AboutHoward Livingston Expertise Can answer questions on electrical control circuits, power supply,airflow & distribution, electrical components,refrigerant problems,gas, electric & propane furnaces.No boiler or refrigerator or oil fired furnaces experience.Just HVAC questions please.
Experience 35 years experience in residential & light commercial repair & installation.
Question I have a Goodman air conditioner that was installed brand new in my condo in May 2005, when it was built.
Last summer, I had an AC repair man come to my condo because the air conditioner was not functioning - it was just not doing anything at all when I turned it on. The repair man told me that the drain pan had simply gotten full, and as soon as he pulled out the "low voltage float switch," the AC immediately kicked on. So he unscrewed the pipes, asked me for a bucket, and that was that - it was fixed. The switch on my AC is connected to a cylindrical pipe with a clear window where you can see the water.
This weekend, I tried to turn on my AC for the first time this summer. It worked okay, but after having it on for one day, it stopped kicking on - the temperature in my condo was getting up above 80 degrees and it wasn't kicking on. I had my thermostat set at around 72-74 degrees. I remembered last summer, and pulled out the float switch - sure enough, the AC kicked on. So I pulled off the very end piece of PVC pipe and emptied it out. As soon as I put it back on, the cylinder was immediately filled up again with water.
Now I am stuck in this cycle again...if I empty the cylinder, the AC works for 15-20 minutes, but then it'll kick off and not turn back on. If I pull out the float switch, it kicks on.
Is there any advice you can give me about this? I'd be happy to give you any more information if you need it.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
Answer Ah, those float switches are there as an emergency only. Don;'t need them if the drain line for the water is good. Evidentally your line drain is b-a-d ! I would disconnect the float switch & get the drain line running good. That water empties into the sewer line thru a P trap. Is the P trap open ??
