Air conditioning went out last night at 9:30.
 

We returned from a friends home and the house seemed a little warmer than usual but it was 85 outside.
Checked the thermostat and it read 81.

It wasn't blowing cool air. Turned it off and called the air conditioning company that installed it and they are due here between four and six.

We turned on all of the ceiling fans and this morning it was still 81 and not really uncomfortable. It is now 3:22 and it is 84. I have all of the shades closed. Not uncomfortable if you are under a fan.

I think it is pretty good when the outside temperature is 98 and the inside is 84 with no air after all that time.

We have a block and stucco house.

Just wanted to share this. The house is almost six years old and the air has been on almost every day in that time. I hope it is just a Freon charge.

There is a good chance the start capacitor has failed. If you need refrigerant that means you have a leak, most likely in the evaporator coil. Please post the diagnosis when you get it. Hopefully it is something simple/inexpensive such as the start capacitor.

GG,

There is a switch on the drain line. You should be able to check the drain, take the cap off, use a funnel, and pour a cup of water in the drain. If it drains, you should be OK. If it does not, the drain is plugged, and the switch operated to avoid damage to the AC.

VT

Well, I hope it is fixed before it gets too uncomfortable! I must say I am impressed with the insulation, and glad your home is not an oven.

We are all praying for a speedy covered repair.

Florida is not a pleasant place to live without A/C. Hopefully, you will have cool air soon.

I use Hot water.

Several questions
 

1. Someone suggested it is likely the capacitor. I have enough knowledge to be dangerous. From what I know or think I know, they used to use oil filled capacitors, we used to use them in flash units and they used to last much longer. Due to pollution concerns the oil filled capacitors are no longer used and the current ones are all dielectric-the plates-look like aluminum foil are insulated by oxidation.

Far as an air conditoner, the life seems to be 6 years does it make sense to have it replaced at say five years? When, the capacitor fails does it cause further damage?

2. Cleaning the condensation drain pipe. The debate seems endless. I've been told you should pour a cup of bleach down it once a month. I've been told bleach would dissolve the glue holding the PVC pipe together. I know that is false. The, "glue" holding plastic together is acetone.
It melts the plastic and so the plastic fuses together. The,"glue," the acetone has long since evaporated.
I've also been told you are better off using vinegar.

IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE READING THIS NEVER MIX CHLORINE BLEACH WITH VINEGAR AS IT RELEASES CHLORINE GAS THAT CAN KILL YOU

Just get a hose adapter & hook up a hose to the drain pipe, flush just like back flushing a radiator on car-so simple- and cheap too--that what's Munn's does on their annual service also the cement that is used to join pvc pipes are not glue they are a solvent that actually welds the pipe--instead of bleach use vinegar

Just go to the movies or other air conditioned place until it is time for your serviceman to show.

You are right. $118. No charge for service. We are in the "Comfort Club" where they come to check everything every six months.

They are the folks who put it in the house when it was built. Sunshine Air Conditioning.

Nice young man. Done in minutes.

Most likely it's the start capacitor. I've changed three in five years and I keep one or two on hand at all times. I just change the third one a week ago.


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You are right. It was the start capacitor. See above. We are chillin' over here.

I'm so truly happy that you didn't break out in a sweat

I am glad that it worked out to be just the start capacitor. The failure rate appears to be pretty high on this component. I know of at least 6 homes that have had this failure in the last year, including my own.