=hvac+thermometer%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-3)

[Freehiker]

83?! 🥵🔥

[mtdjed]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Would be interesting to have an OP update to this post as to what the real problem was. People care enough to offer their time to respond, and others read and appreciate advice that may help them in the future. Which if any of the responses came close and what has been done to solve the dilemma?

[opinionist]

I had the HVAC system freeze up due to a failed temperature control valve. Some cooling came from the system but not enough to maintain temperature control.

[Teed_Off]

Had a similar problem years ago. Indoor coil froze preventing cooled air to get to the house. Turned off the A/C, coil thawed, water dripped past the drain pan and into the return duct below the unit. The weight of the water collapsed the duct separating it from the unit. Took two days to dry out the fiberglass duct. Had to cut a hole in the side of the plenum to repair the ductwork.
Hopefully you won’t have the same issues.

[retiredguy123]

The best way, and probably the most accurate way to check if you A/C is running correctly temperature wise is to take a temperature probe and stick it through the foam return duct at your air handler and take a reading then do the same at the output at the top of the air handler. The most you should see is a 20 degree temperature differential. 15-20 degree differential is considered "normal" but it should be close to 20 degrees once running for about 15 minutes. This will remove all the other variables trying to measure against the outside temperature. You can then take blue tape and cover the holes for next time. These HVAC temperature probes are available on amazon. Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Thermometer-Klein-Tools-ET05/dp/B071JRZB49/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1D9MTLYSB3OG7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AH6cvPwVJoLlr13eQ4Ct9Cl5mFplsg9EE jycTmsvGll7VJNuC-e3T1-xo4KhWPRLXgnzNbG-V8drD94JfDGR714tdiEe7kJ-E-A3gTNv68sLYVZOoIGQuSLNlF0bZHRB_QKs07AyuWniR6WTS0ve hIzTN3MxZbcLS6aff3spikIO2C3r3EehurlScfYTZDtvtCTiAL gqfOGl-BzHky-GSmPiM0uJpzk_-t_H0cKcvvc.gokQaIvhi6oVpNIKh6kGG0zRt__ZKf245M2EpVD 1OKk&dib_tag=se&keywords=hvac+thermometer&qid=1724326791&sprefix=hvac+thermometer%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-3)
I don't disagree with your technical method. But, my thermostat is always set on 78 degrees and, on some days, the outside temperature has exceeded 100 degrees, with no increase in the inside temperature. So, my system is able to maintain at least a 22 degree difference between the outside and inside temperatures. I have several outside and inside thermometers, so I know this is correct. I have not tested it to see if I can lower the thermostat setting and achieve a lower inside temperature. I don't know what other variables I would need to consider.

[jrref]

I don't disagree with your technical method. But, my thermostat is always set on 78 degrees and, on some days, the outside temperature has exceeded 100 degrees, with no increase in the inside temperature. So, my system is able to maintain at least a 22 degree difference between the outside and inside temperatures. I have several outside and inside thermometers, so I know this is correct. I have not tested it to see if I can lower the thermostat setting and achieve a lower inside temperature. I don't know what other variables I would need to consider.

That's fine. As I mentioned, the A/C can only reduce the temperature of the RETURN AIR, not the outside air, 20 degrees. And you measure this by taking a temperature reading at the return duct at the air handler and another reading at the output of the air handler at the duct right above it. You should see a maximun of about 20 degrees. Regardless of the outside air temperature, whatever the air temperature inside your home shoud be the reading you get at the return duct at the air handler. This is why you should never turn off or significantly lower your A/C on very hot days. If you do this it will take a very long time for your A/C to bring down the temperature in the house.

[Pairadocs]

My AC thermostat is set at 83. Temp in house is saying 89. Humidity in CYV by my clock on wall says 55-56. I am not at the house and I just had a friend check it out for me.
Question is: Is this too big of a variable between set temp and actual temp that is being read on the thermostat? Since I am not at the house at this time, I am wondering if all is OK. Villa is only <5 yo. Never had any problems before and I actually have never noticed what the variable is before the unit comes on, when I am there It's always been fine.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

NOT OKAY AT ALL ! Only time we had anything like that was when we (foolishly!) did not keep track of putting the monthly white vinegar down the drain line and.... well, you KNOW what an expensive mistake that can be !

[Pairadocs]

I know my system will cool my house at least 25 degrees below the outside temperature, but there is a limit. I wouldn't expect to be able to cool my house to 50 degrees on a 100 degree day but cooling to 75 degrees works just fine. Since replacing the compressor made yours work properly, you obviously were not asking for anything excessive.

Most HONEST AC people will tell you that anything over a "15 split" (meaning asking the unit to cool your home MORE than 15 degrees under the outside temp, is going to really strain the unit. IF we follow that, on 95 degree days we "should" set thermostat at 80, but most people would set it much lower, and most units are able to respond to that, but something very wrong with your unit as you are not demanding much of it ! ! !