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Heating, Air Conditioning, Fridge, HVAC/Questions Answered by Expert Norval Trimborn

SubjectDate Asked
Bryant Heat Pump12/29/2011
  Q: Let me give you a little info first. I live in the mid atlantic region of the US. This is a Bryant 3 ...
  A: It seems as if voltage is dropping out at some point to cause this. You should be grateful that the ...
Enough BTU's?12/28/2011
  Q: I am gutting my 1911 home and putting in a new heating system. The house is two story with heated ...
  A: The furnace with the higher BTU "output" would heat the house slightly faster. Oversizing can cause ...
Enough BTU's?12/28/2011
  Q: I am gutting my 1911 home and putting in a new heating system. The house is two story with heated ...
  A: The only correct way to determine the size of the furnace (in BTUs) for your house is with a Manual ...
Furnace/Heating problem12/24/2011
  Q: Having gas furnace problem. Sometimes it lights and comes on, and sometimes it locks out and won't ...
  A: I know that during these hard times it is never good news to hear that the best choice might be the ...
Lights dimming12/20/2011
  Q: Every time my new Trane central air comes on, the lights in the entire house dim momentarily. This ...
  A: The symptoms would seem to point to either a poor connection somewhere between the incoming power at ...
Lennox GHR26 Series Furnace Malfunction12/14/2011
  Q: I own in a condo with central heating in the building. Each batroom has a Lennox GHR26 furnace pump ...
  A: Your fault code with the LEDs seems to indicate a problem with the pressure switch making. This ...
home heat/ac unit transformer12/13/2011
  Q: My heater/ac unit is totally inop. It does not turn on when the heat or ac is commanded on via the ...
  A: Sorry, you messed me up by calling your supply voltage a 120 volt supply. Supply voltage is measured ...
condensor freeze over12/12/2011
  Q: I have a Rheem heat pump my condensor is frosting over , what would be the most likely problem, ...
  A: When heat pumps run in the heat mode the cold coil is outside(condenser). Because it is normally ...
Carrier gas furnace ignition problem12/11/2011
  Q: .. I just replaced an inducer fan motor on an older Carrier furnace (bearings were bad). This unit ...
  A: You haven't given a model and serial number for the furnace, so I don't know exactly what you have. ...
Cold pipe vs warm pipe12/10/2011
  Q: I'm in FL and my question is about residential central A/C, the blower unit that's inside the house ...
  A: With the A/C cooling the house the small uninsulated line can be anywhere from cool to very warm ...
home heat/ac unit transformer12/8/2011
  Q: My heater/ac unit is totally inop. It does not turn on when the heat or ac is commanded on via the ...
  A: What you have is a transformer with a multitap primary that can be used with supply voltages of ...
Replacing thermostat12/5/2011
  Q: I have a house with radiant electric heat in the ceiling.The house and radiant heat is 35 years old. ...
  A: It depends on how the honeywell thermostat connections are marked. It appears that Bl and W are your ...
Bryant Thermidistat replacment - up grade12/1/2011
  Q: I have bryant thermidistate model TSTATBBPRH01-B, here in the good ole south, it has failed ...
  A: Just because the old model thermidistat has been discontinued doesn't mean that they are not still ...
central H/A11/30/2011
  Q: I have 2 units 1 downstair, 1 upstairs. My house stays very dusty (proof on furniture) When we check ...
  A: The filters are there to protect your units. 100 percent of the air in the house does not go through ...
LUX TX9100E tstat on Goodman PHK024-1 heat pump11/29/2011
  Q: I have a heat pump with emergency heat, Goodman PHK024-1 with a 10kW heat strip. I am replacing ...
  A: I believe that both the white and the brown wires on your heat pump do the exact same thing (turn ...
Payne Wiring harness11/29/2011
  Q: The front panel on the gas furnace says Payne, the top part for ac has carrier. My heat is not ...
  A: The model and serial number of the furnace should be somewhere inside the cabinet or on the doors. ...
LUX TX9100E tstat on Goodman PHK024-1 heat pump11/29/2011
  Q: I have a heat pump with emergency heat, Goodman PHK024-1 with a 10kW heat strip. I am replacing ...
  A: Your Lux T-stat allows for 2 stages of heat when used for a heat pump. 1st stage is the heat pump ...
New furnace fan too loud11/26/2011
  Q: The new furnace is blowing up a noisy and strong storm through the vents. Apparently, we got one ...
  A: More area in the existing supply duct/register or adding a second supply to the room would help with ...
New furnace fan too loud11/25/2011
  Q: The new furnace is blowing up a noisy and strong storm through the vents. Apparently, we got one ...
  A: You should have had the new system sized correctly for the existing house and a separate system ...
Replacing Baseboard Heater11/22/2011
  Q: I have an electric 240 baseboard heater with an integrated relay in our living room. It has 2 small ...
  A: The safest way to wire a line voltage thermostat to a 240 volt baseboard heater is to use a double ...
Gas Forced Air Furnace11/18/2011
  Q: My wife and I live in an apartment in Brooklyn, NY and we recently bought a house about 50 miles ...
  A: The lower that you set the thermostat during the unoccupied period the less money you will spend ...
Heating problems11/13/2011
  Q: I have a 11 year old Carrier Gas Pack. The blower on my unit is taking longer than normal to come ...
  A: From your description it sounds as if you may be having an intermittent problem proving the flame. ...
heat smoke in house11/7/2011
  Q: had cells replaced in central air and heat because one had a large cracked. it has worked fine for ...
  A: Because oil is used in the process of making heat exchangers it is not unusual for the furnace to ...
Heil DC90 Furnace11/6/2011
  Q: Hoping you can help with my question. We have a Heil DC90 Series Furnace Serial number L954038323. ...
  A: There are a number of things that could cause the symptom you are describing. I think that the ...
HVAC replacement11/3/2011
  Q: I have a 12 year old Amana system (5 ton and 3 ton) HVAC system that we have taken bids on. It's ...
  A: Being a service technician rather than a salesperson I am not really sure if the systems are ...
Heat Pump isn't cooling10/28/2011
  Q: Have just had heat pump installed. It heats very well but when shift to cool, system is blowing warm ...
  A: There could be a number of mechanical causes that would need a service technician to diagnose, but ...
Repairing Central A/C lines running under slab foundation10/28/2011
  Q: I live in Minnesota and have a townhome with a slab foundation. The lines from the central A/C ...
  A: Most line sets in slab houses that I know of weren't run through PVC pipe. Before you tear up the ...
heat/air10/27/2011
  Q: I have a rheem ,quite old and mosel # rrggd07e30jkr.I turn it on and the heat (gas) does ...
  A: It sounds as if the relay or fan/limit ( I can't tell which from the model # you gave) that is ...
Seeking Unbiased A/C Inspection10/27/2011
  Q: I have had three different A/C companies find three different leaks responsible for my Freon leaking ...
  A: I am not aware of any companies that do the inspection that you want done which also don't sell and ...
gas furnace blower reversing by itself10/26/2011
  Q: I’ve noticed that my York gas furnace does not heat up the house properly. At first, I thought that ...
  A: The problem is most likely with the capacitor, but there is a chance that it could be the motor. You ...
Ductless indoor unit blower noise10/10/2011
  Q: I bought our ductless Friedrich MW18C3F 3 years ago to cool our living room here in Minnesota. It ...
  A: I am sorry not to have been more helpful in solving your problem. Luffing (motor speed that is ...
Hot Water Baseboard Heating Anomaly10/9/2011
  Q: I own a large 2-story home in upstate New York and heat it with hot-water baseboard heat. I have a ...
  A: There are a few possibilities for your observed problem and things that you can check to try to ...
What is wrong with my central A/C?8/17/2011
  Q: Just a quick description of my problem: Brand new Goodman 3 ton unit with Rheem coil installed 3 ...
  A: You need to get another company to work on your system because obviously the company that you have ...
What is wrong with my central A/C?8/17/2011
  Q: Just a quick description of my problem: Brand new Goodman 3 ton unit with Rheem coil installed 3 ...
  A: If the compressor is not starting, then the problem is with the compressor or its accessories. The ...
What is wrong with my central A/C?8/17/2011
  Q: Just a quick description of my problem: Brand new Goodman 3 ton unit with Rheem coil installed 3 ...
  A: It seems as though your compressor problems may have started with the leak. If a compressor runs ...
Furnace Humidifier Installation Questions8/12/2011
  Q: "Furnace Humidifier Installation Questions: PROBLEM: I am trying to hook up a "Herrmidifier Mister ...
  A: The 2 connections that you are seeing labeled 120v HUM are meant to power the primary side(120v) of ...
Trane Heat pump8/10/2011
  Q: We have a 4y/o Trane heat pump model #2TWB3036A1000AA. We had it checked due to the fact that the ...
  A: Trane units normally have a "Parts List" in an envelope inside the control panel of the unit. This ...
tons of air conditioning8/10/2011
  Q: how can you tell the tons of Air Conditioning by the model number. Ray
  A: Some brands are easy to tell from the model number and some are difficult or impossible to tell from ...
unit runs all night8/2/2011
  Q: .i have two new payne units here at home. about 7pm i push the one in the kitchen area up to 88 so ...
  A: What you are experiencing is due to several factors. The heat in your house consists of 2 types of ...
Window A/C Air Stinks of Mold7/31/2011
  Q: My window a/c air that is being blown in has made my entire downstairs stink of mold. The closer ...
  A: It may need be taken out of the window and thoroughly cleaned. Many companies do not work on window ...
york heat pump not cooling7/28/2011
  Q: unit is running but not cooling. air flow seems good. not freezing up. ? ANSWER: It could be a ...
  A: Without leak checking the system it is hard to say what is going on. Yes, you could have multiple ...
Bryant Steam Boiler (Res)7/27/2011
  Q: Norval, I have a Bryant Tubular Steam Boiler Model 8-4, Serial #45365. It is working fine and very ...
  A: Sorry, I can't really tell much from the model/sn. One way to try to date if there are any original ...
AC condenser7/22/2011
  Q: Would it help any hosing my AC condenser down for a few minutes when its 96 degrees outside???? If I ...
  A: Ideally if your system is clean and sized correctly it should work fine with outside air ...
condensation7/22/2011
  Q: recently replaced the coil on a 4 yr old bryant heating & cooling system model352AAV & 123A/124A due ...
  A: Basically the same answer as before, but I would not expect the supply ductwork leading away from ...
a/c problem7/21/2011
  Q: my 2.5 ton a/c has been running for 3 days straight now. it is in the 90's outside and very humid. ...
  A: You may or may not have a problem with your system. The more humid it is the harder it is for the ...
condensation7/20/2011
  Q: recently replaced the coil on a 4 yr old bryant heating & cooling system model352AAV & 123A/124A due ...
  A: Since it is ruining the ceiling, I assume that the unit is in the unconditioned attic. If the coil ...
repair or replace AC and where to start7/20/2011
  Q: Our Furnace is 5 yrs old Ruud and AC is 22 yr (I think) old Heil. The AC unit was running fine for ...
  A: Since it seems like the contractor that you had out for the quote took all the data needed for a ...
Tempstar unit repair7/17/2011
  Q: I have a Tempstar Heat Pump which stopped cooling. Indoor blower and outside fan still work. ...
  A: I really have no idea of cost on a replacement compressor if it is available. It might buy you some ...
Tempstar unit repair7/17/2011
  Q: I have a Tempstar Heat Pump which stopped cooling. Indoor blower and outside fan still work. ...
  A: Were the connections burnt off at the compressor itself or the contactor/capacitor? Was the ...
a/c dripping water7/12/2011
  Q: I have my a/c in my attic. The other day I noticed a water stain on the ceiling next to a flush ...
  A: Shutting off supply vents can cause the system to ice up which in turn can cause water to go where ...
Leak?7/11/2011
  Q: We have a Trane xe1000 that is about 11 years old. This weekend it stopped blowing cold air. We ...
  A: A system that has no freon left in it is not a PROBABLE leak, it is a leak(and a very large one at ...
air conditioner motor7/9/2011
  Q: replacing air conditioner motor my old one has 3 wires and the replacement one has 4 wires old has ...
  A: I believe that the old motor was a 230 volt 3 wire motor. The black and yellow wires were the 230 ...
thermol zone cond. unit7/8/2011
  Q: I live in baltimore maryland and was looking to replace my central air conditioner and furnace units ...
  A: I'm sorry, but I am not at all familiar with Thermalzone equipment. I did take a look at their ...
Trane Gas Pack7/7/2011
  Q: My wife and I are looking for a home to buy in our area, and had 2 different one's inspected. My ...
  A: It looks like there is rust on the heat exchanger faceplate and this has been caused by a ...
a/c drain7/7/2011
  Q: having a problem with my air handler.The primary drain is not clogged but all the water is going ...
  A: Hopefully you put the vent on the downstream side of the trap because if it is on the upstream side ...
A/C Problem7/6/2011
  Q: The thermostat turns on and it sounds like the A/C fan goes on but when you go outside to the unit; ...
  A: Some of the possibilities include a blown fuse in the condensing unit disconnect,open low voltage ...
Heat Pump Cooling7/4/2011
  Q: I have a CARRIER model 25HBR heat pump with a CARRIER FC4DN coil unit installed in the attic of my ...
  A: Without being able to take readings and measurements when the system is running at a high outdoor ...
a/c only blowing cool7/3/2011
  Q: a/c unit is brand new but only blows cool and not very hard. What could be problem?
  A: It could be any number of problems or multiple problems. Without the ability to take readings and ...
hvac condenser not working7/3/2011
  Q: I shot a video of the problem I’m having. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUsOS--lsGA Replaced ...
  A: It's a little difficult to see clearly in your video. The part where you see the spark is the ...
HVAC burning smell when running AC6/28/2011
  Q: First let me thank you for previous help!! Now... My sister has an older model TRANE - Model ...
  A: An aftermarket capacitor is perfectly ok as long as it has the correct microfarad and voltage rating ...
Crayon oder from HVAC6/26/2011
  Q: I have 3 Unico 2 year old HVAC systems w/ exterior Bryant AC units that use Puron 410A. I have a ...
  A: There should be nothing colored inside of the system unless a dye was added for leak detection. Have ...
RUUD location6/21/2011
  Q: I had a RUUD electric heater installed 2 winters ago. It was put under my overhang in the back of ...
  A: Since electric heat furnaces are normally installed inside the house, I have to assume that you are ...
Ceiling airvents5/28/2011
  Q: I live in an old 1850's farm house that we recently renovated. During the renovation process we ...
  A: Many ceiling registers that are available that distribute the air radially from the register. They ...
upgrading a Siegler heating system5/28/2011
  Q: .. I'm considering purchasing a home that currently is heated with a Siegler heating system. I ...
  A: You need to contact several HVAC contractors in your area to get estimates for the Heat/Ductwork and ...
Home warranty Scam????????5/27/2011
  Q: I have a 6 year old Ryan manufactured home and recently had an issue with my upstairs air ...
  A: You haven't mentioned what your issue was or what the code violation was either. Having worked with ...
Replacement of Evap Coil5/25/2011
  Q: I have a 2 ton Carrier, approximately 15 years old in Georgia. I need a new 2 ton evap coil, ...
  A: I am not sure why you need to pay a disposal fee for the old evap. coil as you could sell it for ...
outside central air unit5/23/2011
  Q: My outside central air unit comes on for 10 seconds, then stops for 5 seconds, then back on for 10 ...
  A: Depending on age and safeties included in the unit this may be caused by cycling on either the low ...
Outside a/c unit5/23/2011
  Q: I have never noticed this before, but today I was outside and noticed a small trickle of water ...
  A: Yes it is normal. During hot /humid weather the temperature of the low pressure side (the insulated ...
One or Two Furnances5/21/2011
  Q: There was aQuestion I will be changing out my furnaces. I live in a cold climate in a 40 year old ...
  A: I would also stick with the 2 separate furnaces. Try to get the highest efficiency unit(s) that you ...
Goodman VS Ruud5/18/2011
  Q: I'm a single woman, looking for advise on the expensive purchase of replacing my outside rooftop ...
  A: You haven't mentioned the prices for either unit. If they are roughly the same, the 16 seer 2 stage ...
window ac5/16/2011
  Q: I have a Samsung window unit that has no drain. As a result the motor mount rusted thru and jammed ...
  A: Many window units were designed so that the capillary tube( metering device ) was immersed in the ...
RUDD ac/heat pump capacitors4/22/2011
  Q: I am confused baout capacitors. Two capacitors are next to one another on OUTSIDE of the unit. The ...
  A: The run capacitor should discharge within 5-10 seconds after you shut off the power to the unit. All ...
RUDD ac/heat pump capacitors4/18/2011
  Q: I am confused baout capacitors. Two capacitors are next to one another on OUTSIDE of the unit. The ...
  A: Run capacitors are always in the circuit and don't need to be discharged as they will bleed off when ...
RUDD ac/heat pump capacitors4/15/2011
  Q: I am confused baout capacitors. Two capacitors are next to one another on OUTSIDE of the unit. The ...
  A: Will need to find my copeland handbook to tell the microfarads for that compressor. I will try to do ...
14 years old air conditioner not blow out cool air4/10/2011
  Q: Model:REBA-17J07SEDAI; 2.5 tons, 10 seer I lived in Miami and because of the weather here, I have ...
  A: If your outdoor unit has a leak that cannot be repaired you will need to replace the AC system with ...
Heat Pump Problem?3/30/2011
  Q: I think I may have an issue with my heat pump. I live in northern VA, just outside of DC. When I ...
  A: The only difference between heat and AC on a heat pump is the operation of the reversing valve. If ...
Heat Pump Problem?3/29/2011
  Q: I think I may have an issue with my heat pump. I live in northern VA, just outside of DC. When I ...
  A: Unless it is very cold outside the outdoor unit on a heat pump should be running in the heating mode ...
Replacement Heat Pump3/25/2011
  Q: 3 years in a new home w/ 5 ton Rheem heat pump set for 2 zones. Year 1 the compressor fried. ...
  A: I would be a little hesitant about letting a company that has lost 2 compressors in three years do ...
payne serial and model numbers3/24/2011
  Q: .this is weird. i had 2 brand new payne central units put in a month or so ago. both are 2 ton. when ...
  A: If the flue pipe for the furnace is metal and vented to a chimney, the furnace is 80% plus ...
payne serial and model numbers3/23/2011
  Q: .this is weird. i had 2 brand new payne central units put in a month or so ago. both are 2 ton. when ...
  A: The SEER rating is only for the airconditioning not the furnace. The furnace would have an ...
Heat Pump3/20/2011
  Q: In your opinion do you think placing a air source heat pump condenser in a basement would work, ...
  A: A heat pump basically transfers heat. It removes heat from the outdoor air (virtually limitless) and ...
gas like odor when furnace kicks on3/19/2011
  Q: I live in the midwest and have a 3 year old gas furnace. About a month or two into the heating ...
  A: You haven't mentioned whether the furnace is 80% or 90% efficient or given a model/serial number. CO ...
Ruud Deluxe 80 clicking sounds3/14/2011
  Q: Furnace has run well for years, but recently started making clicking sounds. Replaced the flame ...
  A: It could be a number of things. It depends on if the main burners are dropping out on high ...
Payne PG8JAA036070AAJA3/8/2011
  Q: I am trying to determine why my 7 year old Payne PG8JAA036070AAJA heater is not working. I tried ...
  A: A 3-3 code would indicate an open limit or rollout switch and and the blower would run until the ...
Furnace Noise3/7/2011
  Q: About two days ago, the blower on my ThermoPride hot air oil fired furnace started making a ...
  A: If you have a belt driven blower on the furnace the noise can be from the motor bearings, belt or ...
gas furnace3/5/2011
  Q: I am thinking of replacing a gas furnace,what make or model should I purchase?This is for a three ...
  A: You have missed the large (up to $1500) tax credits for 95%+ furnaces which were greatly reduced as ...
Bryant, Carrier, or Trane3/4/2011
  Q: 2000 sq ft 2-story house in Richmond VA. Currently have gas HW radiators and central AC upstairs ...
  A: Carrier and Bryant are the same units with a different names on them. As a personal preference I ...
Electric Heat Pump2/26/2011
  Q: I have an electric heat pump HVAC unit and the outside condenser will freeze. The inside and the ...
  A: It sounds like your defrost cycle is not working. This can be caused by a number of things. When a ...
Water runoff from Heat Pump2/25/2011
  Q: We live in Phoenix. (Low humidity). However, water frequently pours off our roof in the winter when ...
  A: I lived and worked in Scottsdale for 5 years. During the winter in the heating mode heat pumps ...
Gas-Fired Warm Air Furnace operation2/21/2011
  Q: Have had a new Goodman 95% efficient natural gas central air furnace installed in garage for a ...
  A: 90% plus furnaces drain water in the winter because they remove so much heat from the byproducts of ...
Furnace cutting in and out2/20/2011
  Q: Hey there, We have a old style natural draft furnace(Natural gas) (about 10 years old)- it's been ...
  A: It sounds like you might be short cycling on the main limit(overheating). If the blower motor is ...
Blower doesn't shut off2/16/2011
  Q: I have a Lennox A/C - Nat. gas Heater (Roof top) Unit that the (inside) blower motor runs ...
  A: It would seem that either the blower is being powered with no 24 volt control input or you have a 24 ...
ac2/15/2011
  Q: i have a new 3 ton in a new 1900 sq ft house , 4 bedrooms. i think the system is too small, i had a ...
  A: Again, the only correct process to size the system is to do a Manual J heat load calculation. If you ...
ac2/14/2011
  Q: i have a new 3 ton in a new 1900 sq ft house , 4 bedrooms. i think the system is too small, i had a ...
  A: A 3 ton unit for your size house may be adequate for northern parts of the US, but inadequate for ...
outside electrical2/8/2011
  Q: ruud UPNE- 036JBZ 2 years old (outside unit) Ruud Acheiver air handler 1 year old inside unit... ...
  A: You might be locked out on an outdoor thermostat, have a control/wiring problem or have a problem ...
heat strips in air handler with heat pump2/7/2011
  Q: It appears that the heat strips are energizing every time the heat pump comes on to satisfy a call ...
  A: This means that the heat pump by itself cannot keep up with the heat loss from the house and second ...
Heat Pump2/4/2011
  Q: I have a heat pump and it seems to run continuously. The outside temperature is usually in the mid ...
  A: A heat pump puts out the highest quantity of heat at warmer outdoor temperatures. As the outdoor ...
Freedom 80, mind of it's own2/4/2011
  Q: I have an American standard single stage, Freedom 80 propane furnace. I have had the unit turned off ...
  A: You might have had an ignition failure and lockout. By turning the furnace off at the switch you ...
whiterogers50A50-405 w/new thermst white rodgers 1F782/3/2011
  Q: White-Rogers 50A50-405[gas unit] Code running-double flash/system lockout/no flame. Calls for ...
  A: The RC/RH jumper is only removed for older systems that had a separate transformer for both heating ...
mech.damage due to placement of LL filter dryer.1/28/2011
  Q: Customer has had compressor replaced twice.Unit aprox.10yr old.Last compressor installed 09.Found ...
  A: The high pressure pulsing in the discharge line can cause the desiccant in the filter drier to break ...
Humidifier1/26/2011
  Q: I have an 8 year old Aprilaire 768 furnace humidifier. I recently have heard a fairly loud noise ...
  A: It is difficult to tell exactly what is wrong if you don't know what is causing the noise. Some ...
Bryant Air Handler tripping breaker1/25/2011
  Q: The air handler is tripping the 2 pole 40 amp breaker. It has happened 2 or 3 times in the last 24 ...
  A: With 15KW of heat you may have 2 circuits on the air handler. One would be for 10KW of the heat and ...
Coleman Furnace Troubleshooting1/22/2011
  Q: I have a Honeywell S891OU Universal Hot Surface Ignition Module on my Coleman (Model DGAT070BDA) ...
  A: It is difficult to tell what the furnace is shutting down on without being on site( temperature, ...
AIR CONDITIONING1/20/2011
  Q: THE OTHER DAY, MY WIFE HAD THE AC ON AND I NOTICED THE AIR COMING OUT OF THE VENTS WAS NOT COLD. I ...
  A: Check in the attic to see if the secondary safety drain pan has water in it and has activated the ...
Compatibility of 2010 R-410A heat pump condenser with 2002 R-22 heat pump air handler1/18/2011
  Q: In June 2010, my compressor failed on my original 2002 Carrier 10 SEER R-22 split system heat pump. ...
  A: The only correct answer on compatibility should come from the Carrier engineering/design department, ...
Condensate trap malfunction12/19/2010
  Q: I have an American Standard Freedom 90 Comfort 2 stage condensing gas furnace. I is a vertical ...
  A: The plastic condensate trap should be held in place with 1 or 2 screws depending on the age of the ...
High Pitch Tone from Heating and A/C Unit on Roof12/19/2010
  Q: I have a unit on the roof that is only 6 years old. There is a high pitch loud tone coming from the ...
  A: Without knowing where in the unit the noise is coming from it is difficult to tell. You might have ...
gas pack furnace electric breaker flips12/18/2010
  Q: this week i had to go outside and reset the breaker appox. every 2 or 3 days. bad weather tenn. ...
  A: If the unit trips the breaker, it could be anything from a blower motor problem to a wiring/poor ...
Intake blowing cold air12/13/2010
  Q: I have an intake vent about 30"x24" that is on the wall between two bedrooms. When the heater (gas ...
  A: You can't block off the return to the unit or it will cause problems and/or damage to the unit. One ...
heater blows, then stops while unit continues to run.12/10/2010
  Q: I am having an issue with running the heat in my house. I can set the thermostat and the unit will ...
  A: More information about your system would be helpful. If you have a split system, you may be having a ...
Gas furnace12/7/2010
  Q: Brookpark Ohio I had a American Standard furnace and A C unit installed 2003, with Aprilaire ...
  A: The 2 types of ignitors in common use in Trane/American Standard are silicon carbide and silicon ...
Gas furnace12/6/2010
  Q: Brookpark Ohio I had a American Standard furnace and A C unit installed 2003, with Aprilaire ...
  A: If by taking the front cover off you mean the blower door, then you are breaking the power circuit ...
gas furnace noise12/4/2010
  Q: I am getting a "clunking" noise when my gas furnace shuts itself off.(There is only one clunk after ...
  A: Excessive static pressure is an indication of restricted airflow which can damage your furnace ...
gas furnace noise12/4/2010
  Q: I am getting a "clunking" noise when my gas furnace shuts itself off.(There is only one clunk after ...
  A: It is possible that a dirty filter is causing the noise you hear. Observation of the duct when the ...
Rust smell?12/3/2010
  Q: I apologize for ahead of time for not knowing the hvac lingo, but I have a spilt unit heat pump. One ...
  A: That part is the indoor coil and in the summer when the AC is removing humidity from the air it is ...
Rust smell?12/3/2010
  Q: I apologize for ahead of time for not knowing the hvac lingo, but I have a spilt unit heat pump. One ...
  A: It could be from the indoor unit. If you have not had it checked regularly you might have a water ...
Ruud Deluxe 90 furnace11/30/2010
  Q: My furnace is not working properly. It does not blow hot air and does not seem to work at all in the ...
  A: The fuse for the power to the furnace would be in your main fuse/circuit breaker panel. There may ...
Boiler lifespan11/29/2010
  Q: I have a boiler (gas, hot water heat manufactured by HB Smith or AO Smith?) that was installed when ...
  A: Boilers tend to last longer than gas fired furnaces and yours may still be in good working ...
Baseboard Thermostat11/23/2010
  Q: I heat primarily with a wood stove. However,I have 3 bedrooms in the back of the house which need ...
  A: You would need a transformer to supply 24 volts (hot) to the thermostat R(h) terminal and then go ...
thermostat replacement11/22/2010
  Q: Mr Trimborn, I wanted to replace my thermostat on a Carrier heat pump/AC unit that is about 15 ...
  A: Sometimes since the indoor motor shares the same voltage as the outdoor unit (230 volts) they will ...
Blower motor doesn't start11/19/2010
  Q: Nordyne G6RA multi speed furnace. ignites fine but blower does not start up. heat exchanger box get ...
  A: OK, you don't have a multi-speed motor then but instead have a continuously variable speed DC motor. ...
luxaire heat pump11/17/2010
  Q: i live in mississippi and jan.2007 bought luxaire air-to-air heat pump model EABD-F048SB & ...
  A: I can see why you are very frustrated with this problem. I am not really familiar with the weather ...
igniter wont light11/7/2010
  Q: .i have a york diamond 80 furnace. when you turn it on, one igniter lights and the other one does ...
  A: You should only have 1 ignitor in the furnace. The part in the same position at the opposite side of ...
17 year old heating and air unit.10/30/2010
  Q: I have a question regarding a sales approach of a heating and air co. My unit was 17 years old and I ...
  A: If a service technician finds any crack or breach in the heat exchanger it is his responsibility to ...
Air Conditioner10/30/2010
  Q: We hear a surge of electricity running through the wires from the electical box to the thermostat ...
  A: It is difficult to tell exactly what you are hearing when the AC starts up. If all the parts of the ...
furnace/air cleaner10/29/2010
  Q: My older furnace has an electronic air cleaner attached to it. It has two coiled units that slide in ...
  A: Depending on the brand of electronic air cleaner, you may have shorted either the power-pack or the ...
HVAC blows transformer10/29/2010
  Q: I have a 9 year old International Comfort Products Corp. HVAC package unit.I live in middle ...
  A: It sounds more like an intermittent short/ground than an amp draw problem with the heat sequencers. ...
cracked excahnger on lennox model g2610/28/2010
  Q: i have been told by a local contracotr that well the exchanger is covered under warranty it will ...
  A: Replacing a heat exchanger is normally a 2 to 4 hr. job. Sometimes there is also a charge to the ...
Gas furnace10/26/2010
  Q: I replaced the draft inducer on a Bryant Plus 90 furnace and now the furnace will not light. The ...
  A: How old is the furnace? If newer is the LED in the blower compartment flashing a fault code(fault ...
New HE Furnace Installation10/25/2010
  Q: This year I had an new HE Rheem 95% forced-air nat gas furnace and A/C installed in my home. Here ...
  A: A lot depends on the furnace sequence of operation and I am not that familiar with the 95% Rheem ...
New HE Furnace Installation10/24/2010
  Q: This year I had an new HE Rheem 95% forced-air nat gas furnace and A/C installed in my home. Here ...
  A: As long as the ductwork will allow a sufficient amount of airflow for the larger furnace, it will ...
airease furnace10/21/2010
  Q: the burners come on and it runs for about a minute and a half and then the burners shut off, it ...
  A: It depends on how old the furnace is(style of ignition) and whether the furnace has been cleaned ...
Heil Condensing Upflow gas furnace10/18/2010
  Q: My Heil 7000 was installed in 1991 and has been very dependable. The problem is that when the heat ...
  A: I can't really be sure without being there to troubleshoot when the problem is happening, but you ...
ICP Furnace Blower Speed10/15/2010
  Q: I have an Inter-City Products Model NULK075DG07 furnace with a DD10-9A blower. I just added a ...
  A: I am not sure if it is possible from the circuit board itself, but you could wire "G" from the ...
Trane Weathertron Heat Pump10/14/2010
  Q: I live in MD. I used my air throughout the summer, depending on weather I have turned it on and off ...
  A: You have me a little stumped too. If the AC works, the only difference between the AC and Heat in a ...
central air fan won't shut off10/10/2010
  Q: I have an old Westinghouse rooftop unit. Both the heat and the a/c still work fine and shut off ...
  A: Without knowing more about the unit it is difficult to tell. If it is gas heat and more than 20-25 ...
AC Return Air Filter10/7/2010
  Q: Mr. Norval Trimborn Sir: I have a central AC system using a floor mounted return air grill which has ...
  A: Yes, there are filter racks that can be installed in the return dust outside the air handler or ...
Trane XL 90 problem9/22/2010
  Q: I have a 6 year old trane xl 90 that just had a inducer fan upgrade that included various sensors ...
  A: It would not be gas pressure because it lights when you hold a flame to it and the pressure to all ...
gas forced hot air furnace rattle8/31/2010
  Q: I own a 22 year old Synder General/Arcoaire gas forced hot air furnace with central A/C. During the ...
  A: It sounds as if the noise has something to do with the heating cycle. It may be difficult to ...
delta t8/30/2010
  Q: What is an idea delta t? Not sure the exact temperature outside, my guest is 82. My return is ...
  A: A 24 degree delta T is high and usually indicative of inadequate airflow(dirty filter, blower ...
Fan Limit Control...8/27/2010
  Q: I have to manually turn on my fan limit control to get the blower to come on each time I turn on my ...
  A: You may have damaged your fan-limit by manually turning it. It is only meant to turn the fan on in ...
Variable HVAC system will not go into any of the stages8/26/2010
  Q: I had a brand new system installed. Specs are as follows: > Goodman Furnace GMVC950905DX > A/C ...
  A: I am not familiar with those model numbers or dip switch settings. Much more helpful information ...
Problems with A/C8/23/2010
  Q: I had a Trane 14xli installed 8 years ago. When they installed it they were suppose to replace the ...
  A: I they have to put refrigerant in the system yearly, then there is obviously a leak. They should ...
central air conditioner brand recommendation8/23/2010
  Q: We have a central air-conditioner that was put in in 1993 when we added a great room. We have been ...
  A: A 17 yr. old system will tend to nickle and dime you to death with not a lot of expected life left ...
Meaning of AC high pressure?8/23/2010
  Q: I have been studying HVAC as a hobby. Is my high-side pressure too high? If yes, any suggestions? I ...
  A: I am having a little trouble with your readings (they seem to be off somewhat), but it seems as if ...
Trane air conditioner noise8/20/2010
  Q: We have a 4 or 5 year old Trane that is wonderul when it comes to cooling. My problem is it makes ...
  A: Oil canning is when the blower tries to move air through the system and causes the ductwork on the ...
Residential AC failure8/18/2010
  Q: Good Afternoon, First off, I'd like to thank you folks for the advice that you've provided me in ...
  A: Try ohming out the compressor at the compressor terminals with the power disconnected. The ohms ...
HVAC8/18/2010
  Q: Didn't appreciate your last response. You DIDN'T answer my last question or the first one either ...
  A: You don't have to be rude Ernie. Your first photo didn't show anything that was of much use and I ...
Residential AC failure8/18/2010
  Q: Good Afternoon, First off, I'd like to thank you folks for the advice that you've provided me in ...
  A: I think that you are telling me that you can get the outdoor fan motor to run, but not the ...
Central AC cool, not cold8/11/2010
  Q: My 10 year old NORDYNE central AC is running full tilt, not shutting off and still cannot cool to ...
  A: Can't really tell enough about how the system is running to hazard a guess without more information. ...
Blower motor8/11/2010
  Q: My eletricity went out which led to my ac stopping when it came back on it seem to run fine and then ...
  A: You could pull the front cover on the furnace and see if the LED light behind the small round ...
compressor fan shutting off8/8/2010
  Q: It's the hottest day of the year and this unit is very old, but has been cooling very effectively ...
  A: Yes, it should be sucking air in through the sides and blowing it out the top. Some motors are ...
a/c on, moist in house, cold but not cold air8/6/2010
  Q: Im stumped, turned a/c on this year and it was a little warm, added a tiny bit of freon and it ...
  A: It is difficult to tell exactly how a system is running without the operating parameters of the ...
Old Lennox Central Air Help8/2/2010
  Q: I have a very old (I'm not sure how old, at least 20 years) Lennox central AC (Model No. C1-41-1FF). ...
  A: The lines near the inside drain going to the evaporator coil should not be icing. Cleaning out the ...
HVAC liquid line is hot and AC won't cool7/31/2010
  Q: Earlier in the year, my central air unit wouldn't heat and I was told that it the thermostat needed ...
  A: If the liquid line is hot(and you don't live in Phoenix) there is a good chance that you have a ...
Return Air Vent placement7/29/2010
  Q: Our home was built in 1910, we recently had central air with forced air placed in the home for the ...
  A: A return on the floor is not ideal for AC. If your supplies are also at floor level you will tend to ...
trane ac unit xr117/29/2010
  Q: I have a 6 year old ac unit with a 10yr warranty parts/labor and compressor and i was told the ...
  A: Yes you would have to recover the refrigerant from the system to replace the liquid line service ...
AC compressor line freezing7/29/2010
  Q: A few days ago we noticed the AC in our house stopped blowing out of the vents. The outside unit was ...
  A: An AC system usually ices up from either loss of refrigerant or inadequate airflow. If the filter ...
AC trips breaker, when reset high pressure line gets very hot7/28/2010
  Q: I'm in the Denver, Colorado area. I have a Heil High Efficiency 5000 AC system on my Heil gas ...
  A: It is most likely that you have a problem with the condenser fan motor stopping( weak run capacitor ...
hvac system7/28/2010
  Q: We are getting bids on an electric hvac system. we live in southeast tennessee with hot, humid ...
  A: Two separate systems for a two story house is always the best way to go. Be careful with online ...
replacement of central air blower motor7/27/2010
  Q: I have an old central air unit Carrier model 58GC125-2A and the blower motor seized up and I need to ...
  A: Remove the blower door. Remove the control panel in front of the blower assembly. Remove the screws ...
Excessive condensation in Goodman AC7/26/2010
  Q: Lately we have been getting excessive condensation from our AC unit. The condensate pan has a good ...
  A: If the airhandler for the AC is in the attic, normally the drain line from the secondary safety pan ...
Repair or replace flood damaged furnace7/20/2010
  Q: We have a 9 year old 93%, 2 stage gas Lennox that has worked fine for us. Last week, while we were ...
  A: The increase in efficiency doesn't net you a lot, but the tax credit will probably not be available ...
MINI DUCT AC7/20/2010
  Q: I have three bids for a mini duct AC installation in my house. Each contractor uses a different ...
  A: I am not familiar with Velocity and I haven't dealt with Unico or Space Pak recently. I don't know ...
air conditioning7/20/2010
  Q: I have a 2 ton package unit.I cant get the liquid line to heat up. I have recovered,vac,recharged, ...
  A: You're not giving me much to work with. Make, mod#, ser. #, type of metering device, suction and ...
Repairman Question7/19/2010
  Q: We live in Kentucky. After a few weeks of our thermostat reading 84 by the end of the day (after ...
  A: Normally there is no green fluid in the system. The technician may have added a dye when he put the ...
vents7/6/2010
  Q: Ive heard two different stories.Will the upstairs cool better if you close some downstair vents? ...
  A: Normally you should leave all supply registers open. You should have 400 CFM of airflow per ton of ...
HVAC Dripping during AC cooling7/5/2010
  Q: I run a small fitness club and when I built it out I decided to keep the rafters open, 25' to the ...
  A: The side that is not dripping is probably the return air. The supply air side can drip like a glass ...
Central Air Transformer6/29/2010
  Q: I have a central air system, condensor outside running to the gas furnance in the basement. The ...
  A: It sounds as if you have an intermittent short in the low voltage circuit. The reason that the 120 ...
AC running properly?6/29/2010
  Q: My Honeywell AC unit doesn't seem to be working properly. It will not retain a temperature. I set ...
  A: It sound like your system is freezing up( it shouldn't). This could be due to lack of airflow from a ...
heat pump6/29/2010
  Q: I need to replace an old heat pump, do I have to tear out & replace my copper lines or can they be ...
  A: If possible it is best to replace the lines. If they are in a cement slab they can be flushed, but ...
York deluxe diamond 80 2 stage furnace/air conditioning unit.6/28/2010
  Q: I can't get the a/c to kick on. I put my "white-rodgers" digital controller to cool, brought it down ...
  A: If you have a 2 stage furnace,only part of the air conditioner is inside. In a condo, the other part ...
Over charged? A.C. Problem6/27/2010
  Q: If I may pick your brain and ask a question that may be stupid to you but cost me $140.68. Last fall ...
  A: In a closed system with no leaks the total quantity of refrigerant does not change with temperature ...
residential A/C and thermostat6/26/2010
  Q: I have a 3.5-ton energy efficient Trane A/C and a round digital Honeywell thermostat, both installed ...
  A: Due to air distribution and thermostat placement the thermostat may be in a cooler part of the house ...
Clunking Noise When Blower Turns Off6/22/2010
  Q: I hear a clunk when the blower on the AC turns off. Yesterday an installer put in a hinged filter ...
  A: The noise could be from either the ductwork or the filter (if it is loose in the frame) dropping ...
HVAC cool will not turn off automatically blower and compressor keep going6/22/2010
  Q: I have a TRANE Compressor XE1000 (model no. TWR048D100A1) and XE90 Control unit. Initial problem was ...
  A: It sounds like you may have 2 problems with the low voltage wiring. An intermittent short to ground ...
small hole on the inside coil, A/C6/16/2010
  Q: I have a carrier, 3 ton central air conditioner. It was installed in 2000. It is not working so I an ...
  A: It depends on exactly where the leak is. If it is on exposed copper tubing it can be repaired. They ...
trouble shooting help6/15/2010
  Q: Mr. Norval I have a Trane heat pump split system model twp030c100a4. I did not write down the whole ...
  A: When the start capacitor is blown you need to replace both the relay and the capacitor as the nc ...
Cooling - which option is better?6/14/2010
  Q: I live in central Virginia. It is freakin' hot here right now, and our house will not cool down. ...
  A: Did the old system cool the house ok during similar weather before? If yes, then a qualified ...
HVAC Coil Replacement6/12/2010
  Q: I live in Mount Juliet, Tennessee (Wilson county, if that is important). My split AC unit has ...
  A: The coil can be replaced by pumping the refrigerant charge into the condensing unit. The EPA rules ...
HVAC / Breaker Issue6/11/2010
  Q: The breaker to my HVAC system keeps tripping (220V / 30 Amp 2-pole) after a few hours of running, ...
  A: It is possible that you have a weak run capacitor for the compressor. You may also have a condenser ...
Central Air Units6/9/2010
  Q: My wife and I have decided to have central air installed this year and we did our home work and got ...
  A: My brand preference would be for either Trane or Carrier, but that is just a personal preference. ...
a/c blower on delay6/8/2010
  Q: When my central air kicks in, the outside condensor and the furnace blower both start at the same ...
  A: An adjustable delay on make relay for the blower circuit would do what you want. If you have a newer ...
air handler drain line what degree of slope?6/7/2010
  Q: Mr. Trimborn: I have a one year old airhandler [AH]installed horizontally in my attic crawlspace, ...
  A: Is the evaporator coil on the upstream or downstream side of the blower? If it is on the upstream ...
A/C Compressor Not Working6/3/2010
  Q: At the end of last summer everything worked fine. When I turned the a/c on a week ago, we weren't ...
  A: You can check power into the outdoor unit with an inexpensive multimeter from radio shack. It is ...
3 ton scroll condensors6/2/2010
  Q: I recently installed two ( 1st floor - second floor) - 3 ton Bryant scroll type condensers with ...
  A: Part of the "Comfort R" setting is the ramping up of the blower speed for better humidity removal. ...
Troubleshooting a Goodman Integrated Control Mod5/29/2010
  Q: The fuse on the control module on a Goodman GMT blows almost immediately when replaced in the AC ...
  A: If this only happens in the A/C mode the most likely cause is a direct short or ground in the low ...
Replace Evaporator Coil5/28/2010
  Q: I have a four-ton Carrier split system that is almost 20 years old that has been diagnosed with a ...
  A: Do you mean the coil drain pan when you say drip pan or do you mean a secondary safety pan? A new ...
AC Unit Keeps Running5/23/2010
  Q: I have a Bryant Electric Heat Pump that is almost 10 years old. 90% or more of its use is for the ...
  A: It sounds as if you may have more than 1 problem since the A/C overcooling and the blower not ...
central a/c5/23/2010
  Q: Although we suspect it's a coolant issue, we're considering replacement. At any rate, I don't want ...
  A: Most major brands are comparable quality wise, but warranties will differ. So most times it comes ...
HVAC not cooling properly5/19/2010
  Q: I live in a two story house in Houston, with zoned central air. The house is over 25 years old. ...
  A: If the unit cooled okay before during similar weather, then something has changed. The possibilities ...
Leaking AC system5/15/2010
  Q: I bought a 4 year old house in FL. The week before I closed on it the outside condenser was stolen ...
  A: A leak that loses enough refrigerant in 2 hours that the system won't cool has to be a fairly large ...
Refurbished comrpessor?5/14/2010
  Q: I live in Phoenix. A local company charged me over one thousand dollars to fix my Carrier heat ...
  A: I would begin to question a company that charged more than $1000.00 to fix your heat pump and it ...
Should I replace now or wait until breakdown5/14/2010
  Q: My HVAC is a split unit -- 5 ton AC (installed outdoors in 1992) and ~95,000 BTU heater (installed ...
  A: My area of expertise is in the Service/Repair sector rather than Sales/Install so I can't really ...
Should I replace now or wait until breakdown5/13/2010
  Q: My HVAC is a split unit -- 5 ton AC (installed outdoors in 1992) and ~95,000 BTU heater (installed ...
  A: The tax credits may not be around for a long time, so this might be an ideal time to replace your ...
New Central Air Conditioner Features - Are they worth it.?5/13/2010
  Q: I live in the Atlanta area and I need to replace my two split-AC units (Trane air conditioners + gas ...
  A: I have had some experience with Trane Clean Effects filters and have found them to be a very good ...
new HVAC install4/21/2010
  Q: I am nervous about having my new HVAC system installed on a day when there is a 60% chance of rain ...
  A: The newer oil that is used with R410A is very sensative to moisture and will attract it very easily. ...
New High Efficiency HVAC unit working strangely4/20/2010
  Q: I just got a new high efficiency HVAC unit installed (4A6H5030E1000A / American Standard 15S R410A ...
  A: It sounds like you have a problem as the system will not normally run in this manner. It could be ...
Heat Pump4/18/2010
  Q: Ameristar Heat Pump 5 Years old Model 2A6B0036A1000AB trips circuit breaker. Circuit is good to unit ...
  A: If you have a multimeter, kill power to the outside unit. In the outside unit, there are three wires ...
adding freon to a central unit4/16/2010
  Q: I want to check the level and add if needed freon to a 2 1/2 ton central unit.unit is not cooling ...
  A: The freon needs to be put in the low side as a vapor. The pressures and temperatures will vary with ...
Air handler coil leak 3 years in row4/15/2010
  Q: I completed construction on my home in March 2007. In June 2007 my second floor system stopped ...
  A: It would seem that the leak might not be in the Evaporator coil. New Evaporator coils come ...
replace lennox 10acb244/13/2010
  Q: How much is a new lennox 10acb24 9p m9210274 to replace (new Dec 98). I have a #4 leak. I had ...
  A: I am not sure what a #4 leak is?? Have you had the leak pinpointed as being in the condensing unit ...
replace lennox 10acb244/12/2010
  Q: How much is a new lennox 10acb24 9p m9210274 to replace (new Dec 98). I have a #4 leak. I had ...
  A: If you have a refrigerant leak in the outdoor unit, you no longer have the option to just replace ...
Air only blowing out of some vents4/7/2010
  Q: At our house we have central air. Our 3 bedrooms blow out some but probably not as good as they ...
  A: There could be a number of causes for your lack of airflow problem. The first thing to check are the ...
Return Ducts on furnace4/7/2010
  Q: I have a grill about 6"x14" on the return side of my ductwork close to the plenum, it is a sealed ...
  A: You might have a dilemma. The grill on the side of the return duct drop was probably put there ...
UV Dye test4/7/2010
  Q: Our yearly furnace and air guy did a UV dye test on two of our old furnaces (14-15 years old) he ...
  A: I haven't heard of using UV dye to check a heat exchanger. I would question whether there were any ...
A/C unit cleaning3/26/2010
  Q: I live in a manufactured home in Florida with a Bryant a/c and heat packaged unit. I was wondering ...
  A: Fin+Tube coils can be brushed in the same direction as the fins for heavier surface accumulations ...
Transformer3/25/2010
  Q: A few days ago, my wife and I came downstairs and smelled this burnt electrical smell and realized ...
  A: It sounds as if you have an intermittent short that is causing the primary winding in the ...
Thermostat will not get power from Heating system3/23/2010
  Q: I have a lennox G40UHx heating system which "looks" like it is working fine as the red/amber lights ...
  A: If the thermostat gets power from the furnace without using the batteries, you should check for 24 ...
Problems with Thermostat install3/21/2010
  Q: I am writing you today to see if you could help me with an electrical problem I am having with ...
  A: From the old thermostat it looks like you have a heat pump with auxiliary electric heat in the air ...
HVAC Question3/19/2010
  Q: I have a leak in my 2 yr old Lennox 13 Seer unit A/C / Heat pump system. All the refrigerant is ...
  A: I don't understand why the tech is recommending replacing both TXV's? Is he claiming that they are ...
pulling blower motor3/16/2010
  Q: I need to pull my blower motor. the squirrel fan has broken off the fan shaft.side panel looks like ...
  A: The blower motor is usually removed by taking out 2 to 4 screws at either the front or the front of ...
response to my question3/11/2010
  Q: You answered: Hard to say. How did you clean the burners? (wire brush & vacuum) There is a small ...
  A: The crossover scoop inside the burners can be cleaned with a small diameter long screwdriver and ...
new central a/c confusion3/11/2010
  Q: I just had a contractor give me a quote for a new central a/c, and he told me something ...
  A: I am not real familiar with Wood/Fuel oil systems, but higher supply temperatures from burning wood ...
new central a/c confusion3/10/2010
  Q: I just had a contractor give me a quote for a new central a/c, and he told me something ...
  A: Heat Pump/Electric heat systems have the evaporator coil on the return side, so this is not ...
A/C Compressor Fan Running Backward3/9/2010
  Q: and thanks for letting me ask: Just had a/c service check, where they replaced the capacitor and ...
  A: If the fan was running backward before,your system would not have been operating correctly. It is ...
humidistat installation3/7/2010
  Q: i installed a humidifier on my sons furnace. After completion, it worked perfectly when calling for ...
  A: Probably the easiest way is to use an Aprilaire # 50 current sensing relay to break one of the 2 ...
Trane operations3/4/2010
  Q: I live in southern Ohio and we have had an unusually cold winter for this area this year. I just ...
  A: The lower you set your thermostat(as long as you are comfortable) the more energy you save. This is ...
Single or 2 speed compressor3/2/2010
  Q: I live in the Sarasota FL area and will be replacing my 42,000 BTU, 10 SEER, 16yr old Train heat ...
  A: With a variable speed air handler you will have the ability to adjust the airflow per ton of A/C to ...
RE: Furnace2/24/2010
  Q: I have 2 year old Payne Furnace and recently I have noticed all of a sudden furnace will stop ...
  A: It is possible that you have a dirty flame sensor. Most newer furnaces have an LED that is visible ...
furnace2/23/2010
  Q: My furnace just started acting up in comes on light up the gas burners and then goes for 2 to 3 ...
  A: Normally if the burners only stay lit for a couple seconds, the problem is a dirty flame sensor. It ...
cracked heat exchange2/18/2010
  Q: I have a dual Gas Heat/Forced Air (air conditioning) unit. Recently, I was told I have a cracked ...
  A: Yes you can use the A/C even if you have a cracked heat exchanger. Were you shown where the heat ...
Emergency Heating a Room without Electricity2/18/2010
  Q: Norval. Recently, my family and I made it through a major blizzard during which we lost power and ...
  A: A natural gas powered emergency generator would be the high end choice. Or you could get a smaller ...
Programmable thermostat wiring2/17/2010
  Q: I recently purchased a LUX1500E programable thermostat to hook up to my Trane XV90 furnace. The ...
  A: R on the furnace would go to either RC or RH on the thermostat (keep the jumper in place on the ...
furnace and AC2/17/2010
  Q: I am in the process of getting a new gas furnace and ac unit. I live in a small town and an older ...
  A: I am not familiar with new unit costs, but you are in the ballpark for a 95%+ furnace. At present ...
Combine heat pump and propane furnace2/14/2010
  Q: Our heating system (air exchanger and heat pump) blew out on a cold day this winter. we rushed to ...
  A: When changing from a heat pump with aux. electric heat to a heat pump with a propane furnace, ...
Heat Pump2/12/2010
  Q: I need your opinion on something. I recently had a major HVAC provider install a new HVAC system. ...
  A: If I were you, I would contact the Manufacturers customer service directly and explain your problem ...
outside unit iceing2/6/2010
  Q: Thursday nite i set the thermostat to 72. Woke up in the morning, the unit was completly in ice. I ...
  A: I assume that you are talking about a heat pump and that you are new to this system. Heat pumps do ...
heating duct2/5/2010
  Q: My furnace is 5 years old and is rated at 100,000 BTU. The heat chamber has to be replaced because ...
  A: Yes it is possible that your heat exchanger failed due to the furnace being oversized and/or ...
Trane XE 900 heat pump failure—electrical?2/4/2010
  Q: My heat pump abruptly quit without warning (no prior squealing, vibration, etc.). The system worked ...
  A: The disconnect switch is actually the fused pullout that had the bad fuse(hopefully you replaced it ...
Trane XE 900 heat pump failure—electrical?2/4/2010
  Q: My heat pump abruptly quit without warning (no prior squealing, vibration, etc.). The system worked ...
  A: Your problem is with the 240 volt power supply to the outdoor unit. You are only getting 1 hot leg ...
Trane XE 900 heat pump failure—electrical?2/3/2010
  Q: My heat pump abruptly quit without warning (no prior squealing, vibration, etc.). The system worked ...
  A: How are you measuring voltage at the contactor terminals? Voltage to ground? With the system on or ...
98 Carrier Weathermaker gas furnace2/3/2010
  Q: I just had my burner assemble replaced on my gas furnace hoping it would solve the problem of my ...
  A: Without a thorough inspection that's a tough one, but this might give you an indication. Turn the ...
Rheem Criterion Furnace, inconsistent2/2/2010
  Q: 15 yr old Rheem Criterion furnace. Temp in house was 64, but the thermostat was set at 68. Per ...
  A: It sounds as if you haven't had your furnace cleaned in a while and have a dirty flame sensor. The ...
Central Heating and Air unit1/31/2010
  Q: I noticed smoke this morning coming from my central unit. I went back and the motor was running but ...
  A: Hard to say without more information. I assume that when you say the motor was running but the fan ...
Upgrading Compressor1/28/2010
  Q: I have a 3 ton TRANE XE 1000 unit, 8-10 seer. (Sept.1993) The compressor appears to be bad and an ...
  A: The SEER rating of a system consists of more than just a newer more efficient compressor. It is ...
Trane heat Pump1/27/2010
  Q: I am trying to determine if I was given a fair price for the replacement of my 12 year old Trane ...
  A: You are within what would be considered a normal range for the service. You must realize that a ...
Trane XL1200 defrost (et al) trouble1/24/2010
  Q: I have troubles with my Trane heat pump: Boston area, mid-winter, 30F and below. I've read articles ...
  A: Running the system in A/C to defrost is not the same as a defrost cycle. During the defrost cycle ...
Preemptive replacement of inductor motor?1/21/2010
  Q: I just had a service call on my Bryant 383KAV upflow gas furnace. It was not lighting when there ...
  A: If the inducer motor bearings a squealing, you should probably go ahead and replace before it fails ...
Package or Split1/21/2010
  Q: We are looking to replace a 20yr old 2 ton Coleman Heat Pump (split system). The Company we are ...
  A: They may be trying to eliminate the work of replacing or cleaning up the line set to accept the new ...
Do I need an upgrade?1/20/2010
  Q: First of all, great site and thanks for the information. I live in Phoenix and want to make sure my ...
  A: Looks like you have a 4 ton heat pump. If it is still working, I would wait until it needs a major ...
HVAC unit producing water1/20/2010
  Q: We live in the north Dallas area – one story home (1700 sqft). Our unit is 12 years old (but we ...
  A: The only place that I can think of that the water may be coming from is the humidifier. Although it ...
Trane XR11 Heat Pump problems1/16/2010
  Q: John, I'm a Florida renter in a house with a Trane XR-11 heat pump. As near as I can tell the ...
  A: A lot of warmer areas (Phoenix, Florida etc.) that do not normally get extremely cold weather do not ...
gas furnace/thermostat problem1/13/2010
  Q: We have a gas fired carrier furnace/central air system at our home and a honeywell programmable ...
  A: Is the heat working ok? If a safety is open, it will make the fan run constantly. Disconnect the ...
gas leak, carbon monoxide, shared flue1/10/2010
  Q: I rent. My Landlord does not have our natural gas hot water tank or natural gas heater serviced. The ...
  A: Yes, you should have a carbon monoxide detector. If the utility closet/apartment is tight, you ...
Ruud Gas Pack Pilot light won't light1/9/2010
  Q: My 2.5 ton Ruud Gas Pack's pilot doesn't appear to be lit, and therefor there's no flames in the ...
  A: It sounds as if you might have a standing pilot gas valve and a system with a constant pilot flame. ...
Heat pump problem1/8/2010
  Q: Purchased an Armstrong 4SHP heat pump last fall primarily for heating purposes,(live in Montreal ...
  A: If the heat pump is running at 10 degrees F some of the water from the defrost cycle may be freezing ...
Freezing Coils1/8/2010
  Q: I am sure you will fin this an odd time to be asking about Ice on a coil. However, being an ...
  A: The indoor coil or the outdoor coil? The outdoor coil of a heat pump will ice up in the heating ...
Two thermostats1/7/2010
  Q: This question is regarding a rambler with a finished basement (~900 square feet per floor). ...
  A: It sounds as if your existing thermostat is on the upper level. You could have two separate ...
direction of blower12/17/2009
  Q: m confused being that original install:air flow goes thru motor into cage then forced upwards towads ...
  A: It doesn't matter which side of the unit the return connects to. The direction of the cups of the ...
Rheem Outdoor Unit Icing at 47°f and Raining12/12/2009
  Q: We need your help. We have a Rheem Classic High Efficiency Heat Pump model RPLA-041JAZ manufactured ...
  A: All heat pumps ice up the outdoor coil in the heating mode. The colder it is outside and the more ...
blinking light on furnace12/8/2009
  Q: Ameristar furnace. Tried turning it on and it would but cut out after a couple seconds. Realized ...
  A: I am not familiar with the Ameristar, but newer furnaces all light automatically on a call for heat. ...
WeatherMaker 9200 not heating12/8/2009
  Q: I have a WeatherMaker 9200 and since yesterday it stopped heating my house. The fan on it works and ...
  A: Check the window on the blower compartment door to get the fault code being shown by the furnace ...
"clunk" noise when blower turns off12/8/2009
  Q: When the blower on my central heat/cool turns off(at this point I hear no noise at all) there is a ...
  A: You may be hearing the sheet metal in the return ductwork "tin canning" (expanding). Turn the fan to ...
Thermostat wiring to a Arcoaire rpj ii12/6/2009
  Q: I have an Arcoaire RPJ II furnace that I picked up for the garage and was going to hook up the ...
  A: Between thermostat and furnace, R on furnace to RC(24v hot for cooling) and RH(24v hot for heating) ...
pressure switch12/5/2009
  Q: My heating unit doesn't blow heat. According to the schematic on the unit, it seems that the ...
  A: You may have a pressure switch that is sticking or you may have a problem with the inducer or ...
Lennox furnace blower working12/2/2009
  Q: My furnace Lennox 80MGF3-75A-1 doesn't work. It starts working and then after 2-3 minutes stops ...
  A: I haven't worked on an 80MGF in a number of years. The last circuit board I replaced on 1 needed to ...
Lennox furnace blower working12/1/2009
  Q: My furnace Lennox 80MGF3-75A-1 doesn't work. It starts working and then after 2-3 minutes stops ...
  A: You need an O.E.M.(Original Equipment Manufacturer) replacement control board from Lennox. They do ...
Furnace humidifer11/26/2009
  Q: We had a gas furnace installed awhile ago and the existing (but older) drum humidifier was not wired ...
  A: One side of the transformer primary would go to the terminal labeled HUM and the other side of the ...
Furnace humidifer11/25/2009
  Q: We had a gas furnace installed awhile ago and the existing (but older) drum humidifier was not wired ...
  A: Most newer furnace circuit boards have a terminal(s) labeled "hum" that supplies either 24v or 120v ...
trane XR1211/24/2009
  Q: My unit is drawing power and buzzing loudly although I have shut it off at the breaker. When I power ...
  A: The outdoor unit gets control voltage from the indoor unit to power the coil of the contactor ...
Question about HVAC tape11/21/2009
  Q: I had a piece of tape fall of a pipe, or flue, and someone gave me some aluminum tape to replace it. ...
  A: If the tape came off the flue pipe, it shouldn't have been there in the first place. Correctly ...
Gas valve wont open11/18/2009
  Q: I have a Trane XE 70 that won't heat. The gas supply is good, and the electronic ignition is coming ...
  A: Check at the plug that goes into the gas valve with wires attached to it to see if you have 24 volts ...
Heat Pump Pressures11/15/2009
  Q: How can you determine if the compressor valve is bad or it's the reversing valve that is not ...
  A: Run the system and disable the condenser fan motor while the system is running(the blower motor in ...
humidistat setting11/11/2009
  Q: My home always feels damp and warm. Have not had a humidistat for long time and in our new place it ...
  A: The humidifier is not normally used at the same time as the A/C. The A/C is taking humidity out of ...
Split AC unit with Freon leak11/10/2009
  Q: I have a split HVAC unit. It is a Goodman 4-ton, 12-seer unit. I recently had the dye test done to ...
  A: That seems a little early in the systems life to develop a leak. I would ask exactly where the leak ...
Wiring of a Condensate Pump to my System11/6/2009
  Q: I have a question regarding the wiring of a safety switch of a condensate pump to my residential ...
  A: If the pump must work both summer and winter you would have to break the "R" wire with the safety ...
Heat will not operate in auto fan mode11/5/2009
  Q: I have central air with "strip heat" in my home. I replaced my old thermostat with a new ...
  A: There is normally either a switch(physical) inside the thermostat or a setup option(programming) to ...
Replacing T-Stat11/3/2009
  Q: I have a White-Rodgers 2 stage heat pump/AC thermostat (#0745T) (cannot set temperature to be ...
  A: Yes you would need a heat pump capable thermostat. With only 4 wires to the t-stat you are not ...
heater11/2/2009
  Q: Norval Trimborn, I have a Trane XR 80 forced air furnace about 7 years old. The problem with it ...
  A: An open high limit can be from a previous cycle of the furnace. This can be due to overheating from ...
damper assembly installation10/31/2009
  Q: I've been told by an HAC guy that my upstairs zone damper assembly needs to be replaced. The ...
  A: Although the cost may seem high compared to the "internet" price of the part you must realize that ...
mold on coils10/29/2009
  Q: I just had my furnace cleaned. My house is only four years old and the service man said and showed ...
  A: Yes, the moist environment by the A coil can promote the growth of mold and bacteria. The use of UV ...
gas furnace10/29/2009
  Q: My furnace works very well when it comes on. I have to push the reset button on the furnace sometime ...
  A: It depends on which reset button you are pushing(vent safety or rollout switch ). In either case you ...
Residential Outside condenser.10/28/2009
  Q: Our 4 ton consendser went out. We had a service tech come out and he diagnosed that the compressor ...
  A: The 4 yr. old coil should not need to be replaced. The oil and refrigerant in the system will have ...
payne furnace10/24/2009
  Q: my furnace is displaying a code 33 signal. this model does not have a flame rollover reset. i am ...
  A: Carrier 33 fault code is for a limit fault(high limit, rollout etc.). The device with the 2 red ...
Furnace Exhaust10/22/2009
  Q: Situation:I live in Canada, Southwestern Ontario,. I have a Armstrong HE furnace about 3 years old. ...
  A: Installation guides normally dictate that the vent termination must be at least 12" above the snow ...
Heating unit not heating10/20/2009
  Q: I have a ducane unit that is about 4 years old and have had a few problems with it not heating at ...
  A: It sounds as if you might have a heat pump from your description. What were your previous problems ...
old jenitrol furnace blower10/19/2009
  Q: My heating works and the blower comes on, but the blower will not shut down when furnace turns off ...
  A: On older furnaces the blower was turned on by a helical bimetal fan/limit switch in the heat mode. ...
Flame Sensor10/19/2009
  Q: I have a Snyder General furnace, Model GUI100A016IN, Serial #R910500537. This thing chews through ...
  A: It isn't normal for a flame sensor to need to be replaced more than once a year or even yearly. They ...
12 year old furnace broke - fix or replace?10/17/2009
  Q: our 12 year old ICP/Keepright gas high efficiency furnace broke. The gas valve is defective and the ...
  A: Although parts can last longer than 10-12 yrs. there is also a good chance that you can have 1 or ...
12 year old furnace broke - fix or replace?10/17/2009
  Q: our 12 year old ICP/Keepright gas high efficiency furnace broke. The gas valve is defective and the ...
  A: You need to know why the 12 yr. old heat exchanger failed. Manufacturing defect (some keepright ...
Upgrade from 92-95% and adding variable valve/speed-Worth it?10/16/2009
  Q: I currently have TWO 80% 20 year old Tempstar 150K BTU furnaces, one for each floor in my 4600 sq ft ...
  A: It's a little tough to estimate the portion of your gas bill that is due to the furnaces as they are ...
pilot light10/16/2009
  Q: I'm trying to light my pilot for the first time this year. My nephew usually does this for me. It ...
  A: Yes , you need to hold down the red button on the gas valve with the gas valve selector/dial in the ...
Trane A/C9/19/2009
  Q: I am the president of an association that has a large trane a/c system less than 10 years old. We ...
  A: Your rooftop package unit is probably going off on the high pressure safety(and holding relay which ...
3 part question9/18/2009
  Q: Can a clogged freon line cause the inside unit to leak? If a tech has to add freon when the unit is ...
  A: A system that runs with the freon low will damage the compressor. There is a good chance that the ...
4-ton A/c condenser replacement9/17/2009
  Q: Trimborn: We need to replace our 4-ton residential Lennox A/C condenser. We will be using a ...
  A: I am partial to both Trane and Carrier as brands. You have a wide range of options with either ...
Air Conditioning & Thermostat9/13/2009
  Q: My a/c unit does not shut off when the thermostat does. We replaced the square 0 2 pole 60 Amp 240 ...
  A: It sounds as if you have a heat pump from the number of wires that you have to the thermostat. ...
residential hvac9/12/2009
  Q: I just replaced the thermostat for my residential hvac system (gas heat, std hvac). I didn't turn ...
  A: You need to check and see if the condensing unit contactor is pulled in with or without 24 volts to ...
New AC unit not cooling enough9/10/2009
  Q: I live near Tampa Fl. We puchased a new 3 ton central ac unit for our 1585 sq ft house. When it's ...
  A: A 3 ton system is a 3 ton system. If operating properly the new unit should cool as well as the old ...
water overflow from evaporator9/10/2009
  Q: We are having a problem with water over flowing from our carrier a/c unit. We have checked the pipe ...
  A: When the drain line was plugged up, the water would have filled the evaporator condensate pan and ...
Plenum question9/9/2009
  Q: Greetings from MN, I recently had a new outside AC unit replaced as well as the coil inside my ...
  A: Yes, the ugly putty is the norm for sealing the lines as they go through the plenum. It can be done ...
Rheem not blowing cool air9/7/2009
  Q: My Rheem a/c is approximately 4 1/2 years old. It suddenly stopped blowing cool air and I don't ...
  A: The handle in the service disconnect (that says on/off) is a pullout to interrupt power(240 volts) ...
Replace A/C evaporator coil or get new unit9/5/2009
  Q: I have a 15 yr townhouse in CA and the original A/C unit in the attic has apparently been leaking ...
  A: At 15 yrs. your system would be considered well past middle age. R22 coils are still available until ...
no power - not breaker9/5/2009
  Q: I have no power to either the inside or outside units when I switch the thermostat. I hear the ...
  A: Did you check for power with a volt meter? If so you will need to check from the unit(s) back toward ...
A/c fan inside will not come on9/5/2009
  Q: I have an old whirlpool/Honeywell patched together HVAC unit in closet. bout 15-20 yrs. No computer ...
  A: You might be trying to use a relay with a 240 volt coil when you should have a relay with a 24 volt ...
Nordyne blower for AC unit9/4/2009
  Q: and we went up into the attic where the heater blower is. It's a Nordyne model#FG6RA 072C-12A. The ...
  A: Is the fan motor in the attic unit running? If it is and the system is iced up it is usually due to ...
Freon Leak Detection cost8/30/2009
  Q: I had regular maintenance scheduled and was told that my freon was low(our unit uses R22 freon). I ...
  A: Did you at least get a copy of the maintenance agreement that you signed up for? You should be able ...
freezer compressor8/29/2009
  Q: Norval, I realize this question may be off the beaten track but thought you might know the answer ...
  A: I haven't done any refrigeration in more than 30 yrs.. A lot depends on what the compressor failure ...
purchasing new furnice8/29/2009
  Q: Our home is bi-level. 2,400 sq. ft. We are going to be purchasing a new furnice. I say we replace ...
  A: For information on which furnaces and air conditioners qualify for a tax credit go ...
AC fan motor works intermittently8/28/2009
  Q: I have a Carrier AC system. The compressor works fine, but the AC fan is working intermittently. ...
  A: I am assuming that you are talking about the outdoor fan motor. It could be the motor itself or the ...
Heat Pump Layout8/27/2009
  Q: Norv, Probably dont' get questions like this very often. My a/c exterior condensor fan went out a ...
  A: In straight AC operation the outside coil rejects heat and the inside coil absorbs heat. In a heat ...
Trane 1000xb not cooling8/27/2009
  Q: I just bought a house that was built in 2000 we have a trane AC unit out back. My outdoor unit ...
  A: It sounds like you have a problem with the condenser fan motor. It may be either the motor itself or ...
Basement hating question8/27/2009
  Q: I have a 6 year old 2,400 sq ft ranch with a basement with 1,400 sq ft finished. I have ceiling ...
  A: Do you leave the stairway to the basement open or is there no door to the basement stairway? If ...
evaporation coil8/25/2009
  Q: Our A/C unit is only 4 yrs old and we had to call a service company today to have it checked because ...
  A: $1157.00 labor to replace an evaporator coil that is under warranty is WAY out of line! You might be ...
copper piping leak?8/24/2009
  Q: My house was built in 2003 and it had a Carrier (4 ton, 10 seer I believe). The outside unit was ...
  A: It is not normal to have to replace a six year old system(it should have a much longer lifespan). ...
Bad compressor in o/s condensor unit of heat pump8/23/2009
  Q: I'm in east central PA. I've had to repl compressors 3 times in the 22 yrs I've had this heat pump. ...
  A: It sounds as if you may have a shorted/grounded compressor. Bad compressor doesn't mean ...
replacement HVAC system8/23/2009
  Q: We are replacing our 15 year old split A/C and gas furnace as the E coil is leaking Freon and cannot ...
  A: Although the information that you have given is fairly thorough it is still difficult to tell ...
Capacitor Blown8/22/2009
  Q: My a/c recently stopped working, after some investigation i discovered the outside unit fan doesn't ...
  A: When you say that the capacitor was blown, do you mean that the outside casing of the capacitor was ...
410A Pressure Temerature Chart Conversions8/22/2009
  Q: I have a technical question about 410A and pressure temperature charts and i really need some help. ...
  A: The old ambient plus 30 degrees only applied to old low SEER systems and then was only an ...
Freon Leak Detection cost8/20/2009
  Q: I had regular maintenance scheduled and was told that my freon was low(our unit uses R22 freon). I ...
  A: Did the service technician ask you if you wanted to have the system leak checked before he put the ...
new burner or boiler8/20/2009
  Q: Our Wisconsin church has a 40 yr old non-condensing hot water boiler heating system. The boiler ...
  A: Condensing/noncondensing refers to whether or not enough heat is removed from the products of ...
new burner or boiler8/19/2009
  Q: Our Wisconsin church has a 40 yr old non-condensing hot water boiler heating system. The boiler ...
  A: You don't mention much about the building/piping layout and usage. Church only, church and offices ...
residential high-efficiency fans8/18/2009
  Q: What is the cost difference between a high efficiency fan and a standard fan for residential HVAC ...
  A: A continuously variable speed DC motor is more expensive initially than a standard blower motor, but ...
Amana furnace problem8/17/2009
  Q: We have an Amana furnace that is about 7 yrs old and isn’t working. We had our vents cleaned last ...
  A: Most newer furnaces have an automobile style 3 or 5 amp low voltage fuse on the circuit board in the ...
aircondotion/heating8/17/2009
  Q: I have a twop storied houise served by one centtral unit. the problem is that the 2nd floor is so ...
  A: Putting the fan in the "on" position instead of the "auto" at the thermostat may help some. If you ...
heater ignitor8/17/2009
  Q: I have a question regarding my heater, how I could change the furnace ignitor? by the way I am a ...
  A: Is it a hot surface ignitor? There are 2 types. Silicon carbide ignitors have a ...
home ac8/16/2009
  Q: my home ac unit seems to run alot and have a hard time cooling the house down. i have cleaned my ...
  A: Do you have an upflow furnace in the basement, a downflow in a closet/laundry room or a horizontal ...
central a/c8/15/2009
  Q: Trimborn. The air coming out of the vents is very low so I called a tech. During the inspection he ...
  A: An 8 yr. old system should still have many years of life left in it. If this is the first time that ...
NEW FAN MOTOR8/14/2009
  Q: My HVAC units fan motor had to be replaced. I pulled the old motor, while taking photos of the ...
  A: It sounds like you you don't have the correct replacement motor. The old motor sounds like a single ...
central a/c8/14/2009
  Q: Trimborn. The air coming out of the vents is very low so I called a tech. During the inspection he ...
  A: How old is your system? That can make a lot of difference. Some leaks are repairable and some aren't ...
New Blower Motor Barely Turns8/14/2009
  Q: I have a 10-12 year old Tempstar PGF018K040A package gas/electric unit. The blower stopped working ...
  A: Check the voltage supplied to the motor when the motor is running. It should match the voltage on ...
Central Air8/13/2009
  Q: We are currently experiencing no air flow in our home. The outside fan is moving and there is no ice ...
  A: If the filter has gotten plugged up in the past the air can't go through it, so it goes around ...
high velocity system8/12/2009
  Q: I have a 1 year old 3.5 ton system that isnt cooling my house consistently. I have the tstat set at ...
  A: Was it just for a clean and check the last time the tech was out? 74 degrees doesn't sound like an ...
extended warranty8/11/2009
  Q: I am going to have a Trane xr15 system installed in my 1752 sq ft house in Fl. Does it pay to get ...
  A: If you are referring to the extended warranty through Trane, I would consider it a good value for ...
blower fan8/8/2009
  Q: My AC blower fan starts then stops, I've replaced the run capacitor, and sometime it works for a few ...
  A: If the blower motor stops while you still have full voltage supplied to it, the problem would seem ...
dog chewed wires on central air unti8/7/2009
  Q: Ok, I came home from work to find my house hot! The furnace unit in the house was running but not ...
  A: If you reattached the wires outside while the AC was still supposed to be running you may have ...
cleaning condenser coils8/7/2009
  Q: is there a best practice for cleaning a/c condenser coils on comeercial RTU's ANSWER: Some ...
  A: The amp. draw on a propeller style blade fan motor will increase if it is starved for air, so if you ...
cleaning condenser coils8/6/2009
  Q: is there a best practice for cleaning a/c condenser coils on comeercial RTU's
  A: Some commercial rtu's have split condenser coils and the top of the units must be taken off in order ...
TOO HOT IN MY HOUSE.8/6/2009
  Q: HOW DO YOU KNOW IF MY A/C UNIT IS FULLY CHARGED? MY UNIT RUNS CONSTANTLY AND HOUSE WILL GET UP TO ...
  A: The air coming out of the supply registers is normally 18-20 degrees cooler than the air coming into ...
Trane XL12008/4/2009
  Q: This is a brief history of the questions asked previously. I have a TRANE XL 1200 Super ...
  A: Difficult to say. A grounded compressor should trip the breaker right away, yet you said that the ...
New compressor and still not cooling8/4/2009
  Q: My outside unit stopped working, it is a Rheem from 2002 unit. The repairman changed the compressor. ...
  A: Was the compressor failure a burnout or a mechanical failure? Most early compressor failures are due ...
HVAC coil8/4/2009
  Q: I live in Florida. The house I bought was completed in 06-2000, with an installed Trane TWE042 ...
  A: Most(but not all) early compressor failures are due to improper installation procedures or ...
AC CONDENSATE8/3/2009
  Q: I recently noticed water dripping from the "REFLECTIX" insulation that covers the AC coil and duct ...
  A: A 5 year old drain pan should not be cracked, but it is possible. If the evaporator coil has become ...
Indoor Humidity Issue8/3/2009
  Q: First off I live in Central Florida. It is very hot and humid right now, and also raining heavy ...
  A: Stumping me too unless the humidity is much higher than before or you have developed a way for more ...
Indoor Humidity Issue8/2/2009
  Q: First off I live in Central Florida. It is very hot and humid right now, and also raining heavy ...
  A: I am assuming that you have made sure that the cond. coil, evap. coil and blower wheel were all ...
Coli Cleaning8/2/2009
  Q: I just received an assessment of my 15-yr old Heil 5000 unit from an Admiral "freon-charging ...
  A: The price for cleaning the coil seems excessive unless the only way to clean the coil is to pump ...
Size of plenum on residential a/c unit8/2/2009
  Q: I recently hired a company to conduct a yearly inspection/cleaning on my residential central air ...
  A: Has the system been working fine for the last 4 yrs. until recently? If so the problem would more ...
Air Cleaner8/1/2009
  Q: Okay, so I am really confused. What I thought would be a simple purchase has completely complexed ...
  A: Electrostatic filters tend to be very restrictive to airflow(not good). Media filters tend to be ...
Duct Work but No Compressor8/1/2009
  Q: My husband and I purchased a house 12 years ago. The house was built in 1985. It appears to have ...
  A: If your ductwork has been designed for heating only it will probably be inadequate for a cooling ...
Heat Pump not working in AC mode7/31/2009
  Q: I live in CT and have a heat pump system that is approx 15 years old. When the system runs in the ...
  A: In cooling mode the large copper pipe between the outdoor and indoor unit should be cold. In heating ...
problem with air & ins. coverage7/29/2009
  Q: Just moved in to a new house and purchased American Home Shield home warranty (AHS)in escrow. After ...
  A: Yes you can replace the furnace without replacing the condensing unit or coil. Your coverage under ...
Kickstart / Dual Capacitor (45/5)7/29/2009
  Q: I just had an AC repair (Amana 14 seer)4 ton or 5 ton unit. The tech came & installed a 45/5 Dual ...
  A: Mark ups are high in this business. Technicians, office personnel, physical plant, vehicles and ...
Connecting wiring for electronic air filter7/28/2009
  Q: I have a Dynamic electronic air filter. I say's to connect the two wires to R and C. I understand R ...
  A: The 4 wire run from the t-stat connects to R,W1,G and Y. The 2 wire run from the outside AC ...
HVAC Theory7/28/2009
  Q: I recently had an Amana 3 ton ASX16 16 SEER HVAC system with gas heat installed in my house in ...
  A: It sounds as if you have a variable speed DC motor for the blower. The correct setting for a 3 ton ...
HVAC Theory7/27/2009
  Q: I recently had an Amana 3 ton ASX16 16 SEER HVAC system with gas heat installed in my house in ...
  A: Older systems with a fixed metering device feeding the evaporator coil did not throttle down the ...
compressor delay7/27/2009
  Q: NOT ALL THE TIME BUT ONCE IN AWHILE MY O/S UNIT STARTS WITH THE FAN ONLY THEN AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE ...
  A: Both the compressor and the condenser fan motor are powered through the contactor. They should both ...
air conditioning argument7/26/2009
  Q: "My father (88) and I (62) have a running disagreement about how to run the air conditioner in our ...
  A: Economically it is better to open the windows if there is enough circulation in the house when it is ...
compressor delay7/26/2009
  Q: NOT ALL THE TIME BUT ONCE IN AWHILE MY O/S UNIT STARTS WITH THE FAN ONLY THEN AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE ...
  A: There should be no delay for the compressor starting. If it is an older unit you may benefit from a ...
Trane XB 1000 Bad Compressor7/23/2009
  Q: I was having a problem with my ac unit not cooling down my house. As the temperature rose ...
  A: 100 PSI on the suction side is a high reading and 160PSI on the high side is a low reading. A 100 ...
replacing freon in a 5 ton compressor7/23/2009
  Q: THe repair man who is installing new compressor in my 3 year old Carrier unit tells me the freon ...
  A: The freon in the system must be removed in order to replace the compressor. What was the problem ...
removimg a gas furnace7/23/2009
  Q: I need to remove a furnace and cap off a gas line in order to have a heat pump/air conditioning unit ...
  A: It sounds like your taking all the precautions that you should. Once the pressure is off the gas ...
Kenmore gas water heater Power Miser 97/22/2009
  Q: Main burner ignites and burns maybe 5 minutes. when it shuts down the pilot goes out with it. I ...
  A: Water heaters aren't my specialty, but years ago when HVAC techs did service water heaters I ran ...
AHU Variable Speed7/20/2009
  Q: I recently had a new Goodman 4 ton system installed and the AHU has a variable speed fan. The ...
  A: On many variable speed units the default blower speed for the fan ON setting at the t-stat is 25-50% ...
HVAC Problem7/19/2009
  Q: I have a rheem HVAC, Out of a 100 start ups once it want'ts to start but i only hear a suction or ...
  A: How old is your system? Adding a hard start kit to an older system(or even a new one that didn't ...
airconditioning/heating7/19/2009
  Q: My office is at the far end of the house and it is freezing in the summer and too warm in the ...
  A: Normally there is a damper at the point that each supply takeoff comes off the main supply trunk. ...
Carrier 38BRB - adding R-227/18/2009
  Q: Do you know if the Carrier 38BRB can with back seated valves - even though I do see a schrader valve ...
  A: I am not familiar with that specific model of Carrier. Most of the Carrier cond. units I have seen ...
Condenser motor Noise7/18/2009
  Q: AC makes horrible noise when running, pinpointed noise to condenser motor. Sprayed some lubricant on ...
  A: If it hasn't been oiled regularly you may be past the point of oiling doing any good on a permanent ...
MEASUREMENTS7/18/2009
  Q: first it seems like my t-stat when i change something is turns off and then maybe turn back on, like ...
  A: With the t-stat set to OFF you should read 24 volts from the R terminal on the t-stat to all other ...
Central air conditioning unit7/17/2009
  Q: I live in southern Louisiana and need to replace my central air conditioning unit. My home has ...
  A: That sounds a bit too large even for the Phoenix AZ area where I lived for 5 yrs.. What size is the ...
Squirl Cage Blower7/16/2009
  Q: I have a Ruud Furnace/ air conditioner system from 1879. I need to replace the blower and want to ...
  A: Goodness that's an antique(1879). The blower wheel is replaced by diameter,width and rotation(the ...
HVAC7/16/2009
  Q: I am in the process of shopping for a new centrtal AC unit but I don't have a clue of which brand is ...
  A: When you compare, it must be apples to apples. The SEER rating on the units you are comparing has to ...
AC gurgling in drain line7/16/2009
  Q: At my new home in TN. our AC man been back to service the upstairs Goodman ac/heatpump 6 times.The ...
  A: Drains on the return side of the system must be trapped. After the trap, the drain line must be ...
Honeywell RTH111/221 Thermostat7/15/2009
  Q: I am installing a Honeywell RTH111/221 thermostat to control my gas heat, ac and fan. The previous ...
  A: For normal color coding the red wire should go to RC/RH terminals on the t-stat which may be ...
Residential AC7/13/2009
  Q: AC quit blowing cold, slowly getting warmer over apx. 3 month period. Had friend come charge system, ...
  A: The evap. coil can be pressurized to 50-100 psi and then checked the next day to if it has lost a ...
A/C blowing from cold to hot with out changing....7/13/2009
  Q: My a/c will run fine for as long as 2-6months, then suddenly start acting as if it has a mind of ...
  A: It would be difficult to tell without knowing more about the system. It seems as though you are not ...
Residential AC7/12/2009
  Q: AC quit blowing cold, slowly getting warmer over apx. 3 month period. Had friend come charge system, ...
  A: Did the contractor say there was a leak in the evap. coil? If they replaced the evap. coil and had ...
5 ton condenser unit7/12/2009
  Q: i just replaced a 5 ton condenser unit that was grounded out and now my new one went out.What could ...
  A: How long after the condensing unit was replaced did this problem appear? It is possible that when ...
humidity7/10/2009
  Q: I had a 4ton straight cool which was replaced with a 3 ton heat pump - per load calculation. It ran ...
  A: With a continuously variable speed motor you should have the option to decrease the air volume from ...
air conditioner fan7/10/2009
  Q: Goodman unit, 4 years old. Stopped cooling upstairs, however I feel air going into the intake. The ...
  A: Does the compressor run in the outside unit or are both the compressor and the fan in the outside ...
installing new furnace and air conditioning7/9/2009
  Q: We are currently replacing a radiant ceiling heat system. Under options is listed "electronic air ...
  A: Electronic air cleaners do a very good job(especially if someone in the house has allergies) but ...
gas air conditioner7/9/2009
  Q: In Indiana visiting family and my moms natural gas central cooling system won't kick on. The blower ...
  A: If nothing runs outside you probably have a high or low voltage loss to the outdoor unit. You would ...
baseboard heat7/9/2009
  Q: We have a boiler with pipes that run to the baseboard heaters in all rooms. We are installing a ...
  A: If you disconnect and cap off that run you will lose all the heat that radiator produced. If you ...
AC blower turns on intermittently7/8/2009
  Q: I have a 13 year old LENNOX AC unit and some kind of builders grade blower in the Attic. The Unit ...
  A: You may have a problem with either the motor or capacitor the is causing it to shut down on internal ...
altitude spec. on a/c unit7/7/2009
  Q: Will an American Standard Triumph 16 packaged unit with a specification altitude rating of 0 - 2000 ...
  A: The altitude specification is for the gas heating side of the unit. The gas manifold orifices should ...
Freon cost $185.607/7/2009
  Q: In addition to the big annual check up fee I was charged $185.oo for four pound of Freon. The ...
  A: If you have a 3 yr. old system that needs 4 lbs. of freon, you have a leak. The technician should ...
Control circuit issues7/6/2009
  Q: I wired together yellow of the cooling circuit and blue(common) before turning off the indoor air ...
  A: What was the original problem that had you tying the wires together? If the air handler has ...
Air conditioner contracts7/5/2009
  Q: Trying to help out my elderly father down in Fla. He is asking me about getting a service contract ...
  A: Most companies these days do not write full coverage service contracts(covering cleanings and parts ...
In attic A/C leak....7/5/2009
  Q: Timborn, i have a question for you....I noticed a leak in my ceiling right where our attic A/C unit ...
  A: If its backing up into the drain pan and the drain pan is overflowing it is most likely a plugged ...
ac drip at vent7/5/2009
  Q: in an upstairs closet the vent is dripping. There is an attic access panel in that closet. I live ...
  A: You should check the whole duct branch to the register outlet to see if moisture is accumulating in ...
SEER rating7/4/2009
  Q: I've been trying to find the SEER rating of my ComfortMaker air conditioner unit. The installer ...
  A: How long the system runs depends on the outside temperature, whether everything is clean(filter, ...
air handler drain line7/4/2009
  Q: Does the drain fittings need to be glued together and can they just hook together dry? I know it ...
  A: The drain fittings should be glued, but I usually leave the upstream side of one of the horizontal ...
Turning off upstains AC7/3/2009
  Q: We have a two story home and are now empty nesters. We live in the downstairs and the upstairs is ...
  A: If you have high humidity in your area and you run only 1 of 2 units you may have trouble keeping ...
Wrong run capacitor installed?7/2/2009
  Q: Due to a lack a parts at the time, I replaced a residential dual run capacitor rated 60/3 370 volts ...
  A: Yes you should replace the 5mfd with a 3 mfd. The voltage rating is ok since you can always replace ...
Freon7/2/2009
  Q: I'm a new homeowner and would normally ask my Dad these questions, but he passed away suddenly in ...
  A: If it was very low on freon then there is a leak in the system. You need to have the system leak ...
HVAC Handler in attic7/1/2009
  Q: Sir I am in the process of buying a townhome in Freeport FL and had the home inspected. The ...
  A: The air handler in the attic should have a secondary drain pan under the unit with a float or wet ...
evap coil7/1/2009
  Q: I have a Rheem Model RCBA-2459GG14 cased evap coil, 1994 installed. Indoor unit is vertical, ...
  A: This should not be a capillary tube coil because of the install date. The distributor tubes are ...
RHEEMS Compressor failed7/1/2009
  Q: Lodi, California (it was 110F on Sunday so I am motivated) The house I purchased in 1990 has a ...
  A: Yes you can just replace the compressor. Yes a new system will cost more than just replacing the ...
airconditioner6/29/2009
  Q: I live in Houston Texas the tempature is around 100 degrees outside if i have the ac set on 70 at ...
  A: It depends on sizing practices in your area. If your area has high humidity during most of the ...
a/c question6/29/2009
  Q: i have no low voltage to yellow wire coming from the thermostat or if i test at thermosta only red ...
  A: The majority of thermostats do not have a 24v common wire to them. What are you testing the R(red) ...
Replacing outside unit of split system6/29/2009
  Q: My system is almost 20 years old. The compressor of outside unit must be replaced. Should the ...
  A: Yes the outside unit only can be replaced, but it doesn't make much sense as a 20 yr. old evaporator ...
Need a new A/C & Heater6/28/2009
  Q: It is time to get a new system. We have gas. There are various businesses out there who can give us ...
  A: Most major manufacturers equipment are all comparable. In order to compare apples to apples, "good', ...
1/2 to 3/4 hp furnace blower motor6/27/2009
  Q: and thankyou ahead of time for any helpful info. I currently have a Rheem Classic 90 Plus ...
  A: The blower motor horsepower is sized by the manufacturer for the size of the blower wheel. Since ...
Steam cleaning ac coils6/27/2009
  Q: I have access to my ac coils (condenser as I have heard it referred to) I have heard of the ...
  A: I am not sure which coils you are talking about. Condenser coils are the outside part of the system ...
Central air conditioning units6/26/2009
  Q: Norval, What is the best company (brand) to buy a central air conditioning unit from? How do you ...
  A: Any of the major brands put out good solid equipment. Trane is one of the brands that I have always ...
Bad A-Coil & Drip and and Should I Replace!6/26/2009
  Q: I recently discovered water at the bottom of my furnace after running my central air. Had service ...
  A: If you are just looking to get by until the condensing unit must be replaced then a replacement ...
AC fan shuts off6/26/2009
  Q: We have a Goodman CKL-30-1f air conditioner. We had a repairman come and he found the capacitor ...
  A: If both the old and the new motor are the same voltage, horsepower, rpm and rotation it would seem ...
Lennox HP22, cooling problem6/26/2009
  Q: I have a Lennox HP 22 Heat pump. The unit runs fine and has no out of the ordinary noises coming ...
  A: It is possible that the system is low on refrigerant. It is also possible that there is another ...
AC Usage6/25/2009
  Q: Greetings, I have a general, non-vendor specific question I was hoping you could help with. My ...
  A: Running a central air system that is working properly and is clean and has a clean filter in it does ...
Central a/c6/25/2009
  Q: If I am trying to cool my 760 sq. ft. apt to 70 degrees, what should the temp of the air that blows ...
  A: The supply air temperature should be 18-20 degrees colder than the return air at average relative ...
HVAC working no, air in vents, house not cooling6/25/2009
  Q: Trimborn, I have an HVAC unit and it seems to be working full speed, but no air is coming out of the ...
  A: Check to see if the system is icing up. This starts at the evaporator coil inside and can work its ...
New A/C Unit & Wiring Problem6/24/2009
  Q: We have a 30 yr old central air system. The a/c has been limping along for the past few years, ...
  A: Both the furnace and also the condensing unit should be dedicated electrical circuits( they should ...
saftey switch on a little giant pump6/24/2009
  Q: I am installing a little giant condensation pump on my Trane central air unit.I have 2 wires coming ...
  A: You would actually put these 2 wires in series with the "Y" connection at the furnace/air handler ...
central air conditioning6/24/2009
  Q: I need to replace my central air conditioner and gas furnace, I am leaning toward the duel fuel ...
  A: I have seen a great many heat pump systems in the 15- 25 yr old range. Is the normal life span of a ...
hvac6/23/2009
  Q: We installed a new frigidaire hvac unit in 2004. We have had nothing but trouble w/ the temperature ...
  A: Not enough cooling, freezing up and water leaking sounds like the symptoms of a refrigerant leak. It ...
Hard Start Kit for Residential A/C6/22/2009
  Q: I have a small ductless mini split system (Heat Controller, Inc.) that conditions a room over a ...
  A: If the run capacitor was ok but the compressor wouldn't start then the hard start kit kept you from ...
A/C not cooling well.6/21/2009
  Q: I have a two story home with separate units for each floor. I never have the downstairs(basement) ...
  A: It could be a number of reasons. 68 degrees is a bit below the normal comfort range of 72-76 ...
Line insulation6/21/2009
  Q: I noticed that only the large line (1/2"-3/4") from the heat pump to the air handler is insulated ...
  A: The smaller of the 2 lines is the liquid line and the liquid refrigerant in the line has been cooled ...
Melted AC Drain Pan6/21/2009
  Q: I have a goodman GMPN100-4. Turned on the AC for the first time and had water all over the floor in ...
  A: There is a good chance that the drain pan was damaged when the blower motor failed if the furnace ...
Honeywell Chromotherm 3 not working?6/20/2009
  Q: I have a Honeywell Chronotherm 3. When I turned the AC on the first time this year, the fan would ...
  A: It could be either. Check the battery contacts on the thermostat to make sure that they are not ...
Attic fan versus whole house fan6/20/2009
  Q: My husband and I moved into a 3 year old two story home. The AC works great on the first floor but ...
  A: A temperature actuated attic exhaust fan will reduce the temperature difference between the attic ...
reaching absolute optimal freon charge6/20/2009
  Q: For years (I'm 55) I have wanted to know how to reach supercool or optimize using supercool method ...
  A: I have to assume that your system has a fixed metering device rather than a txv. The most accurate ...
seer6/20/2009
  Q: Can a 12 seer inside coil be matched with a 13 seer condensing unit? We installed a new furnace and ...
  A: Yes a 12 SEER indoor coil will work with a 13 SEER condensing unit. You will not achieve a 13 SEER ...
AC drain line blowing cold air6/20/2009
  Q: There is a pvc line exiting the AC unit that has a short piece of pvc sticking up that is blowing ...
  A: The pvc line is the condensate drain line for the A/C. If the evaporator coil is on the supply side ...
Central air & water6/19/2009
  Q: I have a Trane XE1000 and the attic unit is dripping water onto the ceiling. It appears that there ...
  A: The most likely cause is a plugged condensate drain line. If the insulation inside the unit is wet ...
Frozen central AC6/19/2009
  Q: My Central AC unit is frozen. We just had it serviced 2 weeks ago, the freon was fine and we also ...
  A: A frozen unit is usually due to inadequate air flow(dirty filter,evap.coil, blower wheel or closed ...
heat pump thermostat doesn't work6/19/2009
  Q: I live in Gulfport, MS. In Feb, contractor replaced old GE heat pump with new XL16 Trane heat ...
  A: If the system runs continuously but doesn't cool down the house it would seem that the problem is ...
lennox ac unit model#10acb24-9p6/18/2009
  Q: my ac wont turn on i have a honeywell electronic thermostat and when i switch to ac the ac symbol ...
  A: The blinking AC normally means that the thermostat is not getting 24volts to power it. If this ...
AC unit6/17/2009
  Q: I have a question about the coil on an American Standard Heat/Air home system. I am not sure how ...
  A: No problem with the length of the question. The more information you give me the better I can ...
R-410 A/C system6/16/2009
  Q: I want to know what should be done on a residental air conditioning unit using R-22 to change the ...
  A: You will have to change both the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. It is also preferable to replace ...
York Central Air Unit6/15/2009
  Q: I have a York Central Air Unit, 3 zones and 2 programmable thermostats. When you first turn the ...
  A: Without being able to see the system setup and directly troubleshoot the system while the problem is ...
Central Air6/15/2009
  Q: I bought a house with a pretty old A/C unit that hasn't worked yet. Today I opened it up and hit the ...
  A: Is the burning smell inside or outside? It could be a motor, transformer, contactor or wiring etc.. ...
Luxaire home central air problem.6/15/2009
  Q: i just moved into a house in Michigan with a Luxaire central air conditioning system that looks ...
  A: It sounds like you may have a system that is well past its prime with multiple problems. If there is ...
Condensor fan replacement6/14/2009
  Q: The fan on my daughters outside condensing unit is making a lot of noise and needs replacing. I am ...
  A: As long as the fan motor is the same horsepower, voltage, rpm, direction of rotation and mount you ...
Trane compressor not turning back on6/13/2009
  Q: I have three trane 4 ton units in my house. When i have a jerk of power meaning it goes off then on ...
  A: If you don't already have one a start relay and capacitor might help. You could also wire a small ...
Goodman central A/C won't run6/11/2009
  Q: Mr. Trimborn, My Goodman A/C services my 400sf condo which is just 2yrs old. I used it 2 weeks ago, ...
  A: If you have a float switch in the secondary safety drain pan it should only be off(open) if there is ...
variable speed air handler6/11/2009
  Q: Live in houston, tx and have a goodman vs airhandler w/ emerg. heat paired w/ 3.5 ton condenser. I ...
  A: I am not sure about the dip switch settings that are specific to your goodman unit. They should be ...
Goodman central A/C won't run6/10/2009
  Q: Mr. Trimborn, My Goodman A/C services my 400sf condo which is just 2yrs old. I used it 2 weeks ago, ...
  A: If the A/H is in the attic you may have a safety float switch in the secondary drain pan under the ...
Convert a 10 SEER to a 13 SEER6/10/2009
  Q: We built our house and moved in Nov 2006. We thought we got a 13 SEER AC unit. This weekend the ...
  A: If the evap. coil will accept either a piston or an expansion valve, then it can be converted. Not ...
Problems with my York6/9/2009
  Q: I have a 3 1/2 ton outdoor York unit, about 18 years old. It has worked flawlessly for these 18 ...
  A: It is probably a bearing wear problem with the condenser fan motor and you may have to replace the ...
blower moter6/6/2009
  Q: bought a blower motor for unit 58gp075-ga and the old motor is 4 speed 9.8 amps and no capacitor, ...
  A: I assume the new motor that you got is the same horsepower,voltage, rpm and direction of rotation. ...
air conditioner capacitor6/5/2009
  Q: i am looking to replace the dual capacitor in our central air conditioner at home, it has a ...
  A: There are a few choices in finding out which capacitor you need. The first is to go to the ...
Corroded coils6/5/2009
  Q: An HVAC technician just left after inspecting my upstairs unit, Carrier 38YCC, which is a little ...
  A: I assume you are talking about the outdoor(condenser) coil on a split system heat pump. At just over ...
Lenox AC6/5/2009
  Q: I have a residential Lennox High Efficiency AC unit about 12 years old (I think it is a 2 ton). ...
  A: "Zerol Ice" is an additive that when added along with the oil already in the system help to decrease ...
AC replacement/split system6/3/2009
  Q: I want to replace a Lennox model 10ac48. Does it matter much if I replace the condenser with another ...
  A: I assume you plan to replace the condensing unit only without replacing the evaporator coil. As long ...
Freon vs. Puron6/3/2009
  Q: I am in the process of getting a new air conditioner. Went on the web and learned there are still ...
  A: While there are no inherent problems with R-410A as a refrigerant itself, it has some ...
Air discharge Temp on cool cycle6/2/2009
  Q: My cooling system seems to run constantly. I checked the air intake temp, 76 degrees, and the air ...
  A: Delta T (difference in temperature between return air and supply air) is normally about 18-20 ...
Heat Pump Not Working in Cooling Mode6/2/2009
  Q: We have a dual heating/cooling system in our home. Heat pump services the upper level. (Trane model ...
  A: The system should be repairable. While it is possible that the compressor failed due to a ...
Replacing A/C unit6/2/2009
  Q: I live in a suburb of Kansas City. The house is approx. 11 yrs old with a Lennox Elite A/C unit. I ...
  A: If the leak can be found and repaired you may be able to get some more life out of the system. A lot ...
ac air handler replacement6/1/2009
  Q: About 4 years ago I had my outside condenser only replaced with a miller 1.5 ton unit at my St Pete ...
  A: It is not unusual for a 25 yr. evap. coil to develop leaks at multiple return bends. I am not ...
Residential air conditioner6/1/2009
  Q: What causes thne large line coming out of the condenser to ice over? What needs to be done to fix ...
  A: The flow in the large (suction) line is back towards the condensing unit. Icing up can be caused by ...
New central air makes me sick and has weird odor?5/31/2009
  Q: I live in a 50 year old home that had a new central air conditioning unit installed. We used to use ...
  A: Cannot tell exactly what the problem is without being able to smell the odor. Possibilities would ...
covering exterior vent pipes5/31/2009
  Q: I used to sell HVAC equipment to contractors before becoming a realtor. I referred an experienced ...
  A: I don't know of anything that is made to cover the vent pipes outside the house. Normally the vent ...
heat pump5/29/2009
  Q: I have an american standard heat pump. At 80 degrees F today I am running a suction of about 80 and ...
  A: I would need more information to have an idea of what is going on with the system. What is the ...
Rusted out drain pan5/29/2009
  Q: I have just learned that the drain pan is rusted out in my 20 year old unit. What concerns should I ...
  A: If an exact replacement for the original drain pan is available that would be an option. At 20 yrs. ...
Lennox Heat Pump5/28/2009
  Q: I bought a brand new house in January and I recently needed the AC function of my brand new Lennox ...
  A: You should only need to switch the thermostat to the cool position to have the A/C run and cool. The ...
upducts5/28/2009
  Q: We no longer use swamp cooler thus no use for upducts in ceiling for swamp cooler and I notice alot ...
  A: The only effective way of keeping the heat from the ductwork from entering the conditioned space ...
"Attic" Smell5/11/2009
  Q: I have a smell coming from the duct work that smells somewhat like the smell of my attic, but ...
  A: Depending on the tightness of the house and the integrity of the return ductwork by the furnace it ...
Central Air Conditioner Question5/11/2009
  Q: I live in a home in AZ I bought brand new 3.5 years ago. First time I noticed that my AC (for ground ...
  A: I lived in Scottsdale for 5 years, so I know what the weather is like. While it is entirely possible ...
Home AC Unit5/11/2009
  Q: I know I'm going to sound silly but I have a Carrier home AC unit. I know that there is a part of ...
  A: You will probably need a service technician to get to the source of the problem. If the inside runs ...
Compressor, coil, air handler5/10/2009
  Q: I'm told that one of my compressors and coils will need to be replaced. Is it normal to replace ...
  A: In a cooling only application, the evaporator coil normally comes with the air handler. If you are ...
Trane heat pump5/10/2009
  Q: I have a Trane split system heat pump about 18 years old. It's model# is TWD724B100A1. Is this a ...
  A: Yes that is a 2 ton system. If you are planning on repairing rather than replacing the system you ...
AC/heaters5/9/2009
  Q: We have a very old (30yrs) Carrier AC/heater combo in Phoenix, AZ, and it currently works well. It ...
  A: Some parts may be available as universal replacement parts and some strictly O.E.M. (Original ...
Fuse blowing on furnace5/9/2009
  Q: I have a York High efficiency Tubular Heat exchange series GY8S Furnace, the thermostat wasn't ...
  A: Blowing the low voltage fuse on the circuit board intermittently can be a very difficult problem to ...
Amana PTAC will not operate5/8/2009
  Q: I have an Amana Model PTH153A35AA ptac (heat pump). the unit is 12 years old. For the last year, it ...
  A: From the price you are telling me that a new unit costs, I am assuming that this is a through the ...
Air conditioner5/6/2009
  Q: I believe I may have emailed you earlier but now another problem. I'm the one with the Emerson air ...
  A: If the compressor is running but the outside fan is not the system will develop excessive head ...
Contactor points5/6/2009
  Q: I have a Cariier unit that sits outside the house, when turning the AC, air comes out of the vents ...
  A: Contactor points are not available as a separate part, you must purchase a replacement contactor. ...
which a/c unit to purchase5/6/2009
  Q: We have two Trane 2.5 ton heat pump, split systems, that are 22 y.o. They both need replacing. We ...
  A: Any brand of system or unit that is rated at the same efficiency and has the same features should do ...
heating and air conditioning units5/6/2009
  Q: Building a new home 2000 square feet and want to know what size units (heating and air conditioner) ...
  A: Old "rules of thumb" for sizing a/c units by square footage are different in different parts of the ...
Cleaning coils on York air handler units5/5/2009
  Q: How do I clean between coils that are sandwiched together?
  A: It depends on how dirty and packed the space between the fins are on the coil. Normal yearly ...
supply register on furnace plenum in basement5/5/2009
  Q: I live in Western NY and have a ranch house with unfinished full size basement with forced air NG ...
  A: The window question is outside my area of expertise, but it seems that if cold air is leaking into ...
Condenser Fan isn't working5/4/2009
  Q: . I live in Ohio ... the heat hasn't hit bad yet, but I noticed when we had the air on the other ...
  A: It could be either the motor or the capacitor. A capacitor can be weak without being "bloated" or ...
S.E.E.R. rating&freon loss5/4/2009
  Q: I moved in two years ago,I have had to get freon every 6to8 weeks since.My home warranty says it ...
  A: SEER rating is the BTU output divided by the watt-hours of energy input over a specific period of ...
supply register on furnace plenum in basement5/3/2009
  Q: I live in Western NY and have a ranch house with unfinished full size basement with forced air NG ...
  A: Closing the register on the supply plenum won't affect the combustion air for the furnace in a full ...
Capacitor5/2/2009
  Q: "Outdoor Capacitor is a 35/5. Lowest allowed by MFR - 32/9. Now testing at 32/7." Replace for ...
  A: Capacitors should be within plus or minus 10% of their rating to operate correctly. If they are ...
heat return5/2/2009
  Q: We live in a capecod with an attached garage. We are finishing off a large bonus room over our ...
  A: The ideal placement for returns and supplies for air conditioning are for both to be high. The ...
TRANE XE-80 heating problrm5/2/2009
  Q: ..I live in CA. Problem with Trane XE-80 heating. ( A/C works fine ). When set to heat, flame comes ...
  A: The normal reason for tripping the high limit is insufficient air flow. Most of the time if the unit ...
1980 model HVAC system versus enery efficiency HVAC system now5/1/2009
  Q: energy saving of using new model HVAC compare to old model 1980 HVAC system. What are the benefit ...
  A: In gas furnaces, the efficiency relates to the percentage of the heat produced that actually goes to ...
Intertherm AC drip pan rusts, plugs, overflows4/30/2009
  Q: My mother's modular home in Michigan has an Intertherm central forced-air combination gas furnace ...
  A: Most newer units have changed to plastic condensate pans, but the older ones were steel. With the ...
new HVAC unit4/30/2009
  Q: I have been getting some estimates for a new HVAC unit. Ours is over 25 years old. I've been ...
  A: The Gibson brand is made by Nordyne. I have not been impressed by either Gibson or Coleman. Try ...
access valve4/29/2009
  Q: on a reciprocating compressor that has a port above the sight glass for a access valve fitting, what ...
  A: Yes you can add oil through the suction port. HVAC parts suppliers have pumps specially designed for ...
American standard vs trane and amana4/28/2009
  Q: I am getting a quote from different contractors to install a 3 ton a/c unit.. I have quote of 6000 ...
  A: Trane and American Standard with the same features and efficiencies are basically the same unit. If ...
Conversion to multi-zone possible?4/28/2009
  Q: I have a 30-yo 2500 sq-ft home in Northern Virginia with forced air heat and AC. Single zone ...
  A: I can't really answer the question as to cost because I have never priced out that type of job for a ...
Outside Compressor issue4/27/2009
  Q: I had a heating contractor fix my furnace this winter and I just tried using our A/C but the outside ...
  A: The terminal marked Com24v is the same as C. There are normally 4 wires coming from the thermostat ...
Goodman 13 Seer Heat Pump Problems4/27/2009
  Q: Our power more than doubled 4 months ago so we had the people who installed come out and look at our ...
  A: It sounds as if you have a leak in the system. While it's possible that there was a leak at the cap ...
Rheem RQKA-A042JK With Option 5414/27/2009
  Q: My unit is freezing up. So I contacted a local ac tech. He came out and charged my system for me ...
  A: 55-65 psi on an R22 system corresponds to just below or just above freezing(32 degrees). When run at ...
HVAC unit blower4/27/2009
  Q: You have previously answered this question .The fan on my air conditioner/heater system will not ...
  A: Some questions are specific to individual units/brands and can't be taken as a general across the ...
Running Central AC with cover on4/26/2009
  Q: My super intelligent wife has been running the Central Ac unit of my house for 20 hours with the ...
  A: It is possible that you have a dead compressor. Running the unit with the cover on will cause ...
gas furnace fan rumbles4/26/2009
  Q: I have a coleman presidential 7600b series gas furnace from the 70's in my 70's trailer house. ...
  A: This problem can have a number of causes. The blower wheel can be out of balance or dirty. The ...
breaker / to much voltage4/26/2009
  Q: Good morning,The problem i'm having is with my central air ! when i go to turn the a/c on the ...
  A: 260 to 300 volts seems high for supply voltage. Most electric service providers regulate the supply ...
a/c causing damp wall4/26/2009
  Q: my a/c split unit has a pipe to lead the waste/condensed water out of the house. this pipe(set in ...
  A: Depending on where the unit is located it may be possible to use a condensate pump by the indoor ...
air conditioning4/25/2009
  Q: I have hot water heat in an older house. How can I install air conditioning? Thanks......Darlene
  A: One of the easiest ways to install A/C in a house with hot water heat is to use a high velocity/low ...
Payne Heat Pumps4/25/2009
  Q: I need to replace a 23 year old 2 ton York heat pump on a rental unit. The best bid that I've ...
  A: Builders models of HVAC equipment are generally the lowest cost bare-bones types of units. They tend ...
What heat pump unit with gas pack is best4/25/2009
  Q: my present heat pump is 18 years old. It has been serviced regularly and is still working fine, but ...
  A: I am not familiar with the lowest winter temperatures that you see in that area. Do you have only a ...
no air from ducts4/25/2009
  Q: I have a Goodman heat pump/AC, and the air filter has been changed, and there is power supply to the ...
  A: Some Goodmans use a time delay relay to delay both the starting and stopping of the blower motor. ...
outside york unit4/24/2009
  Q: have 2 york's outside, one runs upstairs, little bigger one runs middle floor and basement, the one ...
  A: If the compressor and fan run when you push in the "points" on the contactor it would indicate a ...
burned up motor in furnace and a/c4/24/2009
  Q: I just found out that my a/c unit burned up a motor. How does that happen? What can a DIY do fix the ...
  A: From what I understand, the blower motor in your furnace burned out while you were running the air ...
outside york unit4/24/2009
  Q: have 2 york's outside, one runs upstairs, little bigger one runs middle floor and basement, the one ...
  A: Since both the fan and the compressor will not run the problem should either be no line voltage ...
drip pan overflow4/23/2009
  Q: where can I purchase a overflow switch that would shut off the ac and possible sound an alarm or ...
  A: A number of types of safety switches are available for drain pans that will install in either the ...
rheem4/22/2009
  Q: have a upflow rheem as a piggyback on heat pump with control board that goes into emergency heat no ...
  A: It is very difficult to diagnose a problem without being on the spot and able to logically follow ...
copeland compressor4/22/2009
  Q: steps on how to add oil to a compressor? what equipment is needed for the job? any tips? thanks.
  A: Why do you need to add oil to a compressor? Most new and replacement compressors are shipped with ...
heating problem4/22/2009
  Q: I have a comfortmaker furnace that comes on, the pilot lights but gas never flows. If i take the ...
  A: If the furnace has an intermittent pilot that always lights off, but you do not always get the ...
time delay relay4/21/2009
  Q: Looking for a time delay relay for a 36000 Btu Friedrick a/c. Have a generator in power system when ...
  A: Time delay relays are usually available through an HVAC supplier(most will not sell to an ...
furnace not working after power outage4/21/2009
  Q: I'm having a problem with my gas forced air furnace after just recovering from a 4 day power outage ...
  A: Check the low voltage at the circuit board first. If you have 24v at the circuit board, the problem ...
furnace not working after power outage4/21/2009
  Q: I'm having a problem with my gas forced air furnace after just recovering from a 4 day power outage ...
  A: Without being there to troubleshoot it is difficult to diagnose. Do you have 24v between R and C on ...
Mitsubishi 3.5hp split system air conditioner4/20/2009
  Q: My Mitsubishi 2 way split system air conditioner about 7 years old has stopped working. I recently ...
  A: Very difficult to diagnose without actually being there to check the unit. How long was the unit ...
replace theromstat4/19/2009
  Q: i live in socal., and i recently replaced an old mercury run 4 wire thermostat with an honeywell ...
  A: Was the old thermostat working when you replaced it or did you replace it to try to solve a problem? ...
Smell Of Death4/18/2009
  Q: There is an extremely foul odor coming from our vents.Even when the heat or a/c is shut off it is ...
  A: I would think that a pest control company would have experience in removing dead or live pests from ...
Gibson GL1RA series4/17/2009
  Q: My tenant reports that one morning the pre-programmed thermostat did not kick on the heat as usual. ...
  A: Very difficult to say without being there to troubleshoot when the problem was happening. The first ...
ac handler4/17/2009
  Q: Ineed help and this is the problem: "Compressor will kick on but the air handler will not" I ...
  A: It could be a number of things. Some Goodmans of that approximate age had time delay relays to turn ...
heat calculator pump4/17/2009
  Q: What does it mean when the light in on and it says to call for heat calculator pump?
  A: You haven't given me very much information to work on. What type, make and model of equipment are ...
Heat Exchange Unit4/16/2009
  Q: I have an older forced air furnace (Carrier DNP 24cc-9). I was told recently that the heat ...
  A: Most heat exchangers can be replaced if they are available, but manufacturers generally only have ...
hvac unit on roof of house4/15/2009
  Q: is it okay to mount an hvac unit on the roof of a house or is it a code violation? the house is ...
  A: I am not sure about local(or association) codes in your area, but when I lived in Scottsdale AZ it ...
Leniox Furnace model VR82004/15/2009
  Q: I have a Leniox furnace model vr8200 and I can not find the filters.. the furnace is in my attic.
  A: All newer furnaces have been mandated to ship with a means of filtering integral to the unit. This ...
troubleshooting HVAC4/14/2009
  Q: What are the symptoms of a dirty evaporator coil. What will my pressures and temperatures read. ...
  A: ??? Ambient temperature is outside temperature. No relation to SEER rating except for the specific ...
Bryant gas furnance works randomly4/14/2009
  Q: I have a Bryant Model 376CAV048095 Gas furnace. It was working randomly by turning on and off the ...
  A: The circuit board powers the gas valve after a predetermined amount of time to warm up the hot ...
Finding A/C System leak4/14/2009
  Q: During a recent checkup My mom's Lennox 10 SEER 2 ton with Armstrong indoor coil has developed a ...
  A: ultrasonic leak detectors are really good at finding leaks in hard to reach places where sniffers or ...
rheem furnace4/14/2009
  Q: I have an older rheem furnace and it has worked perfectly for the past 8 years I have owned the ...
  A: On a standing pilot system where the pilot will only stay lit for a short amount of time the problem ...
adding an economizer to an existing system4/14/2009
  Q: i have a luxaire package ac and heat unit model # dl-05ni3ataaa1 serial # noc6124606 5ton unit. The ...
  A: Is this for a residential system? Most package units have the ability to accept an economizer, but ...
AC unit replacement4/13/2009
  Q: Currently in the process of getting quotes on replacing my 13 year old AC/heating unit. My current ...
  A: It's always helpful to know what area of the country that you live in in order to try to answer most ...
condensate pump4/12/2009
  Q: i recently switched my air handler from gas to electric the problem is installing a condensate pump ...
  A: When switching from gas to electric furnaces supply voltage is normally increased from 120V to 240V. ...
troubleshooting HVAC4/11/2009
  Q: What are the symptoms of a dirty evaporator coil. What will my pressures and temperatures read.
  A: Temperature difference across system in either heating or cooling will increase( difference between ...
Combination Boiler/Furnace Operation4/11/2009
  Q: I recently saw a combination oil boiler / heat pump. How do I determine which is primary heat and ...
  A: I am not familiar with these combinations. Boiler(hot water/steam) and Furnace(forced air) or oil ...
NuTone ComboPak HVAC4/10/2009
  Q: Mr Trimborn, I currently have a Goodman combopak HVAC and have replaced just about every component. ...
  A: Mark, I am not sure what you mean by a combopak? Residential split systems have a furnace inside ...
a.c. will not run4/10/2009
  Q: Kenmore condenser unit, app. 5 yrs. old 2 ton, grandaire air handler same as ruud, brand new 2 ton. ...
  A: I am assuming that this is an A/C ONLY system. Is the new tstat a honeywell T86F? Some new tstats ...

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Norval Trimborn

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Residential and light commercial HVAC service and repair questions

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40 years of HVAC Service

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HVAC Certificate, Trane Comfort Specialist, NATE certified Heat Pump Technician

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