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 Mobile ViewAIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS A/C - HEAT PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES Outside Switches, Fuses, Breakers Inside Switches,Components Air Handler / Blower Switches Blower Door Switches Backup Heat Controls CAPILLARY TUBES CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP Compressor Condenser Switches, Controls Condensate Overflow Switch Duct System Switches Duct System Filters OPERATING CONTROLS, A/C & HEAT PUMP Starter Capacitors Thermostats & Controls Thermostatic Expansion Valves Motor Overload / Overheat Reset Switch Pressure Controls & Safety Switches Zone Damper Controls A/C DATA TAGS A/C - HEAT PUMP CRITICAL DEFECTS A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs A/C REFRIGERANTS A/C TYPES, ENERGY SOURCE AGE of AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART AIR CONDITIONER COMPONENT PARTS AIR CONDITIONER TYPES, ENERGY SOURCES AIR CONDITIONER NOT WORKING AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS Air Filter Accessibility Air Filter Bypass Leakage Air Filter Installation Procedure Build Large Air Filters Air Filter Location Dirty Air Filter Problems ENERGY SAVINGS by AIR FILTERS Air Filtering Strategies Missing or Leaky Air Filters AIR FILTERS, OPTIMUM INDOOR CONTINUOUS BLOWER FAN OPERATION AIR FILTER EFFECTIVENESS FIBERGLASS & AIR FILTERS SOURCES FOR AIR FILTERS OTHER AIR CLEANERS AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS ADDING A/C: RETROFIT SIZING BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BLOWER LEAKS, RUST & MOLD COOLING COIL or EVAPORATOR COIL DAMAGED COOLING COIL DIRTY A/C BLOWERS Leaks, Rodents In Air Handlers Mold Growth in Air Handlers DIRTY COOLING COIL DIRTY COIL CLEANING PROCEDURES FROST BUILD-UP on AIR CONDITIONER COILS NOISY AIR HANDLER / BLOWER FAN APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING BOOKSTORE - Air Conditioning "How To" Books CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS CAPILLARY TUBES CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS COMPRESSOR & CONDENSING COIL, A/C CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C DRIP TRAY DEFECTS Missing Condensate Overflow Pan Improper Condensate Drain Connects Float Switch on Condensate Tray Water in Condensate Overflow Pan CONDENSATE LEAKS CONDENSATE PUMPS CONDENSATE DRAINS Locations for Condensate Disposal Plumbing Code for Condensate Drains Improper Condensate Disposal Condensate Drains Connected to Vent Pipe Condensate Spills in Crawl Spaces Condensate Leaks Onto Heat Exchangers Condensate Disposal Outdoors Condensate Drains to Hidden Location CONDENSATE DRAIN CLEAN & DE-CLOG CONDENSATE TRAY CLEANING CONTROLS & SWITCHES, A/C - HEAT PUMP COOL OFF HEAT Thermostat Switch COOLING CAPACITY, RATED COOLING COIL or EVAPORATOR COIL DAMAGED COOLING COIL DIRTY COOLING COIL DIRTY COIL CLEANING PROCEDURES FROST BUILD-UP on AIR CONDITIONER COILS DATA TAGS on AIR CONDITIONERS DEFINITION of Heating & Cooling Terms DEHUMIDIFICATION PROBLEMS DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS DUCTS - Asbestos DUCT INSULATION, Asbestos Paper DUCT INSULATION for SOUNDPROOFING DUCT SYSTEM NOISES DUCTS, Asbestos Transite Pipe DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC? EDUCATION, HVAC SCHOOLS ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH ELECTRICAL POWER SWITCH FOR HEAT ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS EVAPORATOR COIL or COOLING COIL EXPANSION VALVES, REFRIGERANT FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch FAN, COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER UNIT FAN CONVECTOR HEATERS - HYDRONIC COILS FAN LIMIT SWITCH FAN NOISES FURNACES WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS GASES, EXPOSURE, TESTING Carbon Dioxide - CO2 Carbon Monoxide - CO METHANE GAS SOURCES GAS MEASUREMENT TOOLS GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST HEAT LOSS (or GAIN) in buildings HEAT PUMPS HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE INSPECTION CHECKLIST - OUTDOOR UNIT INSPECTION LIMITATIONS LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LOST COOLING CAPACITY MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH NOISY AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE Air Leak Noises AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP NOISES OPERATING COST OPERATING DEFECTS OPERATING TEMPERATURES PORTABLE ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS PRESSURE READINGS, REFRIGERANT REPAIR GUIDE, AIR CONDITIONERS / HEAT PUMPS REPAIR & DIAGNOSTIC FAQs for A/C REFRIGERANTS RETROFIT SIZING for A/C or HEAT PUMPS SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS SWAMP COOLERS SYSTEM OPERATION THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING THERMOSTATIC EXPANSION VALVES WATER COOLED AIR CONDITIONERS More Information |
This article discusses the indoor components of air conditioners and heat pumps: the air conditioning system indoor air handler units, blower units, or AHU's, (also called fan coil units) including the air conditioner blower fan, the indoor cooling coil or "evaporator coil", air conditioning system filters, and the causes, cures, and prevention of air handler leaks that lead to rust, damage, and mold contamination in the air conditioning system. InspectAPedia offers impartial, unbiased advice without conflicts of interest. We will block advertisements which we discover or readers inform us are associated with bad business practices, false-advertising, or junk science. Our contact info is at InspectAPedia.com/Contact.htm.We also discuss how to improve indoor air quality by installing a cascaded air filter system at the air conditioning (or heating system) air handler to provide optimal air particle filtration for people with asthma, allergies, or indoor mold or other IAQ concerns. Also see COOLING COIL or EVAPORATOR COIL for a description of diagnosis and repair of cooling coil problems since this component is normally located within the air handler chassis as well. A cooling coil which is blocked by debris or ice and frost can obstruct air flow and reduce air conditioning system output. For a discussion of the outdoor components of an air conditioning or heat pump system see COMPRESSOR & CONDENSING COIL, A/C. If your air conditioning or heat pump system has lost its cooling capacity or won't start see REPAIR GUIDE for AIR CONDITIONERS. see How to determine the cooling capacity of air conditioning equipment if the system seems to be working but is inadequate to cool your building. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution. © Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. Initial, simple diagnostic checks of the air handler system are also described at Ducts & Air Handler diagnosis: Basic checks of the indoor air handler (blower), air ducts, and filter systems. DIRTY A/C BLOWERS - Dirt-blocked air conditioner air handler fans
Cupped fan blades can become blocked by debris: The blades of a squirrel-cage fan are cupped in order to cause the spinning cage to move air. Dirt accumulation on the blades fills-in this cupped area, ultimately changing the "cup" to a simple flat area. The fan will spin just fine. I've seen the cubic feet per minute of air conditioning air-flow literally double when a very dirty squirrel cage fan fan of this type was cleaned or replaced. Cleaning an air conditioner squirrel cage fan with compressed air? If the blower fan blades have significant dirt accumulation, you should have the system professionally cleaned. While this is a fairly costly service call (requiring blower disassembly and removal for cleaning) it can make a dramatic improvement in system performance. Do not permit a simple "blow out" of the blower by compressed air if the air handler/blower are in the living area. Some HVAC service companies use a foaming cleaner for removing debris from an evaporator coil. That same material might assist in cleaning a squirrel cage fan. Otherwise we recommend removing the fan and cleaning it thoroughly outside. Clean the remainder of the fan cabinet and housing before returning the air handler to service. Leaks, Dirt, Rodents Getting Into HVAC Blowers, Blower Compartments, Air Plenums
Very dirty, wet, leaked-into, or rodent-infested blower compartments risk indoor air quality and health issues in buildings. The air handler unit in the photo at left needs cleaning and a check for unsafe wiring due to leaks. Leaks into the blower compartment of an HVAC air handler invite mold problems too. The return air plenum in the photo at right has both a dead mouse and some other sort of trash that probably fell down a return air floor grille. Mice in HVAC systems are a potential viral or bacterial hazard as well as an indicator of poor housekeeping. These conditions suggested that there had not been regular inspections of this equipment. Causes & Photographs of Mold Growth in Air Conditioning Blower Fans
Basic Tips on Keeping the HVAC Blower Assembly CleanBLOWER OPERATION: For effective operation of this system it is essential that it never be operated without air filters in place. See AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS. If you permit the filters to become very dirty you may need expensive special cleaning or other repairs. See BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING. COOLING MAINTENANCE TIP: The HVAC blower assembly should be serviced every two years. Without proper service the system may have no more than a five year lifetime. ENERGY CONSERVATION: Keeping the fireplace flue closed (if you have one) when not in use will improve both heating and cooling efficiency in all buildings. Questions & Answers regarding this article. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
How to diagnose and fix an air conditioning system that is not workingSince the failure of an air conditioner to turn on, loss of air conditioner cooling capacity, reduced air conditioning output temperatures, loss of cool air supply, or even loss of air flow entirely can be due to a variety of problems with one or more components of an air conditioner or air conditioning system, after reviewing the lost air conditioner cooling diagnosis procedures described in this article, be sure to also review the diagnostic procedures at each of the individual air conditioning diagnosis and repair major topics listed just below. To return to our air conditioning and refrigeration home page go to AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS. If your air conditioning or heat pump system has lost its cooling capacity or won't start select one or more of the diagnostic articles listed below.
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