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About J Cook
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
With 25+ years experience, I am familiar with residential, commercial, and industrial HVAC equipment including but not limited to boilers, chillers, reciprocating and screw compressors. I am trained in all manners of control wiring.

Experience
I currently have three HVAC licenses and Refrigeration license by the State of North Carolina. I have been in this field for over twenty years. I have been a service technician for a contractor and also worked at a state college in the repair and maintenance of steam lines and equipment. I am currently the Building Maintenance Superintendent for a municipality.

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Home Appliances > Heating, Air Conditioning, Fridge, HVAC

Questions Answered By Expert J Cook
In Category Heating, Air Conditioning, Fridge, HVAC

Subject	Date Asked

Wireless remote air handler shutoff system	11/20/2009
Q: I am looking for the best way of shutting off the ac system if an outside door is left open for an ... A: I have never encountered this request, but it could certainly be done. I would investigate the type ...
Honeywell zone controls:How to replace	11/19/2009
Q: How do I replace a Honeywell zone valve for an apartment building hot water boiler? A picture would ... A: I do not have any photos, but basically you will need to shut the boiler down and drain the water ...
oil furnace problems	11/14/2009
Q: I have a Ruud oil furnace that the flame goes out on but the blower will run continuesly. This ... A: If this is a mechanical combination switch that controls the blower and has the high temp reset ...
window units	11/12/2009
Q: IS IT POSSIBLE TO PUT FREON IN A WINDOW UNIT.IF SO HOW DO I GO ABOUT IT THANKS ... A: It is not impossible to have a low charge, but with a sealed system like this one, it is less than ...
Floor Furnace not drafting properly	11/11/2009
Q: HAVE REPLACED 1930 FLOOR FURNACE WITH A NEW 30k BTU COZY FLOOR FURNACE. HVAC GUY INSTALLED IT AND ... A: I would check the chimney and the old vent piping to ensure there are no obstructions. If all this ...
leaking a coil	7/16/2009
Q: is there a stop leak solution to add to my central air unit to stop the leak? A: I have not seen a product that will not eventuallly affect the compressor. The leak is usually at a ...
Lennox blower not working	6/16/2009
Q: I am having some problems with our Lennox furnace. It is model # G20Q2E-75-7. We came home after a ... A: With this fuse blown, there is a short in the control circuit. This could be anything from the ...
geothermal heat pump	6/11/2009
Q: I'm currently trying to help an older retired military gentleman with his Snyder General/Mcquay ... A: I do not have any information on this manufacturer. You will need to contact the manufacturer to get ...
condenser replacement	6/4/2009
Q: i HAVE A CONDENSING THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF DOG URINE.THE UNIT HAS WORKED FINE FOR 7 ... A: If the supply said it would mate to the unit fan section, they know what they have engineering wise, ...
Ducane Heat Pump Problem	6/3/2009
Q: I have a split system Ducane heat pump and I am having an issue in cooling mode. The air handler ... A: There is a safety of some sort that has tripped. Have you tried turning off the outdoor disconnect ...
heating and air for knew home	6/2/2009
Q: I am going to be building a 2800 square feet home soon. It is going to be two story an the 2nd floor ... A: Unless you can afford an elaborate control system, and even then I would still install an upstairs ...
Trying to decide between contractors	6/1/2009
Q: Mr Cook, I have very limited knowledge about HVAC and hoping you can give me some tips. I am in the ... A: Keep in mind everything I am going to relate to you is based on experience with every one of these ...
Distance to outside AC unit a problem?	5/31/2009
Q: We are trying to reduce our energy usage and lower the electric bill. We live in a town home ... A: If this is a typical a/c unit with refrigerant lines interconnecting the two unit devices, I do not ...
Propane Furnace	5/28/2009
Q: My 4 year old furnace (Ultra Max III, Propane) refuses to start. I can initiate the blower suing ... A: The blower on every furnace is delayed when in the auto mode so the heat exchanger can heat up and ...
thermostat	5/18/2009
Q: I replacing old Comfortmaker thermostat to Honeywell RTH230B. My old thermostat have following ... A: If this is a heat pump, this is not the correct thermostat. If it is not a heat pump it will connect ...
safety switch	5/17/2009
Q: how do i install a safety switch for air handler drain pan? It is a model j-100 with a styrofoam ... A: This switch connects in the control circuit, 24 volts. Open the fan section and locate the ...
Odd Furnace issue	5/15/2009
Q: For the second time my kids ahve put the sump pump line into the outside exhaust, leading water back ... A: Nick, having water in the unit could have created a multitude of problems. The most likely culprit ...
Heatpump	5/13/2009
Q: I have a Heatpump with the air handler inside. The problem is when I put the thermostat in cool, the ... A: In a heat pump, the Y circuit brings on the compressor whether in heating or cooling. The only ...
Buying new A/C	5/12/2009
Q: I have two proposal and I would like to make the best decision. One is for Basic Amana A/C 2 tons 13 ... A: I had Carriers originally and had no problems with them. I replaced both systems with Goodman units. ...
a/c odor	5/10/2009
Q: the air from the a/c vents started smelling like rotten eggs. any suggestions? A: Look carefully at all of the ductwork to ensure there is not a fitting that has separated allowing ...
digital thermostat	5/8/2009
Q: I have a fan coil system for which I want to replace the very old 120V line voltage mechanical ... A: Mat, I try to help as much as possible, but with this many components and the conversion necessary ...
Amana HTM EGHW100DB3 Furnace Wiring diagram	5/7/2009
Q: I need to get a wiring diagram for this unit. There is a number in the upper right hand corner of ... A: The only resource for a diagram will be the manufacturer. On most manufacturer web sites there is a ...
central air conditioner	5/3/2009
Q: I just bought a new house and I am getting some cement work done on the side of the house that has ... A: It would be somewhat costly to disconnect and move. The refrigerant has to be isolated in the unit ...
Thermostat has no Power	4/30/2009
Q: What could be the problem is the thermostat on the wall has no power? The AC unit itself as power, ... A: The thermostat receives 24 volt power from the internal transformer. Locate the transformer and make ...
New Furnace Blower Motor	4/15/2009
Q: I just recently had a new blower motor installed in my Carrier furnance. The original one locked up ... A: Kevin, some questions to ask, is this the exact replacement motor for the original, and was the ...
HVAC home units	4/14/2009
Q: I have a Goodman 2.5 ton 10 SEER heat pump system and the outside unit just went on me. I've been ... A: Jeff, by code you can not mismatch equipment. I would also be very leary of anyone saying their 13 ...
Boilers/A/C remodel	4/13/2009
Q: I manage a small housing project. Five buildings with 4 apartments in each. Currently they are ... A: You have issues that can easily snowball. If the boilers are abandoned for conventional heat and a/c ...
Differences in brand name A/C's	4/9/2009
Q: I am planning on getting central air installed in my house for the 1st time. I have a 2 story, 44 ... A: This is my personal opinion, but I would not install Amana if it was given to me. I just replaced ...
New Yorker Oil Boiler Ignition Boom	4/8/2009
Q: Cook, I have a 147K BTU New Yorker oil fired boiler that heats my domestic water in the furnace ... A: The auxillary tank is usually much larger than you would need. A 40 gallon quick recovery unit would ...
New Yorker Oil Boiler Ignition Boom	4/7/2009
Q: Cook, I have a 147K BTU New Yorker oil fired boiler that heats my domestic water in the furnace ... A: Mike this could be several things. Some are insignificant and are not a problem, but a cracked ...
Moving Outdoor Condensor Unit	4/5/2009
Q: I want to build a deck but my outdoor unit (I think it's called a condensor?) is in the way. My ... A: It would depend on how far away it is now from the indoor unit. Only the manufacturer can state how ...
Ruud A/C unit growl	4/4/2009
Q: My ac unit is about 8 years old in FLorida. The airhandler seems to be lounder than usual. I ... A: It does appear to be the motor bearings and a new motor would be the cheapest way out. Take the ...
furnace fan works, but no heat, any ideas?	4/3/2009
Q: Cook. We have a furnace that isn't giving us heat anymore. When the temperature dips below our ... A: Try turning the power off to the furnace, wait a few minutes and turn it back on and see if it ...
Finding leak	4/2/2009
Q: During a recent checkup My mom's Lennox 10 SEER 2 ton with Armstrong indoor coil has developed a ... A: An R 22 unit is pressure tested at the factory to at least 350 psi. I do not go that high, but you ...
Split Air Conditioner Troubleshooting FAQ	3/29/2009
Q: I live in Florida. Our 15yr old unit is blowing warm air. The coils are not frozen but the condenser ... A: You may still have some life in this unit, but it is borderline on life. I just replaced my aging ...
air handler blower will not shut off	3/28/2009
Q: I have a 2 year old ADP air handler furnace. The blower motor does not shut off when the fan is in ... A: This could be a number of problems, but I would start with the thermostat. Go to the indoor unit ...
Outside Heating Unit	3/27/2009
Q: I read a post from 2006 that had asked you about a noise their unit would make when the temperature ... A: Gina a generic noise is very difficult to diagnose. Look at the outdoor unit while it is making this ...
HVAC ducts	3/26/2009
Q: We live in Southern Calif. Our house has no AC/Furnance. We are having a new HVAC system installed. ... A: With the ducts in the crawl space, I would opt for the solid metal instead of the flex. Also be sure ...
i have a question	3/25/2009
Q: Im in school for hvac i would like to know if when the thermostat is reading the same temp as the ... A: If the heat is a fuel furnace, the fan is not controlled by the thermostat, it is controlled by an ...
heat pump	3/22/2009
Q: I have to change out a air to water heat pump.I want to go to a boiler either electric or lp gas.I ... A: LP gas has not increased as significantly as other fuels, but electric still appears to be the most ...
Replacing furnace/AC	3/20/2009
Q: I live in Minnesota and last year bought a 30 year old, 1800 sq. foot 2-story townhouse. New windows ... A: Personally I think most of this is blowing smoke. It would require an engineer to test this system ...
Replacing furnace/AC	3/19/2009
Q: I live in Minnesota and last year bought a 30 year old, 1800 sq. foot 2-story townhouse. New windows ... A: Paula I am sorry to say, but I would be skeptical of every one of these contractors. With the ...
Air conditioning	2/24/2009
Q: I have no power to thermastat, new relay, no power from transformer. I have been looking for a fuse ... A: At the transformer, verify there is 240 volts feeding it and there is 24 volts leaving it. If you do ...
A/C UNIT	2/23/2009
Q: Mr Cook, thank you for your time. I have a few questions. There is a guy on Craigs list selling York ... A: Several things Chuck. You did not give a price. Second, I would be very leary of internet sales. ...
Goodman Heat Pump blows no warm heat	2/21/2009
Q: Propane is on. Heat pump led is blinking 3 times, replaced thermostat, and air blows, just no heat. ... A: There are two separate units involved. If you have propane, this should be the heat pump back up ...
Water in heat & air vents	2/19/2009
Q: Last night in the spare bathroom the piece behind the toilet busted, sending water everywhere. The ... A: At the lowest point of the duct you can drill a hole or several in different places to allow the ...
forced air hvac heating system	2/13/2009
Q: I have tried to restart my heater by pressing the restart button;the pump or motor start but the ... A: Try turning the power off to the unit, wait 5 minutes and turn it back on. If it works even for one ...
flooded boiler	2/12/2009
Q: I have a 50+ yr old Bryant hot water gravity boiler system in my home. I mistakenly added water ... A: A lesson learned, the someone who had you add water has created a problem. Overpressurizing the ...
Rudd furnace shutting down	2/11/2009
Q: I have a Rudd 90 Plus, the furnace is doing 2 different things: flame shuts down but the fan/blower ... A: The fan is controlled by a fail safe control to keep the fan on to prevent the heat exchanger from ...
Programmable thermostat installation	2/10/2009
Q: I am replacing a standard thermostat (FHP Manufacture, Simple comfort)with a Honeywell Focus ... A: All of the wiring is correct Jim. With an O terminal, this stat is specifically for a heat pump and ...
Buzzing combustion blower	2/9/2009
Q: I spotted your response to another question about a buzzing draft inducer motor, and wanted to add ... A: With the motor buzzing, it is getting power, although you could verify this with a volt meter to ...
gpc/gph package unit electric heat pump	2/7/2009
Q: I our unit is 6MO. old We notices that when the unit goes into defrost mode the outside fan still ... A: The thermostat will have no control over the outdoor fan in defrost mode. This is strictly ...
RUUD A/C System Filter Location	2/6/2009
Q: Where is the filter for the RUUD UBHK-24J11SFD Home System? A: The factory location is inside of the access panel directly where the return attaches to the unit. ...
Grommets at freon lines.	2/5/2009
Q: I am a (12+ years) home inspector in Florida trying to be accurate. I see rubber grommets missing on ... A: The HVAC tech. The grommets are there to prevent the vibrating refrigerant lines from eventually ...
Goodman? air to air pump?	1/31/2009
Q: The unit is uncovered up against the house, and snow drifts are covering the unit. I try to shovel ... A: I had a similar problem with water dripping off of the roof and freezing on the coils. You can build ...
Carrier Furnace fan stays on, but no heat or A/C	1/30/2009
Q: I live in Southern California and have a Carrier furnace model #28RC024000, serial #Y769329. The ... A: The fan in heat mode is actually not controlled by the thermostat, it is either controlled by a ...
Rheem Criterion Gas Furnace	1/29/2009
Q: Where is the air filter on my Rheem Criterion Gas Furnace and how do I change it? A: Depending on how the contractor installed the duct system, it will either be in the factory portion ...
New Thermostat and secondary Heat	1/28/2009
Q: I installed a new Hunter programable thermostat model 44760 on my heat pump system. Since ... A: I do not have a diagram for this particular stat, but the strips should be wired to the W or ...
fridge	1/25/2009
Q: kenmore cold spot 2001 model 51252101 year 2001 seareal fl3527597 my fridge has been humming for 2 ... A: Look at the rear of the refrigerator and see which part is humming. It may be the fan that cools the ...
Aprilaire Steam Humidifier Controlling Rheem Furnace	1/24/2009
Q: I have a Rheem Criterion RGDG-12EARJR furnace which works just great. Added an Aprilaire 1150 Steam ... A: Tom, it would require a somewhat complicated installation of a 24 volt relay added to the control ...
boiler	1/22/2009
Q: I have a hot water boiler in a boiler room of my office building Slab foundation. The pipes from the ... A: Unfortunately there have to be air bleeds and with the piping going above the ceiling, this is where ...
no power to t-stat or unit	1/21/2009
Q: i have a Bryant system my unit stopped working about two weeks ago in the middle of the night the ... A: If the thermostat does not have power, the indoor unit first needs to be tested to ensure it has 240 ...
220v air handler motor	1/20/2009
Q: i have been given a 220v squirrel cage with 5 colored wires coming right out of the motor. i'd like ... A: Mike, unfortunately manufacturers do not use a common color arrangement. You will either need to get ...
Oil Heating Issues	1/18/2009
Q: i have a weils mclain oil heating system; i had our contractor out yesterday cause the system shit ... A: It is not a thermostat problem. There may be a safety control either doing its job or failing. Since ...
Central Cooling Help	1/17/2009
Q: I have little experience in cooling systems. I am building a bilevel/hi-ranch house of 2,243 sq. ft. ... A: Jessy I commend you on seeking advice. I want you to get the best deal for your investment. I ...
lennox furnace	1/15/2009
Q: J - I have a G40UH series Lennox furnace that has been acting up. Intermittently the temp will drop ... A: JR this could indicate a number of problems. Turning the stat down and back up or off and on resets ...
Replace or Repair	1/13/2009
Q: We have a Carrier 58sx-120 propane gas heater(furnace) that is out. We were told it is roughly 20 ... A: I personally would replace the system at this age on any gas furnace, however in my opinion I would ...
interlock	1/11/2009
Q: what would cause your furnace to ignite when using your kitchen hoodfan when the interlock should ... A: I am not sure who said the furnace fan will replace the exhausted air, but this is not the case. You ...
gas boiler furnace	1/10/2009
Q: i have a gas boiler furnace that has four pipes forcing water into separate sections of the house. ... A: In my own opinion, the first problem is the White Rodgers controls. In my opinion, they are the ...
burning smell from heat pump	1/9/2009
Q: Tonight we noticed a burning smell coming from the vents. We turned the system off but wanted to ... A: This is a very common occurance with a heat pump IF the strip heat has not been energized in some ...
Heating ducts	1/7/2009
Q: This question stems from a Q&A I had with another expert earlier this evening... here is a copy of ... A: You did not say if you have a/c on this unit, but according to mechanical code, the duct system does ...
Goodman Draft Induction Fan Keeps Cycling On and Off	1/6/2009
Q: Here is my situation: I have a Goodman (gulp) gaspack Model PGB042125-1 that is approximately 8 ... A: You should be able to download a diagram with the unit model and serial number from the manufacturer ...
Tempstar Furnace Problems	12/17/2008
Q: How do I test if I'm getting any signal to the gas control valve? It is a Honeywell VR8204-2050. ... A: If you are not getting a spark or clicking, this has to happen before the pilot valve opens. This is ...
unit is inop.	12/16/2008
Q: My Question is what can check to see why my ac and heater will not turn? The blower will not turn ... A: To have directly jumpered what you did with the thermostat wiring and it did not operate, I suspect ...
burning smell coming from gas heating vents	12/14/2008
Q: Three days ago my gas heating system was repaired. It is a fan assisted combustion gas furnace. ... A: I would fear the heat exchanger overheated and cracked. I would have the exchanger examined by a ...
2 ton unit by fedders	12/13/2008
Q: i just purchased a 2 ton unit by fedders, my friend told me that fedders is junk compared to trane ... A: Every manufacturer goes through some sort of changes. Trane was purchased some years ago by American ...
comcord 80	12/11/2008
Q: My code on my valve ( 2 blinks) indicates that the presure switch is closed and should be open. Is ... A: You are correct, the pressure or vacuum switch is the same. It is a fail safe switch so in the event ...
Furnace Armstrong Ultra Tech V 80	12/10/2008
Q: I have an Ultra Tech V since 5 years, and it use to work very fine. This year, burners goes on up to ... A: The fan is most likely controlled by a circuit board. Either the device sensing the temperature or ...
HVAC Residential Heating Problem	12/6/2008
Q: I have a Day & Night split unit with the fan coils in the attic and the condenser outside. The unit ... A: In a unit of this age, it is most likely a mechanical device that heats up to bring the heat on. It ...
mitsubishi Mr. Slim mini split	12/5/2008
Q: I just bought a 12000 btu 17 seer mr. slim heat pump. The model number is MSZA12NA and MUZA12na. I ... A: I was not referring to the condensate, in heat mode, the entire outdoor coil will ice over, as it is ...
TRANE ELECTRONIC AIR FILTER PERFECT FIT TFE215A1AH30 SERIAL NUMBER: 4423BBPAW	11/24/2008
Q: I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS AIR FILTER IN THAT WHEN THE UNIT IS ON THE GREEN LIGHT BLINKS ... A: The transformer humming is totally normal. It seems that the sensor is too sensitive in the unit ...
Replacing an air filter	11/24/2008
Q: I have a new air filter for my Rheem hot air gas heater, but I can't figure out where it goes. Can ... A: Every unit has a filter rack built into the return side of the fan section that is inside. During ...
Thermostat/furnance occasionally don't communicate?	11/23/2008
Q: About once a week my furnace won't kick on even though the temp on the thermostat is below the ... A: It has nothing to do with the thermostat. There is a safety control that is occasionally tripping ...
Heating	11/22/2008
Q: Have a carrier furnace model #58GP050CA can get the furnace to light and kick on but after a short ... A: The same answer applied to the previous questioner. It is either a safety control shutting the ...
Tappan Heater	11/22/2008
Q: I have a Tappan heater that the burners start up and fan starts up then just seconds later the ... A: There is a safety control that has either failed shutting the burners down, or it may be doing its ...
Concord Furnace	11/21/2008
Q: We have a Concord furnace 46555-001/B. When the we turn the furnace to heat, sounds come for the ... A: Most likely you are hearing the inducer motor that exhausts the vent gases. It is the first ...
new noise from heat pump	11/20/2008
Q: We have 5 ton Goodman 13 seer, which was installed in July 2008, no warranty,long story. Absolutely ... A: The sound you are hearing is most likely the unit either going into defrost mode or when it cuts ...
Amana Air Command won't heat - closed pressure switch?	11/20/2008
Q: I have an Amana Air Command 90 HVAC unit, natural gas. The induced draft motor runs continuously, ... A: The pressure switch actually works in reverse. When the inducer fan is blowing, it opens the ...
Trane electric fan works but no heat	11/19/2008
Q: "What steps should I take to get my AC unit to heat? Also not sure if outside unit is suppose to run ... A: I am not sure what type of heat you have. If you have a fuel furnace, the outdoor unit will not run ...
AC/Heat Pump issue	11/18/2008
Q: Pipes leading from outside unit to inside furnace are covered with frost. Outside unit will turn on ... A: Typically when frost develops on the lines, it indicates either a low unit charge or a restriction ...
No Hot water	11/18/2008
Q: I have an oil burner furnace with a tankless coil and cad cell type primary . I went to take a ... A: I agree there is most likely a restriction. If you do not have a filter on the fuel line, it needs ...
outside unit buzzing,	11/17/2008
Q: Hey I hope you can help. It's cold in this part of Florida and we've had the heat pump running. ... A: It may be tranferring the sound, but most likely it is the reversing valve you hear buzzing. Check ...
system won't come on - thermostat won't come on	11/17/2008
Q: I was labeling fuse box, turning fuses on and off to identify. Now the thermostat is not working. ... A: There is a good chance the power surge took out the transformer in the unit or blew a fuse in the ...
HOT BOX	11/16/2008
Q: Mr. Cook, Before I even ask my question have you ever did a installation of a outdoor hot box that ... A: Yes, we have a number of them on the site I am located at. We encountered so many problems with the ...
Hot water furnance / pressure	11/14/2008
Q: I have a chromolox hot water furnance where the boiler is electric. My question is this - my ... A: There is a water regulator at the water inlet. It either needs to be adjusted or replaced. Sometimes ...
Thermostat hook up	11/14/2008
Q: I have a older furnace that I tied a new air handler and AC unit to.The Furnace has only 2 wires for ... A: This appears to be a strange system as a typical furnace has its own blower, but an a/c air handler ...
Goodman GMH95 Heat Off Delay(blower)	11/13/2008
Q: My furnace instructions say I can change the heat off delay time for the circulator blower when the ... A: I tried to find the manual on the Goodman site for this unit without success. Call a Goodman ...
Blown fuse (3amp) in furnace	11/13/2008
Q: The 3amp fuse in the furnace blows when i turn on our system, hot or cold. It is a Honeywell ... A: There is a short somewhere in a control device or the wiring. Look for a damaged wire, if nothing is ...
gas furnace flame roll out sensor	11/12/2008
Q: on a service call i ran into a RPG2 gas furnace that gave me a blink code of 5. this code is for a ... A: This device is an orifice. It will have to be replaced as attempting to clean it will change the ...
replace or keep heat pump unit	11/11/2008
Q: I have a new rheem heat pump that was never never fulley set up and is 4 years old. the service ... A: The technician is correct. Manufacturers stopped making 10 seer units January 2007 and to find a 10 ...
Aire-flo furnace won't respond	11/11/2008
Q: Mr Cook - thanks in advance for answering my question. I have a 5 year old Aire-flo furnace - my ... A: With no standing pilot, the unit has electronic ignition and an ignitor either glows, or a spark ...
electronic ingition	11/10/2008
Q: I run a non-profit making free home repairs. I have a client whose furnace will not start, the light ... A: On an ignition failure, with the ignitor having power to it but not lighting, I would believe the ...
boiler and hot water heater	11/10/2008
Q: My MIL is on a fixed income. This means my DH is usually the one that repairs things in her home. ... A: Since both are connected to the same water line, with only one off the water is back feeding into ...
fabric cover for metal frame washable filter?	11/9/2008
Q: Because my filter size must be special ordered on the internet and because I prefer to change the ... A: It would most likely restrict the air flow too much and cause a compressor failure. An alternative ...
Furnace heat will not come on	11/8/2008
Q: I have a 1990 Goodman Mfg. furnace model #GUPI 100-4. The aircondition runs fine, but when I switch ... A: I do not believe you need a new unit at this point, but this old of a furnace needs a good heat ...
central heat no auto fan	11/7/2008
Q: wondering if i can get some advice on my home's central heat and a/c unit. my house has a General ... A: Brian this is a very common question. In a/c mode the thermostat directly controls the fan and ...
2001 Amana High Eff Gas fired warm air furnace	11/7/2008
Q: I have someone I can buy one from as mine is dead. Any info would be great I don't want to pay too ... A: Amana is no different from many other products. 20 years ago many products were built to last. Today ...
Holly Home Forced-Air Heater - Fan stays on	11/6/2008
Q: I have a Holly brand forced-air heater in a closet-type space. My thermostat works fine, as the ... A: If the summer switch is turned off, the fan is supposed to be controlled by either a timer or most ...
2001 Amana High Eff Gas fired warm air furnace	11/6/2008
Q: I have someone I can buy one from as mine is dead. Any info would be great I don't want to pay too ... A: In my opinion Amana is a very low end unit and considering this one is already 7 years old and a ...
Armstrong Heat Pump	11/5/2008
Q: Looking for a wiring diagram for an old Armstrong heat pump model SHP10A24A-1A. Is there any where ... A: There will be contact information on their site, either by phone or E-mail. I would contact them to ...
Insulating hot water pipes from a gas furnace	11/5/2008
Q: I live in an old Brownstone building in Boston, with 6 condo units that are heated by a gas / ... A: Any tape will deteriorate the glue and it will eventually loosen or fall totally off. I am not sure ...
new HVAC install Ruud vs York	11/3/2008
Q: what is your opinion of York's ultra energy efficient hvac equipment. we are looking at their 98% ... A: For answering purposes, understand this is merely my opinion. We have experienced so many problems ...
Aire-flo furnace won't respond	11/2/2008
Q: Mr Cook - thanks in advance for answering my question. I have a 5 year old Aire-flo furnace - my ... A: It will not have a theromocouple persay if it is an automatic ignition unit. Do you know if it is a ...
forced air propane furnace	11/1/2008
Q: I would be interested in hearing your opinion about my situation. At the end of January (2008) I had ... A: Without knowing the entire structure construction it is difficult to say if this is excessive, but ...
Furnace won't start/air in pipes	10/31/2008
Q: J, Recently, there has been air building in the pipes of my baseboard heat. It was sounding like a ... A: There may be multiple problems, but to eliminate the air will be the starting point as it may cure ...
amana	10/31/2008
Q: I am looking to get a new heat/ac central system.I am looking at an Amana. The contractor is ... A: I personally do not care for an Amana. I agree the Trane, American Standard and Carrier are ...
downstairs heater not working	10/30/2008
Q: hey how are ya, 4yr old house with dual units/controls went downstairs this morn and it was ice ... A: Try turning the breaker off and back on. This will reset the control circuit. If it starts and ...
new gas furnace Ruud achiever 90 plus	10/30/2008
Q: about a year ago I had the furnace (above) put in my home. I kept saying that it was not ... A: I would go directly to the Ruud rep who was there. There is a component that controls the fan, in a ...
forced air heat and ac/coleman evcon furnace	10/28/2008
Q: I recently purchased a used mobile home and the furnace works but not quite right. The vent fan ... A: I don't believe it is a wiring problem since it will work for several cycles. You are correct in ...
Oil Heat	10/27/2008
Q: .. I have oil heat, which heats my home and water. I try to be conservative (for obvious reasons) ... A: Neal I see a couple things that may be better. First, I would install a water heater so the furnace ...
Replaced thermostat and doesnt work	10/25/2008
Q: I recently bought a new thermostat at home depot, it is a generic, one size fits all. I followed the ... A: If you tried to replace it without turning off the power to the unit, the low voltage transformer is ...
oil heat	10/23/2008
Q: heat was off till yesterday , we tried to turn on it clicks but nothing happens. I checked the ... A: First, make sure the thermostat is set for heat and turned up. Go to the furnace and there will be a ...
New Furnace	10/22/2008
Q: Are there any good reliability statistics for gas furnaces? So far, I've only seen anecdotal ... A: Payne, Bryant and Carrier are all manufactured by Carrier, so all of these would be comparable. I ...
American Standard Freedom 78	10/22/2008
Q: I just started it up tonight and I noticed a red blinking light through a round glass peep hole ... A: I do not have the manuals for equipment, but this is usually a code that either indicates a problem, ...
circuit board on trane xe80 furnace	10/21/2008
Q: furnace burners would light within 3-5 seconds would go out light on circuit board would constanly ... A: I do not have the wiring diagrams for either of these boards. I never recommend a universal part ...
smell coming from vents	10/20/2008
Q: There is a fishy smell coming from the downstairs vent. It is pretty potent. The smell is there ... A: Sometimes debris gathers on the indoor coil and will create obnoxious odors. Try cleaning the indoor ...
Gas Hot Water Tank Exhaust Capacity Requirement	10/20/2008
Q: I have a 40gal HW Tank. It has a 3" exhaust at top going into a 4" duct into an old chimney. If I ... A: Every manufacturer is different. You will have to see what the specific manufacturer recommends for ...
Keeping a constant temperature	10/19/2008
Q: In my home I have two air conditioner units for my two story house. The one for the lower level does ... A: Make sure the thermostat is not in a draft area, in that there is not a supply vent blowing on it or ...
A/C	10/18/2008
Q: Can you tell me what might be causing my A/C to work only when my digital thermostat is set to the ... A: It appears to me that some wiring is switched. The a/c unit may be wired to the fan switch. In heat ...
Will a chimney cap keep pilot light from going out?	10/17/2008
Q: Each winter we have instances of our pilot light going out on our boiler( Teledyne Laars Mini ... A: I have to take exception to the thermocouple not allowing the pilot to go out. If it fails, it can ...
American Standard gas furnace	10/16/2008
Q: Our old furnace (22 years old) has been found to have a crack in the heat exchanger. The maintenance ... A: I would recommend having several contractors quote on a change out to compare prices and equipment ...
hvac intermittent start trouble	10/16/2008
Q: and Thank You for your time, I have an American Standard Freedom 90 unit installed 4/2004 - last ... A: I would be very concerned that with this long of a vent pipe with so many bends has backed up the ...
tankless electric water heater closed loop radiant heat system	10/15/2008
Q: My home was built in 1921 it has an old oil burning hotwater heater with a recirculating water pump. ... A: Yes. I have serviced a number of retail department stores that have been heating with tankless units ...
typical voltage boiler wiring	10/15/2008
Q: need typical wiring diagram for steam boiler.. installed new power flame burner and now lost my low ... A: Every manufacturer has a different control diagram. You will need the model and serial number of ...
Refilling a closed baseboard boiler heating unit.	10/14/2008
Q: I recently went into my basement and found out that my circulating pump (B & G series 100) was ... A: Since the unit has been operating, there has to be some point of bleeding the air. There is no way ...
Armstrong Ultra 80 won't ignite	10/8/2008
Q: I’ve got an Armstrong furnace that won’t go past the pilot ignition stage. What it does when I call ... A: I would try jumping the pressure switch, but on most units, if the pressure switch does not make, ...
Setting up outdoor wood boiler	10/7/2008
Q: Thnaks for taking this question. Heres the situation. I built my own house and did everything but ... A: I really appreciate the opportunity, but the liability of designing the operation of a boiler ...
Boiler runs water continuously	10/5/2008
Q: I have a series 2 burnham burner it is about 17 years old. I had to shut it down when a tenante ... A: At the highest point of the piping there should be bleeder valves that are similar to a tire valve. ...
Fan/ Limit switch stuck on	10/4/2008
Q: Occasionally a Honeywell fan/limit switch (controlling a duct blower far away from the ... A: The limits will be set to some value, but I am wondering if the limits need adjusting on the ...
will changing thermostat help	10/4/2008
Q: i am staying in a 20 story apartment block, which has centralised aircon. I hve a couple of issues. ... A: I am not sure if each individual is resposible for their own system in this case or if the owner ...
HARD START	10/3/2008
Q: INSTALLED A NEW GOODMAN AC WITH NEW GAS FURNACE. IT IS A 14 SEER R22 COPELAND SCROLL COMPRESSOR. ... A: YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!! He has enough refrigerant in this system for 5 units! I would call the ...
How to locate a leak in a home a/c heater coil	10/2/2008
Q: Can you tell me how to locate a leak in my home a/c system? Background: Its less than 3 years old ... A: First, I would not continue running the unit knowing the charge is low. The refrigerant of a system ...
York Diamond 80 furnace	10/2/2008
Q: My York Diamond 80 furnace was installed 5 years ago and its warranty was expired. Now it stops ... A: Starting with the last, there are number of things to prolong a compressors life. Unfortunately the ...
Heat exchange failure in Goodman heat pac	10/1/2008
Q: I have Goodman unit PGJ036100, 3-ton heat/air unit manufactured/installed in 2001. Am now ... A: I would talk to a Goodman Manufacturers rep and see if they will not replace the entire fan section ...
HVAC replacement	9/29/2008
Q: I have a first floor, one-level condo in Northern Virginqia. The unit in my patio closet is a combo ... A: First, to determine a units size requires a very extensive load calculation. It goes so far as ...
moving heat vent	9/29/2008
Q: We have a manufactured home and the heat vent for the baby's room is right where I need to put the ... A: Most likely the vent is fed by flex duct, so it should only require cutting another hole and moving ...
2.5 Ton Bryant A/C	9/28/2008
Q: "I have a 1989 Bryant 21/2 Ton Air Conditioner with a heater on the units compressor. The rubber ... A: It is not a mandatory item and most do not have it at all, but since it had it, I would replace or ...
Ground on capacitor	9/28/2008
Q: When the fan motor on the outdoor unit failed I went after the cheap fix and replaced the capacitor. ... A: A true ground wire will not connect at all to a capacitor. I am not sure what this wire is, but if ...
coil size vs. compressor size	9/27/2008
Q: Can you please tell me if it would be standard practice to place a 3 ton coil in with a 3 1/2 ton ... A: Actually due to the excellent service from the Goodman's at work, I replaced both of my Carrier ...
Control wiring	9/26/2008
Q: I installed a split system air handler with an AC coil along side my old oil furnace. How do I wire ... A: The new stat does not have duel transformer capability so the transformer in the furnace will have ...
central air	9/24/2008
Q: Our old singer unit finally died. Anyways we are currently getting quotes from a few different ... A: By some manufacturers they are compatible. Rheem is a lower end unit, simply because of the quality ...
residential hvac question	9/23/2008
Q: I have a Lennox model# EV-41-M which seems to "run" almost all the time. when you flip the swicth to ... A: The contactor may be stuck on the outdoor unit. Turn the power off at the outdoor disconnect and ...
Kenmore Dryer Won't Turn On	9/22/2008
Q: My Kenmore dryer ticks when the timer is set, but either will not start or will run for 5-10 seconds ... A: This is not going to be a simple fix. Your husband needs a good voltmeter to diagnose this. Tell him ...
Heatpump/return air	9/19/2008
Q: I have a one story 30x90 rancher built in the mid 70's. I live in southern Delaware where we have ... A: I would not run the unit with the wood stove returning into the unit as it will create false ...
HeatPump HVAC Ran Heating to 100F	9/19/2008
Q: I have a Goodman Heat Pump HVAC controlled with a Simple Comfort 2200 thermostat for one room. We ... A: You are correct that the battery only maintains the time and program. The 24 vac operates the unit. ...
Fan motor	9/18/2008
Q: J Could you tell me How to find out Fan motor is bad or not,How to check by meter the motor is bad? ... A: First be sure it is not the capacitor. A failed capacitor will make the motor hum but not start up. ...
Thaw appliance	9/17/2008
Q: I Mr. Cook. I am a Refrigeration Mechanic working for two Hospital in Quebec, i have a meat thawing ... A: Mike, in 30 years of refrigeration experience I have never heard of a meat thawing appliance. It ...
BOILER	9/16/2008
Q: Ok I am not a expert and have no anything about boilers. I had a boiler burn in a fire in our ... A: By the specs on this unit it can either be used as a hot water boiler or a steam boiler, you did not ...
Breaker keeps tripping & outside unit wont start.	9/15/2008
Q: The circuit breaker keeps tripping for the outside unit when it should start. As soon as the ... A: With the outdoor disconnect off, open the access panel and locate the contactor. On one side, the ...
Residential A/C	9/14/2008
Q: I have two questions. First, I am replacing an old R-22 AC system with a system that uses R-410. I ... A: First, do not reuse the line set, not only may it contaminate the new system, I do not see how the ...
gas won't flow	9/13/2008
Q: I have a Godman gmp100rev4 furnace. Everything works except the gas won't come on. The draft and ... A: I would have suspected the circuit board as the ignitor must prove via the circuit board before the ...
New Heating/Cooling system	9/12/2008
Q: I have a home that was built in 1977 in southern California. The Evaporator cooler is leaking ... A: I will give you my opinion on each issue. I just replaced both of my aging Carrier heat pumps with ...
system not cooling as much as before	9/11/2008
Q: I have an office with a 3.5 ton system (Rheem condenser R-22) which is just under 2 years old and ... A: There is a restriction somewhere in the refrigeration lines. The low side is a little low, it should ...
Mobile home filters	9/9/2008
Q: I Have a single wide mobile home and where the filter goes in the return looks like it has metal ... A: I would measure the track to see exactly what size will fit, locate your local HVAC or refrigeration ...
HVAC Problem	9/8/2008
Q: I am working on a 5 yr old heatpump, it's a Goodman at my workplace. It never worked correctly when ... A: This seems to indicate an overcharge. The suction should not be over about 65 and the high side not ...
A/C not working at all	9/6/2008
Q: i woke up this morning with no a/c. I got up and turned the thermastat down, it still did not kick ... A: The indoor fan is on a separate breaker from the outdoor unit. If you have no indoor fan or the ...
Ice forming on Air Handler in Hallway closet	9/6/2008
Q: I have ice forming on the fins in the bottom of my air handler unit which is located in the hallway ... A: Two things commonly cause icing. Low air flow and a low refrigerant charge. If the filter was dirty, ...
Thermostat Replacement	9/5/2008
Q: I just purchased a Honeywell RTH7500 programmable thermostat for our heat pump. It's a new (to us) ... A: One connection is missing, the O terminal which is the reversing valve to convert from a/c to heat. ...
FREIDRICH WALL UNIT	9/4/2008
Q: It has been running all summer on money saver mode with the thermostat set between 66 and 70 ... A: If the fan was blowing at all, the sound appears to be of a locked up compressor. Most of these are ...
ac unit not working	9/3/2008
Q: I have an air conditioner that is blowing but not blowing cold. When we first turned it on monthes ... A: The outdoor unit is on a different circuit than the indoor unit with the fan. Make sure the outdoor ...
Air conditioner set 79. Less than 1 minute cycle time.	8/29/2008
Q: I was running my AC set at 80 degrees with fan on auto, but recently read that that will allow more ... A: The charge in the unit needs to be checked. This is a classic indication with it short cycling. I ...
DUCT WORK REPLACEMENT	8/28/2008
Q: SAY I HAVE 6" SUPPLY METAL DUCT AND I WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH FLEX DUCT BECAUSE THE METAL DUCT IS ... A: Prices vary by region. I would call an HVAC supply, or in some areas Home Depot sells flex duct and ...
compressor failures	8/28/2008
Q: I have a 4 ton inside/outside unit with gas heater that is about 15 years old. The compressor went ... A: The question I would have the technician is why he did not replace this filter with the first ...
evaporator coils	8/26/2008
Q: I have two carrier 5 ton units both airhndlers and gas furnaces are in the attic. i've had 2 techs ... A: If the coils are A coils, meaning they would resemble the letter A if stood up correctly, the air ...
AC: Repair or Replace	8/26/2008
Q: I just had an estimate on some repairs to my Trane upstairs heat pump which is out of warranty and ... A: If the only repair needed was the heater, I would say repair it, but with the leaking coil, I would ...
fan not working	8/25/2008
Q: Our air cond/heating unit wasn't keeping up. So I went to look at it after resetting all breakers ... A: The most likely problem is the capacitor. It looks like a small can, usually either silver or gray ...
Air handler condensation	8/24/2008
Q: We have a unit that is about 10 years old. Recently we were having bad drain pan overflow. Called in ... A: Condensation is caused by lack of insulation. The actual cabinet is so cool the garage air is ...
Ultra V Tech 80 low air flow / no cold air	8/24/2008
Q: Two days ago my AC stopped blowing cold air through the house and the air flow has lowered in some ... A: The outdoor unit is on a different circuit than the indoor unit, so you can have a fan but no cool ...
Pulsing duct systen	8/23/2008
Q: " I recently purchased a new home in FTW TX. Upon moving into the home in January I could get great ... A: You are much smarter than you repair person. You are exactly correct and it appears there is either ...
Air conditioning	8/22/2008
Q: My air conditioning is not working. The fan of the furnace is also not working. I check the ... A: The outdoor unit had been working as evidenced by the iced up line. It will ice up due to the indoor ...
One leaking vent	8/22/2008
Q: I hope you can help me. It rain hard the last couple of days here in texas. One vent (just a few ... A: You are seeing condensation due to the insulation being damaged somewhere on this section of duct. ...
size of AC unit	8/21/2008
Q: Cook, i am buying a house which is 3000 sqft (2 floors) and basement (unfinished). currently the ... A: There is a very detailed load calculation that any good HVAC contractor can do to determine the ...
Residential compressor won't shut off	8/20/2008
Q: I have Trane central A/C System with fairly new Honeywell T-stat. Occasionally in the middle of ... A: The component that transfers power from the outdoor disconnect to the compressor and fan is located ...
INCORRECT FREON LINE SIZES	8/19/2008
Q: WHEN THEY INSTALLED THE FREON LINES ON MY A/C UNIT TO THE COIL ABOVE THE FURNACE THEY USED THE WRONG ... A: Since the system is already operating, I would replace the lines and see how long the system will ...
Installation of Honeywell Programmable Thermostat with Bryant Puron HVAC Syster	8/19/2008
Q: I have purchased the Honeywell 7-day Programmable Thermostat, Model # RTH7500, to install for my ... A: As described, you have two low voltage transformers on the same thermostat. I do not see how they ...
Nutone HVAC	8/18/2008
Q: First off, I should let you know that I've already asked this question of Craig. I know that it's ... A: The indoor unit is the difference. A full electric heat pump indoor unit is just a coil and fan ...
Outdoor A/C unit not turning on.	8/17/2008
Q: My kids had turned down the temp on my a/c and had some windows open on the house with it being 100+ ... A: For it to trip the breaker, it appears more like the compressor is locked up. You can verify by ...
floor vent HELP!!!	8/16/2008
Q: Upstairs each bedroom has an air-exchange on the floor instead of the ceiling or wall. Its location ... A: Not being smart at all but anything can be done for enough money. Since this is an upstairs system, ...
Nutone HVAC	8/16/2008
Q: First off, I should let you know that I've already asked this question of Craig. I know that it's ... A: I live near Charlotte, so I know what you mean about the weather. I tell coworkers when its 85 one ...
Furnace Blower for AC coming on and off	8/15/2008
Q: I have a 20+ year old Trane Gas Fired Forced Air Furnace (BLU055E936B1). It controls my heating and ... A: I agree it sounds like the fan limit control. On one of this age, it is most likely the bi-metal ...
Heat Pump Thumping / Hammering Noise	8/15/2008
Q: We recently moved to a newly built home in Kentucky and now have an electric heat pump system, ... A: An HVAC system should NEVER need refrigerant added after the installation. If it is low on charge, ...
A/C Inquiry	8/14/2008
Q: We have a trane-type A/C system for our condo unit that is situated outside the house. The ... A: The indoor unit is on a separate circuit from the outdoor unit. The piping is frosting because there ...
hvac needs for family fun center	8/14/2008
Q: we have a 9000 square ft warehouse space that we are converting to a childrens center. we expect ... A: Actually I do not believe that will be enough. You need to contact a local HVAC contractor to do a ...
Heat pump freezes up	8/13/2008
Q: Last month had compressor replaced on heat pump which is new and still under warranty. Last week it ... A: I live near Charlotte myself. I do not blame you for being skeptical. There is no reason the filter ...
propane heat non-ignition	8/12/2008
Q: I have propane heat (also for hot water). Regularly the system will call for hot water, but the ... A: There is some sort of safety tripping. On a gas unit of any kind there are several and those can be ...
Goodman condenser compressor	8/12/2008
Q: My son had a condenser replaced with a Goodman brand last November but the contractor did not test ... A: I also purchased two Goodman units within the past year, and no seal was on either of them, so as ...
heat/aircondtion	8/11/2008
Q: we have a trane weathertron xe 800 made 7/1990. the problem is, the indoor furnace fan runs.thru the ... A: If the capacitor and contactor have been replaced and the motor still does not run, the motor has to ...
AC/PROBLEMS	8/11/2008
Q: I have a new unit York 5 ton (installed about 1 1/2 years ago). My unit seems to run longer than ... A: Actually this is a very accurate test of a system and a system in good working order should have ...
Dripping copper tubing	8/10/2008
Q: We went down to finish installing plastic sheeting in our crawl space and noticed some puddles on ... A: It is not a serious problem at this point although you never want standing water under the house. ...
small steam radiator	8/9/2008
Q: There are 11 units in a building with steam heat. One of the room heaters won't shut off when the ... A: The first thing is to kill power to the boiler always before shutting off the water. If the boiler ...
A/C Problem	8/8/2008
Q: Cook, I live in Arizona and as you know it gets quite hot here during the summer months. My A/C ... A: I agree there is something wrong, but at the same time the technician is one of my own, so I have to ...
condensor/compressor	8/7/2008
Q: the condenser was freezing up. Tech said it had a leak. Replaced condensor, now it will reach temp ... A: Possibly, but I feel more like the unit is now overcharged which is heating up the compressor while ...
Intertherm A/C problems	8/7/2008
Q: We are having problems with our Intertherm Central air outside unit. Lately, we have noticed that ... A: I am afraid that is the compressor trying to start but appears to be locked up. There is a very slim ...
Kenmore side by side refrigerator	8/6/2008
Q: Freezer won't get below 20 degrees. Refrigerator holding steady at 40 degrees. Coils are all ... A: There could be some hidden ice in the unit. Try removing all contents and unplug it for a full 24 ...
Central Air Conditioning	8/6/2008
Q: I have a Miller Air conditioner,It is about 6 years old.Last year it worked fine, this year when you ... A: When this happens, is the outdoor unit still running, there is just no air blowing? If so, it is ...
air conditioner	8/4/2008
Q: I just had my compressor replaced (it was under warranty) worked okay for a couple of weeks then ... A: If the fan stayed on while the compressor cycled, it was cycling on internal heat overload and has ...
btu calculation	8/3/2008
Q: im thinking 6000btu will cool but i see on another site to add 4000 btu for no insulation and 600 ... A: You will not believe all components required to do a proper calculation. You have a good start, but ...
lennox unit	8/2/2008
Q: i have a lennox hvac model c23-31-1 and it just recently started leaking water around the entire ... A: This is indicating either the drain line is clogged or the condensate pump if it has one is clogged ...
Tonnage Needed	8/1/2008
Q: We are installing a HVAC system and need to know how what size unit to use. The sanctuary is 3500 ... A: The only way to determine the size of equipment if for a load calculation to be performed. This ...
R-22 freon	7/31/2008
Q: I had a repair of a coil leak on my Rheem heat pump. The charges included $382 for 6 1/2 pounds of ... A: It depends on the area and the amount of time involved for part of the equation. You also have to ...
hot refrigerator inside	7/30/2008
Q: What can make the frigerator be 80 degrees inside, while the freezer is working? No air, or very ... A: All of the mechanical refrigeration is in the freezer of a residential refrigerator, so if the ...
HVAC unit	7/29/2008
Q: I have a Goodman 3.5 ton outside air conditioner that I would like to use to replace a 1.5 ton unit ... A: No! The indoor unit is matched in capacity to the outdoor unit and this will not work. Sizing a unit ...
a/c not working	7/28/2008
Q: My central a/c stopped working today. The unit inside is turning on but the fan and condensor ... A: Any a/c or refrigeration supply will have good coil cleaners with detailed instructions, but it may ...
fan motor not running	7/27/2008
Q: I have a trane xe1000 unit that the fan motor is not running. This unit is for the upstairs in our 2 ... A: I agree that the buzzing sound may likely be the motor trying to start but cannot due to a damaged ...
air conditioning	7/27/2008
Q: I recently had two new condensors installed but keep the same Air handlers in attic, it has has ... A: Hot air is subject to interpretation. If the air seems to actually be heated air, there could be a ...
AC fan doesn't always shut off	7/26/2008
Q: We have a central roof mounted AC unit and sometimes, the fan does not shut off and will run ... A: I would suspect the fan relay more, but one way to verify, when the fan does not cut off, remove the ...
New thermostat hookup help on multistage heat pump	7/26/2008
Q: I am trying to replace my Weathertron thermostat on my trane system with a digital Hunter thermostat ... A: You will have to do some investingating for the C or common wire, it is either the current black or ...
Pump Down	7/24/2008
Q: What is Pump Down? Tanks for your help,,,, A: Pump down refers to the closing of a valve in the refrigeration circuit to allow the refrigerant to ...
Helpe	7/23/2008
Q: What is the d/t b/n start relay and start capacitore? when I checked the presure of high and low ... A: The dt is the defrost timer, I can not figure out anything that would be a bn, the start relay and ...
two air conditioner home	7/22/2008
Q: Ok i have a 2800 sq foot home with 2 air conditioners. Im just trying to figure out my best option ... A: It depends on how the home is used. I also have a two story two unit home. I have a sitting room ...
Blower motor problem	7/20/2008
Q: I have a blower motor that its look like is running weak therefore is blowing a weak air out off the ... A: There really is not a way to test the motor, it will either work or not, but you can replace the ...
Condenser running backwards	7/19/2008
Q: The fan on my condenser unit started spinning backwards(air flow down. It is a RUUD Scroll condenser ... A: Occasionally the wind will have the motor spinning in reverse and when it powers, it will continue, ...
pipe	7/18/2008
Q: I know this probably isn't your expertise but I'm connecting a pipe from a sink to an existing pipe ... A: Would you believe I asked a plumbing supply the same thing and they had never heard of doing that. I ...
Intertherm Ac unit	7/17/2008
Q: I have a an older approx. 1970 ac unit. I have been told there is only only drain which goes to the ... A: It will take some work, but you need to dig a deep pit and fill it with rocks with a light cover of ...
contol voltage	7/2/2008
Q: WHEN CHECKING LOW VOLTAGE HOW CAN YOU TELL WHERE THE VOLTAGE HAS STOPPED OR IF YOUR GETTING A ... A: The common side of the transformer is grounded to the cabinet. If you put one lead on the cabinet ...
Economizers	7/2/2008
Q: What is Economizers? A: It is a factory fitting that attaches to a unit controlled by a humidistat that senses ambient ...
Pressure washing outside compressor	7/1/2008
Q: Is it OK to pressure wash the outside compressor cooling fins? I would think the better airflow the ... A: Yes, this is a common way a good technician cleans the coils. Get a good coil cleaner and follow the ...
Central HEating/ AC	7/1/2008
Q: My parents checked in on my house about two months ago and relayed to me that the Central AC system ... A: It may be that the unit was iced up preventing any air flow. Have the system switch turned off so it ...
Troubleshooting A Rheem	6/30/2008
Q: I have a Rheem RAMB-048JAZ (mfg 02/00) , S/N 6267F070012409 It began to not cool properly last ... A: The broken wire could easily have damaged the capacitor. They are not expensive and worth the ...
air in the system?	6/30/2008
Q: I've heard that air in the system (suction line I think) can be a problem. If this is true, would ... A: If there was any air at all in the system, it would dramatically affect the cooling. I am sure the ...
rooftop vibration	6/29/2008
Q: Mr. Cook, I recently purchased a new condo in Orlando Fl. The unit is equiped with heat pump with ... A: Unfortunately with rooftop units this is a common problem. The isolators should be rubber bushings ...
Humidistat Control and Air Conditioner	6/29/2008
Q: Recently we had 6 commercial rooftop Carrier air-heat units installed at our new restaurant. Besides ... A: By running a/c you automatically dehumidify, so running the humidistat down will run the a/c. The ...
Replacing central air R22 or Puron	6/28/2008
Q: I live in a very hot and humid climate which necessitates Central AC. I trust my AC/heating service ... A: I just replaced both of my units and also went with R 22 units. I believe by the time these units ...
size of a/c unit capacity	6/27/2008
Q: I am in a new home close to 2 years. Can't seem to drop temp below 78 degrees. I noticed that ... A: Your neighbors unit is a 5 ton, yours is a 4 ton if the numbers are correct. This is still not ...
Central Air Blower Problem	6/26/2008
Q: J Cook, My central ac is blowing cool air into the house but does not have any force, I have to put ... A: If you are speaking of the fan that is visible from outside, this is the condenser fan that ...
Concord 80 plus furnace 46555-001/b	6/26/2008
Q: My unit isn't working properly the thermostat is set to 70 and the outside air conditioner unit ... A: The unit in the attic is on a different circuit than the outdoor unit. Make sure there are no ...
Propbe Furnace, home use	6/25/2008
Q: I want to find out about a furnace called "Temp Star". Do you know anything about this furnace, ... A: Most contractors consider it one of the " Low end " or contractor grade units. I know they are less ...
crankcase heater	6/25/2008
Q: I am trying to get the air to start and read the directions. I need to start the Crankcase heater ... A: It is an automatically controlled heater either imbedded into the compressor or externally attached ...
trane xl80	6/24/2008
Q: My parents recently had a trane system and duct work done in thier home for both heating and air. ... A: I totally agree, any air that is escaping the unit is not going into the ducts and decreasing every ...
Coils freeze when blower is off, and outside unit is running..	6/22/2008
Q: Ok, I live in Marana, Az. Needless to say the need for AC is needed! My unit is almost 6 yrs old. ... A: I can give you several things to check. To test several components at once, remove the front part of ...
Trane ac unit	6/22/2008
Q: Well we have inherited a brand new in the box---Trane 2 ton xl series (16i) ac unit---our cousins ... A: I can not locate a site that offers pricing. If you can call a local Trane contractor, tell them you ...
Ducane ac unit	6/21/2008
Q: We have what we believe to be a Ducane air-conditioning unit(that is the name on the thing) in a ... A: I has got to have a filter, so if it is missing, by all means put one in. I do not know how long it ...
shopping around	6/20/2008
Q: This is my first experience buying a new AC unit. I have received 2 estimates and will get a third ... A: Sorry for the delay. This will be a long response and I had it together yesterday and my computer ...
Hot in south Texas	6/20/2008
Q: I appreciate any suggestions you may have. This is a Ruud Silhouette 2- UGPH-07EAUER, 75K btu. ... A: There are low voltage fuses in the control circuit. Remove the access panel with the power off. ...
hvac terms and settings	6/19/2008
Q: my office has 50on rooftom uint by Trane voyager with SENS-IN-2C thermostat. to save the energy, i ... A: I am not sure when the unit is running at night, but it will cycle to maintain whatever unoccupied ...
International Air (reg.trademark of the company)	6/18/2008
Q: I was wondering if you know of or have heard of this company. I have a small (we'll say small ... A: No Brandon I have not heard of them, but searching, put in the following: AED ...
Inadequate Cooling After Evaporator Cleanout	6/17/2008
Q: After having a couple of technicans at the house who were generally unable to diagnose why my system ... A: It sure makes you wonder what the inspectors look at to give a final inspection approval on an ...
heat pump	6/17/2008
Q: My heat pump was stolen and I'm getting conflicting info from the salesman regarding what needs to ... A: I am afraid he is correct about it all. I will start in order as per the statement. 1. As of ...
portable air conditioners`	6/16/2008
Q: good morning! i have a new portable ac unit for our server room in the office. it pulls in air from ... A: It sounds like the thermostat is cycling the unit and it is set at 75 degrees. I am not sure if it ...
blower problems	6/15/2008
Q: I was wondering how I go about removing the blower fan unit myself since my landlord will take ... A: Turn off power to the unit, it may require two breakers, one for the indoor and one for the outdoor. ...
Reversing motor direction on fan blower	6/15/2008
Q: I purchased a Jennair cook top with downdraft model # JED8430BDS. This will replace an old Jennair ... A: Unless the motors are running the same direction as viewed from the motor side, this unit will blow ...
Fan motor overheating?	6/14/2008
Q: I just recently replace the fan motor, motor blade, and capacitor. In the last couple of weeks, it ... A: Are you certain you have the correct capacitor? It sounds like the motor is trying to start, but ...
My compressor is not turning on	6/14/2008
Q: I am having a hard time figuring out what's wrong with my compressor . The indoor unite is running ... A: If you are sure you had 24 volts to the contactor and it was not pulling in, it is still the ...
motor running but no air	6/13/2008
Q: I just replaced a new motor in my Air handler unit for home AC. Everything looks fine, motor is ... A: It appears the installation is correct. Verify the filter and the indoor coils are not clogged ...
Laars Mini-Therm II banging noise	6/12/2008
Q: My boiler makes popping and banging noises when the burner is running. I made sure it wasn't a ... A: I was certain it was air after the first sentence, but it was confirmed the further I read. There ...
Compressors	6/12/2008
Q: Can i use a compressor from a 2 ton unit on a 1.5 ton unit that has a 2 ton coil in it? ANSWER: ... A: I am not sure how it is determined it has a 2 ton coil, but unless something from the manufacturer ...
COLEMAN TSR MACH 3 COMPRESSOR	6/11/2008
Q: I just bought a used travel trailer equipped with the Coleman TSR Mach 3. We started using the a/c ... A: This is classic of the unit developing high pressures when the most heat load is on it. Try cleaning ...
Compressors	6/11/2008
Q: Can i use a compressor from a 2 ton unit on a 1.5 ton unit that has a 2 ton coil in it? A: Every piece of equipment is specifically engineered with the correct components. This may work for a ...
Electrical Problem (?) with Bryant AC Unit	6/10/2008
Q: On very warm days when my AC unit has to run for ~90 or more minutes in order to get/keep the house ... A: First I would take an amp reading while the unit is running to see how many amps it is pulling ...
blower motor	6/4/2008
Q: my blower motor breaker keep tripping after it runs a while its a older unit just started happening A: The first thing I would try is replacing the motor capacitor. It looks like a small can, usually ...
Noise from evaporation coil drain line	6/3/2008
Q: The evaporation coil drain line located in the attic is connected to the overflow drain line at the ... A: With it connected to the tub you are hearing it there. It should not be connected to the plumbing. ...
ac installation	5/29/2008
Q: i had a new Trane furnace/ac installed. the installer seemed to do a professional job except that he ... A: I admit this is the extreme example of a perfect installation to allow nitrogen to trickle through ...
water under air handler	5/29/2008
Q: This spring we had central air installed in our 1920's house. We now have a heat pump air handler ... A: It is indicating the drain is clogged. There should be 2 drains from this fan section. Both should ...
home compressor hvac	5/21/2008
Q: my appx. 1996 model cools and cycles, but periodically will cut off and not come back on. the fan ... A: There is some safety cutting off the outdoor unit. It is on a different circuit than the inside fan ...
Installing AThermostat	5/20/2008
Q: Which wire to connect to "RH" on the thermostat A: Jumper the red wire from R to RH. On some units there is an a/c control circuit and possibly a ...
Hooking up thermostat	5/20/2008
Q: I have a Payne furnace Model #PF1M I amd trying to hook up a Luxpro Thermostat. I have 7 wires ... A: There are usually unused wires in the thermostat cable. I am not sure what type of thermostat you ...
Lawnmower Sound From Heat Pump	5/19/2008
Q: Okay, I have had my installer out four times to evaluate this problem. I have a 4 ton American ... A: If the sound is positively in the indoor unit, the reversing valve is ruled out as it is in the ...
a/c unit frozen	5/18/2008
Q: my new central a/ac is not going lower than 80 eventhough I set it at 75 and its run all night. I ... A: Several things can cause it. One is a dirty filter and or coil cutting down on the air flow. The ...
Upstairs Apartment Hot Water Htr/Furnace	5/18/2008
Q: My elderly parents just started renting out their upstairs apartment of approximate 750 sqft again. ... A: As small as this area is, an on demand gas water heater, the type that only runs when there is a ...
High Seer 5 ton replacement	5/17/2008
Q: live in south Florida one block off the ocean. According to our semi-annual maintenance tech, the ... A: In your area I do believe the warranty would have to play a major part in any decision. I would also ...
coil replacement	5/17/2008
Q: I was recently told that one of the coils in one of my air handlers (in the attic) was leaking ... A: A new coil will have no more than a 1 year warranty, and some only have a 6 month, so I would ...
refrigerant leak	5/16/2008
Q: I AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A LEAK IN A SPLIT SYSTEM A/C I HAVE USED A DTECK AND CANT FIND IT. COULD ... A: David, the only sure way to locate a leak is to recover the refrigerant and pressurize the system ...
System has to be re-set regularly	5/15/2008
Q: We have a Rudd 3.0 heat pump installed in May 2006.From the very beginning, the system would have to ... A: You should never have to continue resetting the breaker. I would have an electrician check the ...
Air Conditioning Unit & Pressure Switch	5/14/2008
Q: In December, my a/c unit wasn't getting cool so we had a guy come out and he declared that our ... A: This appears to be a low pressure switch and it may be the owner also did not get the leak totally ...
pop-pop sound from rheem outside unit	5/14/2008
Q: We have are in TX and have a 3 year old rheem unit. House was new construction, but we are second ... A: I personally do not believe it is a line problem in any manner. I would stand beside of the outdoor ...
Home heating/airconditioning	5/12/2008
Q: We own a one level house with zoned airconditioning. If both units are set at 72 degrees and the ... A: It will do no damage to set the unoccupied area to 80 degrees to save on energy. I have an upstairs ...
Thermostat wiring	5/11/2008
Q: I am replacing a mercury switch t.stat with a new Hunter programmable unit. I have five wires, ... A: I do not see how any programmable can work without using the common wire. The R wire is one side of ...
ruud furnace	5/11/2008
Q: furnace starts up burners fire normal fan runs but after 5-6 minutes burner cuts out before set temp ... A: I would do some research on this thermostat. I would have thought by the actions it was in the ...
Self-install?	5/10/2008
Q: I'm a top automotive pro (A/C certified), and do most stuff around the home. Outside A/C unit just ... A: Jeff, 20 years ago you could not have given me a heat pump, I would take an oil burner any time, but ...
Best source for new AC fan motor	5/9/2008
Q: My home AC unit has a fan motor that has quit, and I am wondering what a good source to replace it ... A: Most areas have an HVAC or refrigeration supply, or some locations have motor shops. Any of these ...
propane	5/9/2008
Q: thinking of becoming hvac tech. as a hvac tech does that also qualify you to install and trouble ... A: As long as you have the appropriate training, yes. There are also license requirements that differ ...
HVAC dosent blow either cold or hot air	5/7/2008
Q: a couple of days ago i notice the house too hot (i live in Utah some days are cold some days are hot ... A: Turn the system switch off and the fan to on to allow the fan to circulate air over the indoor coil ...
VARIABLE SPEED AIRHANDLERS	5/7/2008
Q: J. Cook Are variable speed air-handlers worth the extra cost? How has their reliability been and the ... A: In my opinion, no they are not worth it. The upfront cost is most often more than double. A 13 seer ...
Air Conditioner Fan Won't Shut Off	5/6/2008
Q: The air conditioner fan to my second floor unit won't cut off. The area cools and the thermostat ... A: It sounds like the control contactor points welded together and the contactor is stuck in. You can ...
installing new systems	5/5/2008
Q: Mr. Cook, We live in So. Cal, so obviously our winters are mild, but summers can be blistering. We ... A: ADUE of 80% pertains to the efficiency of a fuel furnace regardless of the fuel type. In your area, ...
leaking evaporator coil	5/5/2008
Q: My 15 year old gas pack is leaking freon. Last year I filled it twice as as we are rapidly ... A: Yes he is correct. As of Jan 1 2008, the minimum seer for new units is 13 seer and it would not ...
A/C in new bonus room	5/4/2008
Q: I plan to build a bonus room (21'X21') above my garage, with 6' walls and ceiling sloping upward to ... A: You will not be able to add to the existing unit, it would rob too much from it to properly maintain ...
replacing window unit with newer technology	5/3/2008
Q: I'm fixing up a small condo for my son whose in college. It has a small window unit and baseboard ... A: Most of these are called " Through the wall " units. Carrier makes a good one. It can either be ...
A/C nightmare; need sledgehammer	5/2/2008
Q: We have a 1997 Ruud AC unit that has encountered numerous problems and subsequent "fixes"...I'll ... A: With the history of this unit and considering it is 11 years old, I would not spend any more on this ...
Replacing central air	5/1/2008
Q: I am installing all 2 new compressors and new duct work in a 25-year-old house. The original double ... A: If the calculations were done correctly using the Manual J, I would go with the 2.5 ton compressors. ...
heating &thermostat	4/30/2008
Q: a month ago my furnace stopped working. the ac worked fine so i thought i had 6 months to fix it. ... A: Every manufacturer has their own codes. I do not know the make or model of this unit. The owners ...
carrier cycling issue	4/29/2008
Q: carrier 58SX series 170 CC propane furnace unit will ignite main burner but when blower starts up ... A: The most common part failure is the thermocouple. It is the small metal stem that the pilot burns ...
Proper storage of R22	4/28/2008
Q: I had a green tank of R22... purchased last year through a buddy. A tech was about to use it, to add ... A: It will not go bad in our lifetime, that is the concern with global warming as when it is released ...
Air handler blown fuse	4/28/2008
Q: I found a blown 5 amp fuse in my airhandler (International Comfort ebp3000b2). This of course led ... A: It is most likely the coil to a relay or the compressor contactor. You can use an ohm meter and ...
Looking to Install a new Central Air System	4/27/2008
Q: My wife and i just brought a house in New Jersey and we are looking to install central air. We had a ... A: I think I wished I lived close enough to do either for half that amount. Sears is not an HVAC ...
HVAC Not Working	4/25/2008
Q: Our HVAC system is not working. At first I thought it was a dirty filter that was causing the ... A: The outdoor unit is on a different circuit from the blower that is running. Check for a tripped ...
Replacing the AC unit	4/24/2008
Q: J Cook Our old AC system broke last year after almost 15 years of operation. We are getting ... A: I just replaced both of my units as I have an upstairs and downstairs unit with R 22 systems. ...
AC	4/24/2008
Q: What should the air temperature be coming out of the ducts when the AC is on? A: There is no way to pin point the temperature as it is determined by the return air entering the ...
hvac	4/23/2008
Q: the space is 23 by 39 what is the square feet A: You multiply 23 x 39 = 897 square feet, but for sizing an HVAC system, you must also know the ...
refrigerator - freon (sp?)	4/22/2008
Q: I need to take out the freon so I can dispose of the refrigerator. Can I do it or do I need to call ... A: You will either have to call an air conditioning service company or refrigeration or appliance ...
Furnace blower hard to get going	4/21/2008
Q: I recently bought a house with a gas pack furnace - which I know next to nothing about. Furnace ... A: With a gas furnace, in heat mode there is either a temperature control or a timer usually on a ...
A/C Won't come on at all	4/21/2008
Q: My A/c won't come on at all. We've checked the fuse, but it was fine. What else could it be? A: I am not sure which one you checked, but the indoor unit is on a different circuit from the outdoor ...
AC Contactor and coil	4/20/2008
Q: when I enable the cooling cycle on my thermostat the contactor closes allowing the compressor and ... A: The contactor is not directly controlled from the thermostat. The thermstat is feeding the contactor ...
im confuseed	4/20/2008
Q: J so we just bought our first investment home and are fixing it up by ourselves and we ran into ... A: You will have to be careful not to cross the wrong two wires. Where the thermstat wiring is ...
Electric HVAC	4/17/2008
Q: My daughter has an electric hvac and the unit outside does not turn on. The thermostat is working ... A: The thermostat is powered by the indoor unit, the outdoor unit has its own circuit. Check the ...
ac not working	4/15/2008
Q: we turned our ac on this weekend and the outside unit does not tuen on. we have an electric split ... A: Not always. It is common for a fuse to get weak after the start up amps of any motor have drawn on ...
wiring question - TH8110U1003 / EWC-ST-2D ULTRA-ZONE	4/15/2008
Q: I just moved into a house built in 1999. It has an EWC-ST-2D ULTRA-ZONE control system in the ... A: It appears someone designed their own wiring method. With one of the transformer wires connected to ...
ac not working	4/14/2008
Q: we turned our ac on this weekend and the outside unit does not tuen on. we have an electric split ... A: The outdoor unit is on a different circuit from the indoor unit. Make sure there are no breakers ...
like new furnace and a/c	4/12/2008
Q: we just built our home 2 yrs ago 2006 and now the central air unit does not come on when we turn up ... A: The first thing to check is if the indoor and outdoor units are getting power. They will be on ...
wiring question - TH8110U1003 / EWC-ST-2D ULTRA-ZONE	4/12/2008
Q: I just moved into a house built in 1999. It has an EWC-ST-2D ULTRA-ZONE control system in the ... A: John, what you will need to do is go to the indoor fan section. Turn off power to it and open the ...
Heat not hot/AC not cold	4/11/2008
Q: Our air handler is working. It blows air when it cuts on. The outside unit makes a buzzing sound ... A: The buzzing is very likely the outdoor motor trying to start. The first thing I would do is replace ...
janitrol heat pump	4/10/2008
Q: 3 ton heat pump about 15 years old. thermostat produces no heat or a/c, will not run fan in fan "on" ... A: When you received the shock, it may have blown the control transformer. It is indicating you have ...
a/c banging noise	4/9/2008
Q: I bought a new house almost 2 years ago. My upstairs unit is a 3 ton Ruud split unit. We've had ... A: I am sorry, but I can not imagine anything in the refrigeration lines that could possible cause ...
A/C fan not working	4/8/2008
Q: Heat and blower works fine. When I turn the A/C on the compressor kicks on but the blower doesn't. ... A: In heat mode the blower is activated by a total different relay that delays the fan so the heat ...
I screwed up and am looking for help	4/8/2008
Q: Cook. The synopsis of my quandary is; 30 year old house near Raleigh, NC. One level with 1570 Sq ... A: I think a bypass damper would add to the problem and create more icing. The best solution ...
comfortmaker outdoor unit wiring	4/6/2008
Q: My dog has chewed and pulled the wires out from my conmfortmaker outdoor a/c unit #ac5024a2c1. I ... A: Go to the indoor fan section, remove the access panel and locate the thermostat terminal strip. It ...
New Heating A/C Unit - Air smells like must	4/5/2008
Q: American Standard a/c & heating unit & new supply/return ducts were installed last Nov. When they ... A: The odor usually is from debris that has collected on the indoor coil. When this coil gets wet from ...
Heating a basement recreation room	4/5/2008
Q: We have a 2-story 4-bed house with furnace and central air. our finished recroom basement will are ... A: This is one possibility, but in the real world this unit has to be at least a 3+ ton unit. If you ...
Water Cooled System, Debris Issues	4/4/2008
Q: I live in a condo building, and my HVAC unit is connected to the closed water loop that runs through ... A: The regulator has to be set at a specific flow rate depending on the size of the coil and the fan or ...
Heat Pump killing me	4/4/2008
Q: My story is long. It started when my Heat pump stopped working all of a sudden. The fan doesn't work ... A: You are loosing the control circuit somewhere. From the transformer, locate the terminal board the ...
Oil Furnace Shutdown	4/3/2008
Q: Mr. Cook Are there any issues with turning off an oil boiler furnace for a month or so relative to ... A: There should be no problems. We shut our boilers down all summer. The only thing we do before ...
Too Hot	4/3/2008
Q: I have a Weil-McLain Gold -oil heater no. WT-14 boiler. It seams that when it heats domestic hot ... A: I am not sure how you have determined the stat is working properly, but something is energizing the ...
Carrier Weathermaker 58SX HVAC	4/2/2008
Q: I own a 1991 Carrier WeatherMaker 58SXA060-GG. It lights up with no problem with a good healthy ... A: The most likely failure is the thermocouple. This is the device that is a small metal stem the flame ...
low pressure	4/1/2008
Q: when i put my gages on my low side in the heat setting my pressure runs around 40psi and go's right ... A: In heat mode, you are in effect air conditioning the outdoors. This is why the outdoor coil will ice ...
Lennox system	3/31/2008
Q: We replaced our fan motor last October (2007). The tech used the same motor bracing bracket and now ... A: Hopefully the motor bearings are not affected, and most likely are not, but the blower wheel itself ...
heat pump system	3/26/2008
Q: please help i can not seem to find the model number to a heat pump system i have baught from retal ... A: There should be a metal or foil label on the unit, usually on the panel that is removable to access ...
Compressor oil	3/26/2008
Q: My name is Roman, an HVAC technician here in KSA. Based in your experience, how long should the ... A: This is a matter of personal preference. In my opinion, every time the system is opened for any ...
leaking and hardwood flooring	3/25/2008
Q: I want to put hardwood floors in my basement in florida. My house is on a hill and moisture is not ... A: I would not recommend any type of bleach as it will eventually eat the drain pan and also the coils ...
Hydrotherm 125k BTU gas valve	3/20/2008
Q: I have a millivolt system. Pilot stays on about 10-12 hrs then goes off. Replaced the voltage ... A: Mike, I did not want you waiting long for a reply, but I am not familiar with this particular system ...
York Drain Pan	3/20/2008
Q: I have a York and i believe the drain pan is all rusted and leaking. Where can I find a new drain ... A: Most drain pans can be pulled out from under the coil without damaging the coil. You will just have ...
HVAC: Air Handler	3/19/2008
Q: Having problem with air handler. I know its working when the digital thermostat is set to heat, but ... A: It could be either or the wire going to the air handler from the thermostat. There is a separate ...
Squeaky zone controller	3/18/2008
Q: I hope you can help. On my furnace, one of the zone dampers squeals really loudly when it ... A: It may be some debris has built up on the damper. Can you remove it and verify there is no debris ...
HVAC Compressor replacement	3/15/2008
Q: Our 5 ton Bryant R-22 HVAC compressor needs to be replaced.(it was installed in 2002.)Coils are ... A: R 22 never needs to be replaced. It lasts forever, that is why it is being replaced with more ozone ...
8yo Bryant Heat Pump	3/11/2008
Q: I have a 8yo Bryant heat pump and the heat did not come on at all last night. I tried the emergency ... A: Have you verfied at the outdoor disconnect there is power at the outdoor unit? If so, go to the ...
Tryin to locate a Reset buton on a Trane XV90	3/8/2008
Q: We had a high limit trip due to very dirty filters. How can we locate the reset button now to get ... A: Most are not resettable for high limits. You will have to trace wiring inside of the exchanger ...
Heat Pump	3/7/2008
Q: I have a Rheem Heat Pump that makes a constant humming sound when it's not running is this normal, ... A: It sometimes depends on how the reversing valve seats. It is a low voltage coil on the valve that is ...
New HVAC/Duct work	3/6/2008
Q: ..as part of the redo we are thinking now would be a good time to go from one zone to two zones of ... A: I agree with the age of the equipment, now is the time to do something, just consider all options ...
Lennox Furnace	3/4/2008
Q: We have a 1991 lennox gas furnace that will fire up and down as long as the tstat is set on "fan" ... A: There is either a temperature control device or a circuit board timer that brings on the fan in heat ...
GE Spacesaver combo - can it be fixed?	3/3/2008
Q: Cook: I have a GE WSM2480TAZWW Spacemaker washer/dryer. The washer tub is off center, like a ... A: Any make of appliances are so well built that by the time a major part fails, it is an obsolete unit ...
Heat pump operation	3/3/2008
Q: My condensing fan does not start sometimes when the heat pump comes on. What could be causing this ? ... A: If the unit starts during a defrost period the fan will not be on. It should always immediately ...
Luxaire forced air furnance	3/2/2008
Q: I have a luxaire forced air furnace its 5 years old and it doesnt blow as hot as it should, and as ... A: It may be the fan control needs to be adjusted to allow the exchanger to get hotter. If it has not ...
Hot water baseboard furnace not working	3/1/2008
Q: ..we have a Laars-teledyne mini therm for hot water baseboard heat. Four days ago we had a repairman ... A: The most simple pump test is to feel the line outgoing from the pump to see if it is hot. However, ...
wiring in a booster fan	2/29/2008
Q: am adding a booster fan in one duct to increase air flow to hard to heat and cool area of house. how ... A: In either mode it should be making the G terminal in the fan section as this is the fan circuit. Use ...
Heat Pump Maintenance	2/28/2008
Q: I have a 3 ton Rudd heat pump which is working very well and is about 5 years old.How often should I ... A: The main thing on a heat pump is checking the wiring as the strip heat can damage the connection ...
furnace seems to run alot	2/28/2008
Q: I live in IL. last fall I had a 80% two-stage furnace (American Standard)installed as well as a new ... A: The unit is operating totally by the thermostat calling for heat. Apparently it does cool down ...
Sears/Kenmore Wall Furnace	2/27/2008
Q: I have a sears model 600 (face plate number, but internal spec plate lists 867.736349 model number) ... A: I am certain on this age of a unit the fan is controlled by a temperature device. It may be a sign ...
5 Wire Vs. 4 Wire	2/25/2008
Q: I have a thermostat that is a 4 wire and the one I'm looking to replace it with is a 5 wire. As I ... A: All mechanical thermostats do not require both sides of 24 volts. The thermostat is just a switch. ...
Residential: gas pack vs. dual fuel	2/25/2008
Q: We need to replace our gas pack due to a cracked heat exchanger (use propane, natural gas not ... A: Heat pumps have come a long way, but in temperatures that are in the teens very often, the heat pump ...
Ext. Fan Inop	2/24/2008
Q: I have a Trane TWR036C100A1 (8 years old) and while outside one day I noticed the compressor sounded ... A: This is very common with a replacement motor. The original motor most likely only has one wire from ...
miller furnace	2/24/2008
Q: This is my mom's furnace. It is an '89 in a doublewide trailer. If properly working, I see it ... A: One of the three limit switches is tripping. The fan times out by a circuit board and will ...
unit size	2/23/2008
Q: I have a floor space of 2500 square feet. What size rheem a/c & heating unit would I need? A: This is the most common error in sizing a unit. The footage is only one very small component in ...
Maytag heat pumps	2/21/2008
Q: I am shopping around to replace my existing 15 year old lennox heat pump system. Most of the ... A: I have never encountered a Maytag unit so I do not want to give you unbiased opinions without ...
Ext. Fan Inop	2/20/2008
Q: I have a Trane TWR036C100A1 (8 years old) and while outside one day I noticed the compressor sounded ... A: This appears classic of a failed capacitor. The fan as you state will attempt to run, but will only ...
Thermal Zone, Heat Pump	2/20/2008
Q: I have a Thermal Zone Heat Pump, I have a problem the circulating fan will not stop running. It ... A: If you are speaking of the blower fan that supplies the air through the vents, the defrost control ...
Trane xv90 Furnace will not operate under generator power	2/19/2008
Q: My father-in-law has a Trane XV90 furnace (1 year old) that will not operate when a generator is ... A: Mark I am somewhat at a loss also. Keep in mind however the formula to determine the proper size ...
older thermostats	2/18/2008
Q: i am trying to install an older thermostat in order to keep with the antique look of my front room. ... A: The typical " Round " Honeywell can either be used alone, and as you state, has a low end of around ...
Thermestat problems	2/16/2008
Q: I have an older home without Central air. The furnace was updated about 10 years ago to a high ... A: There is a safety control that is tripping. When you turn the stat down until the heat symbol cuts ...
Rheem Criterion	2/15/2008
Q: "First off my model is (RGDG 07EAUER) serial cy5d302 f2494 9495. The problem I'm having is that I ... A: Randy, there are so many makes and models and the changes are so frequent, I do not keep any ...
Blower wont shut off in auto mode.	2/14/2008
Q: I switched to a programble Honeywell visionpro 8000 on a Lennox GCS16-1353-270-5G RTU in Minnesota ... A: Verify what color wire is connected to the G terminal in the unit, this is the fan terminal and ...
help pleas	2/14/2008
Q: what is the purpose of insulation on the suction line? A: The insulated line is the compressor suction or return line and in cooling mode will be so cold it ...
Size question?	2/13/2008
Q: I have a 75 x 150 x 21 insulated building with 6 insulated 14 x 14 roll-up doors and insulated low-e ... A: Kelly it is much more involved. The way a unit is sized, a load calculation is done and actually by ...
Trane XL 1200 package gas electric	2/13/2008
Q: 12 seer convertible 2-21/2 ton unit, for the past two winters when I turn my heat on it will not ... A: Larry, sorry but if you are getting any kind of an odor there is a very likely chance the heat ...
furnace not working	2/12/2008
Q: Every winter our furnace does this. It stops working. We just changed the filter and batteries. We ... A: I do not know what manufacturer this unit is, the codes are determined by each manufacturer. If you ...
A/C & HEATING FOR LOFT	2/12/2008
Q: I AM ADDING A LOFT TO AN OLD HOME WITH 12 CEILINGS. THE DIMENSIONS OF THE LOFT WILL BE 34 X 14 X 9. ... A: I am glad you asked because most homeowners make this same mistake that the room size should ...
thermostat/furnace	2/11/2008
Q: The furnace in my home will run for about 4 - 5 hours and then cut off on its own. To get heat again ... A: Mercury never goes bad, it will be mercury forever. The furnace has safety controls that when ...
furnace won't kick on	2/10/2008
Q: We have a trane central heating and air unit. The heat will not kick back on after the thermostat ... A: There are safety devices that will trip when you have a cracked exchanger. When they trip, cutting ...
Aquarium Chiller	2/9/2008
Q: I have an aquarium chiller which is like a small fridge. when ever it kicks the compressor on it ... A: One of these is usually a thermal disc to cut power to the compressor in the event of mechanical ...
Air Flow Redirect	2/7/2008
Q: We recently bought a great 1955 split level ranch. One of the character flaws of the house is the ... A: I have seen the item you refer to, but I have never used them. I would think the most likely source ...
drain pipe from pan	2/7/2008
Q: It has led to anotherRegarding the drain pipe that runs from the drain pan (pan under coils): If the ... A: It really depends on the configuration of the drain run. My attic unit is supported at waist high ...
No Ignition	2/6/2008
Q: I have the owner of a DC90 NUGM075EGB1 Serial L9620 furnace. When the unit calls for heat the ... A: More so than the gas valve, it appears to be an ignition problem. The ignition module is the part ...
heat pump not coming on	2/5/2008
Q: My daughters house is apx 18 months old. There is a typical Washington state heat pump for heat and ... A: Make sure the disconnect feeding the outdoor unit has 240 volts on the unit side of the disconnect. ...
Electric furnace Blows Fuse.	2/3/2008
Q: I have split unit. With the Air handler / Furnace in the Attic. There are three Fuses /service ... A: It would be very unusual for a motor to pull enough amps to cause the melt down. I believe the ...
cracked drain pan	2/1/2008
Q: I have a Carrier Model # FX4ANF048 that was installed in late 2001. The drain pan under coils ... A: The refrigerant would have nothing to do with it as it is contained within the sealed coils and ...
Baseboard hot water heating issue	2/1/2008
Q: My house is three years old, have a cont. loop hot water baseboard system with programmable ... A: Most programmables have the capability of adding sensors so the temperature is averaged between the ...
Heat Exchanger Failure	1/31/2008
Q: Hey, I have not investigated this yet, but a client said their heat exchanger on their air ... A: Without seeing the damage, it is hard to determine, but certainly a guard hitting the unit could ...
Rheem RHQA-101BFV aux light	1/31/2008
Q: I recently purchased a home with this heating unit. air conditioning seems to work fine. now that ... A: Everything you mentioned makes perfect sense. You have a heat pump. The outdoor unit is the first ...
HONEYWELL CHRONOTHERM III	1/30/2008
Q: My aunt who lives in southern california is having issues with her heating/cooling system ... A: I am in North Carolina, so I do not have any direct contacts. I would search for a local contractor, ...
Electric heaters-240v vs 120v	1/30/2008
Q: I have a Berko HHB504D, an electric baseboard heater, but has not installed. It says 240AC, 500W and ... A: The wattage of the unit determines the cost of operating the unit. Actually electric heaters are ...
old ge weathertron	1/29/2008
Q: The house we bought this summer and an old ge heatpump. It's been heating fine until the outside ... A: GE was purchased by Trane and Trane was purchased by American Standard, so if you can locate a ...
air-cooled chiller	1/29/2008
Q: I have recently been studying chillers due to the fact that a retail/office building just installed ... A: I do not know of any criteria for distance. You could get the model and serial number of the unit, ...
Miss Wired Compressor	1/28/2008
Q: I had a A/C Compressor Single Ph. that was wired wrong from the factory. We ran it for about 30 min. ... A: Improper wiring can cause it to short out and lock up. I am not sure how it was incorrectly factory ...
Howling noise w/ 2 zone hot water radiator setup	1/28/2008
Q: My home, which has hot water radiators, is divided into two zones. The boiler is a Teledyne Lars ... A: Many plumbers are also boiler mechanics. Actually the licensing board is still the Board of Plumbing ...
Oil heat not lighting	1/27/2008
Q: I came home last night and the heat was set on 75....ouch...way too hot, so I turned off the heat. ... A: The oil level will be the first thing to check. Pushing the reset button is allowing oil to build up ...
carrier gas furnace blower	1/25/2008
Q: On a call for heat the funace finishes its pre purge and then proceeds through its sequence of ... A: If any of the winding sets were shorted, the motor would not operate at any speed. On most units, ...
Puddle under furnace	1/23/2008
Q: Today, for the second time (the other was a couple of months ago) we found a puddle of water under ... A: It has to be from the humidifier, either the pan in it has developed a leak, or the duct is sweating ...
Heat Strips not kicking on	1/22/2008
Q: I installed a Goodman Package Heat Pump. The heat strips are not coming on when needed, what needs ... A: Put the thermostat in emergency heat and see if you are feeding 240 volts to the heat strips. If ...
boiler	1/21/2008
Q: I HAVE A UTICA BOILER 113900 BTU WITH A HONEYWELL CONTROLLER AND A BECKET BURNER. IT HAS BEEN ... A: Actually 5 - 10 seconds is a normal firing rate. The controller has to make sure the pump is ...
Payne Heater	1/20/2008
Q: When I turn on the heat, it does not stay on. I turn the thermostat to 80. It's turned to AUTO & ... A: Sorry for the delay, I have been out of town. Usually the ignition module has failed. It will light ...
water in the middle of the basement	1/19/2008
Q: We have discovered water in the middle of our basement, in the area of our furnace/humidifier. It's ... A: Sorry for the delay, I have been out of town. I would have to say it is from the humidifier. There ...
Rheem Criterion II gas furnace	1/19/2008
Q: all i want to do is clean or change the filter. my landlords are in florida and they never told me ... A: Sorry it took so long, I have been out of town. There should be a filter access that does not ...
Bard Furnace	1/18/2008
Q: My furnace will shut down once every 3 or 4 days. It will come back on when I turn the on of switch ... A: A technician will have to diagnose the trip failure. Go ahead and have a technician on standby and ...
Adjusting the pilot.	1/18/2008
Q: Heat system : Weil Mclean gold oil, oil boiler i just got my boiler installed a week a ago.My friend ... A: There are many variables that will cause the pilot to burn different colors. Even dust will make the ...
Central Heater	1/17/2008
Q: I don't have a clue about this stuff....so hopefully you can help. When I got home this evening it ... A: It sounds like the blower motor may have failed. When you turn on emergency heat, the red light ...
Heat pump condenser icing over	1/16/2008
Q: Recently my heat pump condenser unit has been icing over in cold temperatures. This has happened a ... A: It appears the defrost control has failed. It is typically a simple repair as most defrost controls ...
Lennox Elite Series	1/16/2008
Q: My Lennox runs in short cycles & will not maintain a temperature. The furnace also will reignite ... A: Every model is different, you will have to check the wiring diagram on the indoor unit panel. There ...
A/C UNIT	1/14/2008
Q: I HAVE BEEN HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM MY UNIT OUTSIDE THAT HAS BEEN DISTURBING ME. IT SOUNDS LIKE ... A: You could have a heat pump with gas heat as the auxillary heat, so having a gas line does not really ...
Dead refrigerator	1/13/2008
Q: I opened my freezer this morning and all sorts of liquid splashed out. The food on the top shelf of ... A: The total refrigeration of a residential refrigerator is in the freezer section. There is just a ...
single phase motor with 4 leg capacitor	1/13/2008
Q: sir we have a single phase motor used to operate butterfly valve now the problem is it is provided ... A: These are engineering specs that apply to the windings of specific type motors. It appears this ...
change air handler to brand different from a/c compressor	1/12/2008
Q: i have a rheem split system that's 7 years old. the compressor unit is a scroll type--fantastic. ... A: It is against mechanical code to mismatch equipment as the fan section is engineered for the outdoor ...
AC system	1/11/2008
Q: Just had my winter check done on the heater unit and had to change an ignitor but he said he also ... A: Depending on the zoning controls used, it may be more costly to zone than using two systems. I have ...
HVAC is sometimes blowing Cold Air	1/10/2008
Q: I have a Central Head and Air Unit. Last year I was told to replace the gas valve and that solved ... A: There is some safety control tripping in the furnace. When you turn the stat off and back on, it ...
water in pressure switch line	1/9/2008
Q: I have a 5yr old comfortmaker furnace. My furnace stopped working and after problem solving, I ... A: If this is a condensing furnace, it does not appear to be draining properly at the vent. If this is ...
heat pump fan blade	1/9/2008
Q: My heat pump seems to be working(the furnace hardly runs when outside temp is above 30 and indoor ... A: The only device that would prevent the fan from operating in heat mode is the defrost control, but ...
weatherking	1/8/2008
Q: I am working with a 25-year old Weatherking furnace. I need part information and hopefully a ... A: The fan on a unit of this age is most likely controlled by a temperature sensitive device. They are ...
Cold Air from furnace	1/8/2008
Q: I have a Ruud achiever 90 plus furnace. When it kicks on to heat, it will blow cold air for about 10 ... A: The fan should not energize until the heat exchanger is hot. Watch the furnace and see if the ...
Bryant AHU with strip heat problems	12/15/2007
Q: A friend of mine in Dallas is having problems with his Bryant AHU. It has electric strip heaters. ... A: He jumpered the wrong connection on the limit switch. Instead of jumpering the line voltage, he ...
Lennox A/C Heater Unit problem	12/14/2007
Q: I have 2 units for the 2 levels of my home. The upstairs unit is having a problem heating. I have a ... A: The fan is on a circuit board timer and energizes after a period of time in the heat mode to give ...
AC	12/13/2007
Q: We started having problems with our a/c and was told a bad suction valve and caused a large leak ... A: There are two types of leaks on an a/c unit. The first you had was a refrigeration leak and I agree ...
Attic air handler	12/12/2007
Q: I NEED TO REPLACE MY SYSTEM IN THE ATTIC, DO I NEED A SPECIAL AIR HANDLER FOR MY HEAT PUMP SYSTEM? I ... A: Vitually every heat pump fan section is designed for vertical or horizontal installation, the drain ...
whirlpool accubake oven RBS305PDQ16	12/11/2007
Q: six months ago i replaced the sensor part #4455636 getting an error code F3, door locked up, temp. ... A: I agree there is most likely another culprit causing this sensor to fail, but the labor involved to ...
my gas furnace won't ignite	12/11/2007
Q: I have a Heil DC90 High Efficiency furnace. I think I had it put in in 1997. My problem is that when ... A: You are correct that the inducer motor must begin exhausting air before the burners will ignite. It ...
Amp draw on central air unit	12/10/2007
Q: I am trying to figure out the average amp draw on an AC. It is now winter and my heat is gas. I ... A: Since the main cost for the heat is gas, the power usage for the heat will be less than using these ...
sound of water rushing in pipes	12/9/2007
Q: I have a four zone gas fired hotwater baseboard system.When a zone comes online I can hear a lot of ... A: It appears there is air in the system. You need to go to the highest point and bleed the air. This ...
noises in gas fired boiler	12/8/2007
Q: This year it seems I am hearing a lot of boilng/cooking noises coming from our home heating boiler ... A: I agree it appears to be air in the system. You need to bleed it at the highest point where there ...
Air handler in unheated attic	12/8/2007
Q: My 2nd floor of my hour is heated and cooled by a Carrier Heat Pump. The indoor air handler is ... A: I did the same thing with my unit. The best insulation is called duct wrap. It is in a roll and can ...
Thermostat	12/7/2007
Q: I have the old time mercury stats. I went to change them and found out about "common" wires.#$%? ... A: You can use any color as long as the same wire is connected on both ends. In the indoor unit, look ...
Central Heating Unit	12/6/2007
Q: No heat. When I turn on heat on unit it won't blow hot air. I hear a humming sound coming from unit ... A: When you turn the thermostat off or to cool, it is resetting the safety circuit for heat. There is ...
breaker	12/5/2007
Q: i built house in 2001. never really investigated this matter but i had the problem since then and ... A: He is exactly correct. The formula to determine the amp draw if watts divided by volts = amps. A 15 ...
Rheem 80 Imperial Furnace	12/4/2007
Q: Igniter comes on valve turns on and burners come on for about 20 seconds and turns off. Will do this ... A: It sounds like a classic bad thermocouple. After the pilot lights, it burns against the thermocouple ...
Trinity boiler w/DHW	12/3/2007
Q: Has been working well for past 4 years, now has the problem of main circ pump will not shut down. ... A: It is a control problem as the pumps both work and only energize by means of some control. You can ...
Air Condition Compress will not start	12/1/2007
Q: 1. We noticed while the unit was running the lights would dim. Before we could investigate this. ... A: Make sure the connections on the breaker are tight. The smoke could be because the compressor is ...
HOT WATER BOILER	12/1/2007
Q: I CAN NOT GET THE BOILER PRESSURE PAST 10 PSI. 12-16 I THINK IS RIGHT PSI. ALSO THE NEEDLE VALVE ... A: If a cap will not stop the valve from leaking, you may have to drain the system down enough to ...
Lennox G61MPV 36-045 - Gas Furnace	11/29/2007
Q: Apparently my old gas furnace is toast. I have got a couple of quotes. The one that looked bmost ... A: Depending on your location and the amount of work a contractor has waiting, prices can vary greatly. ...
unequal heat in doublewide	11/29/2007
Q: My son has a 3 bedroom 2 bath doublewide, that was set up one year ago. It has an EB20B coleman ... A: If the ductwork was installed properly, there is a Tee fitting below the furnace that splits the ...
I'm cold!	11/28/2007
Q: I don't know what is wrong with my heater, but it is driving me crazy. I wake up every night and it ... A: There is some safety tripping during the night. By turning it off and back on, it is resetting the ...
system question	11/28/2007
Q: I paid for a Ruud multi HVAC system and the one put in said weatherking. It has the same serial ... A: The name of a series will stay the same, only by contacting the manufacturer with the model and ...
oil furnace (oil burner)	11/19/2007
Q: I have been working in the hvac field for about 1 yr now so I'm kinda new at this yet. So here is my ... A: This was the only way I could respond back, but I appreciate the comments. It is amazing sometimes ...
goodman gas pack problem	11/18/2007
Q: I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH A GOODMAN MODEL PGO-60150-1AB-REV E GAS PACK. AT FIRST IT WOULD NOT ... A: First I would call the service manager of the company that has replaced all of these parts. This man ...
Heat pump	11/18/2007
Q: Mr. Cook, I am having a problem with my heat pump. Last night I turned it of at the thermostat on ... A: It will not be the breaker. A way to determine if it is the thermostat is with the breaker off, pull ...
Bleeding air from hot water radiators	11/17/2007
Q: I have one radiator in our house that seems to always be cooler on one end than the other. I know ... A: It bleeds easier if it is hot. Being the farthest away, it will trap most of the air. If you can ...
Air flow	11/16/2007
Q: There is no air flow out of the registers along one whole side of the house. The unit was replaced ... A: You will need to check the entire ductwork line. It may be that either the duct has separated at a ...
oil furnace (oil burner)	11/15/2007
Q: I have been working in the hvac field for about 1 yr now so I'm kinda new at this yet. So here is my ... A: There are several other things that can be causing this before replacing the control. First there is ...
blower motor will not shut off unless manualy	11/14/2007
Q: i have a kenmore 70 power miser furnace model # 867-767020. It was working fine until the the ac ... A: There is a separate wire that sends the signal to the outdoor a/c unit from the wire that sends the ...
12 seer Payne Unit	11/14/2007
Q: I have a 12 seer payne unit and for some reason it will not cut off. We have the thermos stat set at ... A: First, make sure the thermostat is turned off and go outside to the disconnect that feeds the unit, ...
Trane XL1200 and VisonPro Thermostat	11/13/2007
Q: J Cook, I have a 3500 sq. foot home in PA heated and cooled exclusively by a 5 ton Trane XL1200 ... A: The XL1200 series is a 12 seer rating and all new units are required to be at least 13 seer or above ...
black residue	11/13/2007
Q: We have electric radiant heat - in our ceilings. the house was built in the 60's. my mom owned the ... A: There may be two factors here. One, with the soffett now allowing air flow, the ceilings are not ...
HVAC Retuns	11/12/2007
Q: Each room in that house has two air returns in a wall, One low with a damper and one hi without a ... A: Not knowing how this was designed, you may cause an air restriction by closing any return vents. I ...
Heat Sensitive Tubing	11/12/2007
Q: My gas furnace is a Kenmore Power Miser 80, when the furnace is on it always create a noise of ... A: It should only ignite and continue burning once per heat cycle. The fan cycles on a heat control, so ...
furnace stoped working	11/11/2007
Q: i am having issues with my BARD forced hot air oil furnace and wondering if you could help please. i ... A: An oil furnace needs to be serviced every 2 years. There is so much residue that builds up they need ...
fiireplace will not start	11/10/2007
Q: we have a 4 yr. old gas fireplace and a few months ago the fireplace started to just shut off. I ... A: James, there are so many safety devices on a gas appliance it is difficult to say where to start. I ...
New Prog. T-Stat Will Not Shut Down Furnace	11/9/2007
Q: I recently (late summer) installed a new digital thermostat in my house. We have an air conditioner ... A: There should only be two wires required to energize the heat as the fan will cycle on an internal ...
Honeywell RTH6300B	11/9/2007
Q: I bought this programmable thermostat a few weeks ago to replace the typical "builders special" ... A: I have found the same thing, that there seems to be no calibration to these thermostats. I can say ...
Intertherm ac	11/8/2007
Q: They live in a single family 3 bedroom 2 bath home. They recently had their outside unit replaced by ... A: I know these units were designed for manufactured homes, but I see no problem in installing them in ...
Gas Pac will light once then cut off and with 2 more attempts it does not relight	11/7/2007
Q: my girlfriend has an out side gas pack about 10 years old. I am trying to help her fix it. What is ... A: The most likely culprit is the thermocouple. If you look at the gas valve, there will be a tube ...
heat pump defrost controls	11/6/2007
Q: i have a 7.5ton american standard heat pump when i turn the thermostat to heat the indoor unit ... A: It could depending on how it is installed into the control circuit. Since it appears on rise it ...
hydronic forced hot air	11/5/2007
Q: I have an hydronic forced hot air system. When in the heat mode the fan will not come on when there ... A: There is some type of device either on time or temperature that energizes the fan in heat mode. ...
Rheem	11/4/2007
Q: I have an older Rheem gas furnace, It runs great, but it is acting up right now. This year after ... A: You would have to contact a Rheem dealer to see the age of the unit. The main things to clean are ...
lighting a pilot light	11/4/2007
Q: I just bought a house, and have a GE furnace BLU080E942B1 that I cannot figure out how to light. Can ... A: You have to be very careful as most newer units are auto ignition and manually lighting one could ...
gas furnace	11/3/2007
Q: Maybe you can help me. I have a vented floor furnace. It is a Cozy brand. Model number 90P50A. I ... A: The most common failure would be the thermocouple. It is the metal stem device that the pilot flame ...
Burnt electronics/electrical smell coming from my registers	11/2/2007
Q: I have a "burnt electronics/electrical" smell coming from my registers when using the heat. This ... A: Erik, it may be the heat exchanger is cracked and is overheating in the cracked area. The only way ...
hot water furnace	11/2/2007
Q: We had a Burnham furnace installed two years ago, replacing the old furnace. This fall I tried to ... A: I am not understanding this Tom. If the pipe that fills the heater works the unit should have water, ...
Radiator	11/1/2007
Q: I currently have an oil furnace and it works however two of my radiators are not working. I was told ... A: Something is totally not making sense. If you have an oil furnace, you would not have radiators. You ...
Janitrol furnace	10/31/2007
Q: My pilot would not stay lit so I replaced the thermocouple. Still wouldn't stay lit. I noticed ... A: This is a temperature limit switch and by all means it has to be replaced. You can get the model and ...
magic chef gas closet furnace	10/31/2007
Q: i have a magic chef forced warm air unit with built in ac 15 years old i am trying to find a ... A: In my opinion Carrier makes some of the finest self contained units similar to this. They call them ...
Furnace turning on, but no heat coming up	10/30/2007
Q: When I turn my furance on, it gets going, and then just shuts off and no heat comes up. My furance ... A: There are many safety controls on a furnace. It may be the fan is not energizing and the burners ...
tubing or pipe	10/29/2007
Q: why can't I use ridged copper pipe where I can instead of the costly tubing when i run my ... A: Not some, but all refrigeration tubing whether rigid or soft is dehydrated. This means after the ...
super heat and sub cool	10/29/2007
Q: i have been in the ac field for 12 yrs and im stumped on superheat an sub cool theory. im reading ... A: These are two of the most controversial items amongst those who think they know everything. I had a ...
gas furnance	10/28/2007
Q: I have a brand new gas furnace (KeepRite C8PN100F14B). It works well for a few days after it is ... A: The thermostat sends a call for heat to a circuit board which in turn begins the heating sequence. ...
Terrible noise from heat pump outside unit	10/28/2007
Q: I turned on my heat for the first time this year and noticed a terrible noise coming from the ... A: It sounds like another compressor problem. The strip heat will operate and you will have heat, but ...
Gas Appliance in Bedroom	10/27/2007
Q: I just recently bought a remodeled 1950 house. It had a gas fired water heater and boiler for a ... A: With the way the code is written, there is no legal way to modify this to be legal if it remains ...
Lennox air conditioner	10/27/2007
Q: We had to evacuate for the fires in southern Cal. A/C was working fine when we left (turned off when ... A: The heat would not usually be affected by the outdoor unit. Check the wiring, low voltage especially ...
A/C problem	10/26/2007
Q: I'm having a problem figuring out what is wrong with my home central air conditioner. The outside ... A: It is still considered a two pole contactor because it has two line voltage connections. It is a ...
HVAC Brands	10/25/2007
Q: What can you tell me about the Goodman brand? What brand would you recommend as a replacement unit? A: I have heard this before also, but the units I have are no more or less loud than any other brand. ...
Condensation Problem	10/25/2007
Q: I live in Miami, where it's very humid. I have central air. Because of the unit's location, the ... A: An outdoor sump pump could be used and they are only about a 1/4 hp motor, so they pull very little. ...
Rheem NG to LPG	10/24/2007
Q: Ok I recently picked up a Rheem Criterion (RGBG 16NAMER) that is set up to NG and I want to make it ... A: Find a Rheem dealer or service contractor and have the unit model and serial numbers. The only parts ...
A/C problem	10/23/2007
Q: I'm having a problem figuring out what is wrong with my home central air conditioner. The outside ... A: This is a common style of contactor. You are also making a common mistake checking to ground. The ...
Bryant heat pump	10/22/2007
Q: Bryant 698B Evolution Heat Pump. The compressor runs in heat or cool mode but outside unit fan does ... A: I am not sure what this switch would be for unless it is the sole means for keeping the fan off in ...
Combination Boiler issues	10/21/2007
Q: there, I have an Ideal Combination Boiler. It's been working perfectly, but now seems to have ... A: The pressure gauge needs to be replaced. As the water heats, the pressure rises. It may be cycling ...
Carrier furnace stays on even if thermostat is disconnected.	10/21/2007
Q: I recently changed my doorbell transformer that was located on top of the on/off switch for the ... A: Someone was using the unit transformer for the doorbell. You need to install a separate transformer ...
Trane XL90	10/20/2007
Q: I have a trane xl90 with a heating issue. Every now and then the heat would stop working. Meaning I ... A: Check the inducer fan including the blower wheel it drives. Sometimes these wheels will disentigrate ...
Puron AC units	10/18/2007
Q: I recently upgraded my old two zone residential central air to Carrier Performance Series Puron ... A: I do not agree with him if this filter is replaced on a regular schedule. He is going by the fact ...
armstrong furnace	10/17/2007
Q: I am brand new to the hvac industry.I was working on an armstorng furnace M#G1N80AT100D22CL-1 , ... A: It appears the limit is working correctly since it could be jumpered and operate. I suspect there is ...
Exaust blower cycles on/off after furnace is off	10/16/2007
Q: I have an Armstong Ultra SX90 furnace. It heats just fine, however, when it reaches the temp set on ... A: If it continues to cut on and off after several cycles, the blower control may be defective, however ...
heat will not start has code 2 for pressure switch	10/16/2007
Q: I have a ruud achiever 90 plus. No heat starts and has code 2. I checked fault and it is for ... A: This is a very common part to fail, it has a bellows inside that a pin hole will affect and not ...
Honeywell RTH6300B thermostat	10/15/2007
Q: Am installing new programmable therm in 2 yo home. Have wires O/W2,R,Y/Y2,G,C,W/W1 on old therm. On ... A: I looked this stat up on the Honeywell site and it is not designed for a heat pump with auxillary ...
natural gas boiler	10/15/2007
Q: I have a whel-mclan natural gas boiler, it worked all last winter with no problem's it has a self ... A: Travis, this could be a number of things and not being able to see it to diagnose it, I could only ...
Boiler Issues	10/14/2007
Q: I have a Boiler (American Standard G2 from 1971). Dual-zoned. One zone has old radiators, but old ... A: I agree, it only takes a few to give us all a bad name. First, without knowing the engineering of ...
Air availability.	10/14/2007
Q: I live in a 29 yr old Vindale double wide mobile home. The furnace is an Intertherm 1750 80k btu ... A: The heater is being starved for combustion air when the furnace is operating. The hole in the floor ...
arcoaire gas furnace	10/13/2007
Q: I have an arcoaire that will ignite the first burner and then shuts off? Any way for me to solve the ... A: The most common part to fail is the thermocouple. This is the device the pilot light is burning ...
Wiring and overcurrant protection	10/12/2007
Q: I have been asked to give a quote on installing the wiring for 2 10Ton AC units that are going to be ... A: This is called a package unit as it is a self contained system. I think you will be good with #6, ...
Wiring and overcurrant protection	10/11/2007
Q: I have been asked to give a quote on installing the wiring for 2 10Ton AC units that are going to be ... A: To be on the conservative side and also since it is a common disconnect and less expensive, I would ...
gas furnace exhaust flue length	10/11/2007
Q: I have a Rheem 90 plus furnace that I would like to move the exhaust flue to to different location. ... A: It depends on the slope of the vent and how well the final device drafts, be it a chimney or the ...
Compressor Terminals Melting	10/4/2007
Q: This question concerns my home HVAC system. About 1 month ago the purple wire on my compressor (not ... A: Check the amps on start up to see if the start amps stay high for too long. It may be the start ...
Fan / Gas Furnace Problem	10/3/2007
Q: We just fired up our Olsen Gas Furnace (model HW8204 IID, I believe). It runs normally for about ... A: You have a very serious problem. There are supposed to be safety controls that very quickly will ...
Boiler selection	10/3/2007
Q: Mr. Cook, I am changing from oil boiler to natural gas boiler. Have bids from Lennox, Bryant and ... A: Some years ago just as with the heat pumps or other HVAC equipment, there were significant ...
Lock out relay on water to air heat pump	9/27/2007
Q: I have a Weather King Water To Air Heat Pump Model Number WRH034-1H. It had a bad Compressor ... A: The control circuit to the relay and the contactor should be a continuous loop circuit. The common ...
Coleman Mach - Blower/Fan Motor out	9/26/2007
Q: Blower/Fan Motor down - vibration/noise prior to failure, radial shaft play, hums but won't run. ... A: Before replacing the motor, try replacing the capacitor as this will cause the same problem you are ...
noise in wall from ac line	9/26/2007
Q: I have a unit outside a bedroom and there is a loud noise/vibration from that wall. The ac guy ... A: That is really all it can be. The only thing in the walls would be the refrigerant piping from the ...
Boiler high water pressure	9/25/2007
Q: I'm building my own house and have installed in floor radiant heat. The heating system was supposed ... A: There should have been an expansion tank installed that would hold the extra water volume to keep ...
ac	9/23/2007
Q: I curently have a 2.5 ton unit that is 17 yrs old i have had it reapired twice this summeer and im ... A: It has to be matched with the same indoor coil. Some other advice, replacing with a large unit can ...
Thermostats	9/19/2007
Q: My Connecticut home was built in 2000 and has 4 thermostats to control the oil boiler and 2 outside ... A: I am certain you are correct in the two without control switches are dependent on the others to ...
central air condition ing	9/17/2007
Q: I recently installed a 3 ton condensor (13 ser). Can I install a 4 ton air handler for better air ... A: No. I am reading an article now in the new issue of RSES Journal and mismatching equipment is ...
Installing Noma Programmable Therostat	9/17/2007
Q: Good evening. I've never posted to this forum before but I thought I'd try... I just bought a ... A: A thermostat is merely a sophisticated switch. On a two wire stat, you are installing a switch in of ...
condenser leaking	9/15/2007
Q: I think the condenser is the part of the central AC that is indoors. Anyway, the indoor part of my ... A: There is a drain from the indoor unit that goes to the outside. You can blow compressed air or water ...
Electrical wiring digram	9/14/2007
Q: Sir, I'm looking for a wiring electrical digram for a Trane three phase 240 system. The system is at ... A: Most manufacturing home sites offer diagrams but it requires the model and serial numbers. If the ...
Pulsating noise	9/14/2007
Q: I have a 1565 sq ft home in phoenix, az. I just installed a new 5 ton roof mounted heatpump. I had ... A: With the unit being a roof mounted unit, I more believe it is the compressor making the tone. Try ...
Air conditioners	9/12/2007
Q: The compressor on my Rheem air conditioner recently blew. I am looking to replace the whole unit ... A: I just replaced both of my Carrier units that were 15 years old with two Goodman units. I personally ...
Lux 1500 Thermostat	9/12/2007
Q: I installed the thermostat as described in a previous post, the green wire to the G terminal, the ... A: With a/c on a gas furnace, the Y terminal wire should not connect at all to the furnace, but go ...
furnace--nothing	9/9/2007
Q: I turned the air conditioner off yesterday. It was working fine. Today I went to turn it on, ... A: You would have to verify the unit is getting power by checking with a volt meter at the unit itself, ...
A/C runs continuously when stat is set below 80	9/8/2007
Q: Here's my problem. We just had the coil in our system replaced. Before it was even replaced, I ... A: You do not say what the outdoor temperature is. Almost every system has a design criteria of an ...
residential gas HW heat- control + misc.	9/7/2007
Q: I recently helped my stepson buy an older (1920's), 2-story + basement, "as-is" house in Pittsburgh, ... A: Considering the age of this boiler system, it would not be overkill to clean it annually before ...
residential gas HW heat- control + misc.	9/6/2007
Q: I recently helped my stepson buy an older (1920's), 2-story + basement, "as-is" house in Pittsburgh, ... A: I will begin with the most critical point. DO NOT operate this boiler without a low water cut off. ...
overflow excessive	9/5/2007
Q: My drip pan drains through an outside line at my roofline. It continually drips alot. Can this be ... A: With a unit in an attic, the main drain is usally hidden where it drains to the outside. The ...
Home Central AC	9/5/2007
Q: My central home AC isn't blowing any cold air. The coil and outside unit is 13 years old. About ... A: The outside fan and compressor should both be powered by the same contactor, this contactor is what ...
hvac blowing 5amp fuse on 24v transformers	9/4/2007
Q: I have a 2 year old Rheem system. A RPMM-048JAZ heat pump and RBHK-24J11SU6 air handler along with ... A: There is either a shorted 24 volt device, usually a relay or contactor coil, or there is a damaged ...
Inside Unit Freezing up	9/3/2007
Q: we recently started having problems with our inside evaporator coils freezing up and not cooling our ... A: There is no switch inside to turn the fan on. It appears there is a thermostat problem since the fan ...
Compressor cycling on and off	9/2/2007
Q: I have one of those long wall type "motel" type air conditioners in my office. If fits in a wide box ... A: It sounds as though the sleeve for the unit is somehow preventing the heat from escaping from the ...
Tilted AC drip pan in forced air duct	8/31/2007
Q: I have a AC system installed in a central air furnace ("A "coils with a drip pan). The system is 7 ... A: Many coils are not supported, they will usually remain in place due to their weight and the ...
no ac	8/30/2007
Q: I have an 11 yr old york split unit. The outside unit fan and compressor did not run. From info on ... A: If the capacitor was only a two connection capacitor, it does not assist the compressor. A three ...
Bad Small When we Run our AC	8/29/2007
Q: My name is Josh Cunningham. My girlfriend and I have recently purchased a townhouse in Chicago and ... A: I am not sure if this is what you are dealing with, but there is actually a term for an a/c odor ...
Home A/C Question	8/28/2007
Q: I just moved into a newly built house in Houston, TX and I have been looking into how my A/C works. ... A: Having a central return is very common. Return size is an engineered calculation. If you add returns ...
HVAC Blower	8/28/2007
Q: I have a Carrier Heat Pump that was installed in 1994. Recently, the blower started running all the ... A: It appears the fan relay has stuck. You can trace the fan motor wires to this relay or look on the ...
No power to thermostat	8/27/2007
Q: We had a lightening storm and my Heat Pump stopped working. I have no power to my thermostat. The ... A: Apparently some low voltage componente was damaged in the storm and is causing a short in the ...
runing only 1 AC	8/24/2007
Q: I live in Oklahoma City,OK.Tempature is hot 97 everyday.I live alone in a 4000sq.ft. home. Upstairs: ... A: First, I would consider a permanent door to separate the areas. I have a similar home and a ...
residential a/c controls	8/23/2007
Q: The outside unit will come on but not the inside air handler. The thermostat is set on fan auto but ... A: I agree it does not appear to be a motor problem, I am more suspect of the new thermostat, or was ...
replacing an old thermostat	8/23/2007
Q: I currently have a Trane Weathertron thermostat. I am trying to replace it with a Hunter digital ... A: You did not state what type of system you have, it is a heat pump or a/c with some other type of ...
frozen line from indoor to outdoor unit	8/22/2007
Q: 2 months ago a/c unit was blowing air-warm air. Unit had ice inside. Repair man replaced evaporator ... A: It may be the indoor coil is still frozen. It takes hours without a fan to deice the coil. You will ...
Where to put A/C	8/22/2007
Q: Cook, I have two-story house (about 3500 sq size in Oklahoma)which is going to be built. I have no ... A: I am a little confused. You are saying there are two units, is there a downstairs unit and an ...
A/C NOT COOLIN	8/21/2007
Q: WHAT SHOULD I CHECK if my units pressure is okay the evaporator fan is working but the supply air ... A: A simple test of a system is to check the return air temperature with a good thermometer at the ...
cool air, but not blowing hard enough	8/21/2007
Q: I noticed just yesterday (this has been during a stretch of 7 or more 98-100 degree days with NO ... A: The most common design conditions for sizing a system for a structure includes in the calculations a ...
ZONE AC = WATER UNDER HOUSE	8/10/2007
Q: I have a 4000 sq ft home, 2 story home with zone AC and now a substantial amount of water under my ... A: This could be caused by several things. The first thing I would check is the drain due to the amount ...
air conditioner not shutting off now 6 days and not cooling above 80	8/10/2007
Q: My air has been running non stop 6 days and will not cool. During early morning may go to 76 but by ... A: A simple diagnostic test of a system is to check the temperature. At the return where the filter is, ...
A/C not working during the day	8/9/2007
Q: Here is the scenerio: I live in an upstairs apartment and the A/C runs constantly during the day. At ... A: A rough rule of thumb is to attempt close to a 20 degree temperature difference in the return and ...
Wiring new thermostat	8/9/2007
Q: I have a Carrier FB4ANF042. The thermostat is a Hunter model 44408. I just purchased a Hunter ... A: Brent, I have attempted to get a wiring diagram for each of these with no success. I was able to ...
condensation pipe issues	8/8/2007
Q: We have a central air conditioning system. The condensation pipe which exits to the outdoors is wet ... A: If the drain is located before the blower in the fan section, a trap is required to break the ...
Reclaced Condenser Motor Now Not Cooling	8/8/2007
Q: I was having problems with my Ducane AC units condenser motor. It would run for about 30 minutes and ... A: The fan motor that circulates the air inside is on a different circuit from the outdoor unit and can ...
A/C Compressor	8/7/2007
Q: My air conditioning unit is not cooling very well. The inside unit runs constantly and the outside ... A: On the surface it does appear the unit charge is low as it sounds like the unit is cycling on low ...
outside ac unit	8/7/2007
Q: i have a fairly new home 4 yrs old with a Goodman manufacturing unit i came home to a hot house ... A: It appears the outdoor fan motor capacitor has failed. It is a simple replacement. Turn off the ...
AC	8/6/2007
Q: We have a Bryant 5T central ait unit which was installed 2 years ago and today the central air unit ... A: I know you are trying to describe this in the best way possible, but there are conflicting items. At ...
ac compressor	8/6/2007
Q: just installed new electric furnace inside.lights are dimming for short time when the outside ... A: I agree that the furnace installation should have nothing to do with the a/c operation. I think it ...
AC condensation	8/5/2007
Q: I have a two unit central AC systems and two pvc condensation drip lines that go along my roofline ... A: I would check the unit that is not draining to be sure the drain is not clogged and all water is ...
York Commercial Air unit problem	8/5/2007
Q: I am working on a YORK Model Number DM120 no options for a resturant and this unit got hit by ... A: Since you said it first, I totally agree Bob, I do not use York units period! I would have to ...
Blower motor issues	8/4/2007
Q: I am trying to fix a frasier-johnston air handler (has a furnace and is attached to an outdoor a/c ... A: I would try another capacitor. It sounds classic of a failed capacitor and double check the wiring ...
a/c	8/3/2007
Q: I installed a brand new comfortmaker furnace in my house this winter. It works great. I remeved a ... A: The circuit that makes the outdoor unit or the a/c operate, is the Y circuit. Make sure at the ...
Heat Pump & Air Handler	8/3/2007
Q: We have an Amana Heat Pump & Air Handler System and lately the unit has been turning on and off ... A: This may indicate the refrigerant charge is low and the unit is cycling on low pressure. I would ...
air conditioner product	8/2/2007
Q: I belive my air condition coils need cleaning. I went outside and cleaned that one but I was told ... A: If you are not sure where the filters are located, they are most likely clogged. If this is a ...
HVAC Evap. Fan Prob.	8/2/2007
Q: Issue: Thermostat triggers AC to turn on properly, condenser unit kicks in properly, but evaporator ... A: To eliminate the motor or the motor capacitor as a problem that is causing the module to hum, the ...
Condensor fan wiring	8/1/2007
Q: I have an older BDP division of Carrier roof top unit and the condensor fan motor is seizing. I have ... A: The old motor was not wired correctly. With only one brown wire, the black wire should have been ...
AC Not cooling house	7/31/2007
Q: We have been dealing with this problem since the house was built 4 years ago, but it was not serious ... A: I apologize for the industry due to the contractors you have already dealt with. It gives us all a ...
Wiring a window AC	7/30/2007
Q: We are trying to wire an 18000 BTU window AC. The sales people at Lowes sold us 12/2 wire. The AC ... A: This appears to be a 240 volt unit, not a 120 volt. Verify this with the name plate on the unit. You ...
New HVAC install	7/30/2007
Q: I am planning to get a total forced air system in my 5-bedroom brick bungalow, which now has window ... A: Since a complete duct system must be installed and insulated for a/c, I would go with a heat pump. I ...
Air Conditioning unit not cooling home	7/29/2007
Q: Good morning. We recently purchased a 5 year old home. Before moving in the unit cooled the house. ... A: Check the outdoor unit again. The fan on top may be operating but not the compressor. The fan is ...
HVAC Evap. Fan Prob.	7/28/2007
Q: Issue: Thermostat triggers AC to turn on properly, condenser unit kicks in properly, but evaporator ... A: I agree this is an expensive part to replace for the benefit. You can use a simple 24 volt power ...
ac compressor fan motor	7/28/2007
Q: ac compressor fan motor only starts after a push or spin starting it like an old propeller plane. It ... A: This is a classic sign of a failed capacitor. It looks like a small can, either round or oval and is ...
Business AC	7/27/2007
Q: I own a women's fitness gym. We are in a small strip mall. We set our thermostat for 70 and as the ... A: The land lord may be partially correct. There is a very detailed load calculation that is required ...
Ground Heat Pump	7/26/2007
Q: We just learned that our 12-year-old Lennox Complete Heat (gas) system is leaking and needs either ... A: I must be in the wrong location. In NC, I could not imagine a $10,000 heat pump if it was a 20 seer ...
HVAC water supply lines	7/25/2007
Q: Where do the water supply lines connect on my hot water heater from my HVAC system. A: I need further clarification. If this is a standard water heater, they will not interconnect, and in ...
A/C Condensation drain line was plugged	7/25/2007
Q: I blew air from a tank in the drain line and found out that the line ended outside the house ... A: If there is enough slope from the inside to the outside, you can cut the pipe and extend it through ...
central air conditioner	7/24/2007
Q: I have a 1500 SQ. foot home, 20 YR. old. What is the best central air conditioner system with heat ... A: For sizing there is a very detailed load calculation that must be done. It takes into consideration ...
AC help	7/23/2007
Q: I live in central Florida. Woke up this morning after a long night of rain and the thermostat was ... A: The most common problem is the thermostat wire feeding the outdoor unit. Sometimes an animal will ...
Goodman Furnace AC Compressor Wiring Issue/ Fuse blowing	7/23/2007
Q: I have a GMV95/GCV9 Two-Stage Gas-Fired Warm Air Furnace that was recently installed as a ... A: Since it is apparent the problem is in the cooling circuit, I would connect the outdoor unit ...
condensation flooding basement	7/22/2007
Q: Tom here in Atlanta Ga First Off I am quite mechanicaly, remodling, can usualy fix anything ... A: There is a drain pan directly under the coil that should be trapping all condensate and exiting the ...
drain pan line	7/22/2007
Q: I recently asked a question about excessive sweating of my RUUD inside air handler. (Don't remember ... A: The drain should not have been piped into a vent. It should be pumped to the outside via whatever ...
compresor randomly not coming on	7/21/2007
Q: recently, we have been experiencing a random problem with our a/c. sometimes, the outside unit does ... A: The outdoor unit is on a different power circuit from the indoor fan, so they can operate ...
bleach for disinfecting coils	7/18/2007
Q: I have two York heat pumps that are less than a year old. I just found out that I was suppose to ... A: I would never use bleach for the reasons you indicated. If the units are in the attic, by code they ...
Refrigerated Air Units	7/18/2007
Q: My spouse & I have a question and dispute about refrigerated air conditioners. We had a big swamp ... A: Since different rooms have different heat loads, depending on window direction, shade, etc. I would ...
FADC-048JAS AC Unit	7/17/2007
Q: We have this unit for about 7 years now. for the last 2 years in the middle of the summer it starts ... A: A system should NEVER need additional refrigerant. The only reason a charge gets low is the system ...
10 seer part available.	7/16/2007
Q: I was told that 10 seers parts for a central ac system are no longer available. When changing the 10 ... A: This tech is taking you for a ride. For one, it is against mechanical code to mismatch equipment. A ...
Ac cooling problem	7/14/2007
Q: I have 3 ton unit for 1600 sqft. its working good in tropical weather. whenever temp raise 85 to 90 ... A: It is difficult to tell if the system is operating normally under these conditions, there may just ...
A Coil freezes up	7/14/2007
Q: My A coil keeps freezing up after a few weeks of AC usage. This is the third year its happened. The ... A: A low charge or low air flow are the two main reasons a coil will ice up. With a clean coil, it is ...
A/C problems	7/13/2007
Q: I m having problems with my A/C, the thermostat stay in 82* and no cool air is coming from the duct. ... A: Was the outdoor unit operating? It is on a different circuit from the indoor unit, the indoor fan ...
Corsaire Air condition	7/12/2007
Q: Corsaire air condition (a remote model-FADC-048JAS integrated with a Rheem Classical Plus vertical ... A: You need to use an amp meter on the outdoor unit circuit wiring to see how many amps the unit is ...
Lets try this one!	7/11/2007
Q: Let me give you some background on this 4 ton 10 seer Carrier system. Its 6 years old and 6 months ... A: I totally disagree that all the above can be correct. The LS is the low side pressure. On an R22 ...
AC Fan vibrates	7/2/2007
Q: I have a 2 year old Rudd outside AC heat pump with the Fan mounted on top and it has started to ... A: It may just be the prop itself is damaged. I would remove the fan prop, go to an HVAC supply and try ...
Replacing Fan Motor	7/1/2007
Q: I am replacing the Fan Motor of my York Heat Pump. The old motor had 3 wires (Purple, Brown and ... A: Connect the white wire of the new motor to the terminal on the old capacitor where the purple wire ...
adding ductwork to addition	6/30/2007
Q: Mr. Cook, I am working on refinishing a bonus room in my home and need to run a single duct. The ... A: There is a very detailed load calculation required in order to size ductwork. Not only the room ...
cycle times	6/28/2007
Q: I have a comfort king furnace(rheem). The furnace seems ok but my question is with the air system. I ... A: Refrigerant should never have to be added. The only reason to add would be if the unit developed a ...
Thermostat blows fuse	6/28/2007
Q: I turned on the AC this season and ....nothing. Checked the compressor - pushed in the contactor - ... A: This indicates that either the Y wire is damaged, or one of the controls in the outdoor unit is ...
clogged condensate lines	6/27/2007
Q: My a/c unit is located upstairs in it's own closet. Why are there 2 condensate drain lines attached ... A: One of the drains where connected at the unit should be slightly lower than the other and is the ...
Thermostat blows fuse	6/27/2007
Q: I turned on the AC this season and ....nothing. Checked the compressor - pushed in the contactor - ... A: This usually indicates there is a control wire that is shorting out, or that the thermostat is ...
Fan motor comes on w/o condenser running	6/26/2007
Q: I have a Goodman central a/c (approx 5 yrs old). The blower in the attic will kick on and off even ... A: Is this a heat pump or do you have fuel heat? If this has fuel heat, there is a different control ...
air conditioner is not cooling the house down	6/26/2007
Q: I noticed the other night that my air conditioner is not cooling the house the way it usually does. ... A: There are two things that will cause icing of the coil and the lines. One is a lack of air flow. Are ...
Heil Unit - Outside	6/25/2007
Q: Power outage, a few blocks were affected that I know of. Dunno why, but it was restored w/in an ... A: There may be fuses in the outdoor disconnect, be sure to check them. If the indoor fan does not run ...
compressor noise	6/25/2007
Q: I have a new carrier 5 ton split system 1 month old scrool comp.has liquid line sol.valve since ... A: The internal pressures will equalize when the unit shuts down. It seems the pressures are rotating ...
WALKIN COOLER	6/24/2007
Q: I own a store that has a Bohn unit that freezes up the day/day after a delivery. My delivery person ... A: The fans can continue to operate inside of the cooler, but the refrigeration units needs to switched ...
Leaky system	6/23/2007
Q: I have 2 Rheem RAMB-048JAZ 3-ton units Mfg date 11/01 installed March-April (est) 2002. New A-coils, ... A: Cracks that continue to occur in my experience has either been caused by extreme compressor ...
Trane AC not cooling	6/23/2007
Q: I have a Trane XE 90 unit cooling cooling a loft/upper bedroom (a larger Trane unit cools the rest ... A: It is common with a unit that has a low refrigerant charge for it to affect the unit after the coils ...
Loose wire on outside compressor	6/21/2007
Q: I have a Trane XB1000 HVAC unit. After I opened the outside compressor to clean the coils, I ... A: Some fan motors only have a two wire capacitor connection, others do have three. The only way to be ...
RE: Trane XL-80 heat control issue	6/21/2007
Q: I have a trane xl-80 two stage gas heating system with white rodgers 50A51-495 controls. when I try ... A: The outdoor unit is on a separate cicuit than the indoor unit. First, make sure the outdoor unit has ...
central air system	6/20/2007
Q: My central air is blowing out fan like air,the thermostat is set between 70-78 degrees.The house is ... A: The indoor unit with the blower fan is on a separate circuit than the outdoor unit, so it can be on ...
York A/C with Gas heat	6/20/2007
Q: I won't bother with model numbers, but my girlfiend's house has a York roof mounted A/C unit with ... A: By all indications the unit as far as the refrigeration is operating properly. The large line should ...
Xenon air conditioner	6/19/2007
Q: My neighbor had a transformer replaced resulting in 7 hours of no electricity. When the electricity ... A: I personally think so. I have not examined the part, but if the contacts were melted, when the ...
Defrost cycle	6/19/2007
Q: I get home from work around 1630 hrs an turn it on to heat the house. I notice that the system ... A: Regardless of the outdoor temperature, all heat pumps are on a timer for defrost, or they initiate ...
Jantorial Furnace	6/17/2007
Q: My husband move the location of our thermostat ....in doing so something happened to the wiring and ... A: You can either locate a Janitrol dealer, or their web site and you should be able to down load a ...
thermostat ritetemp 8050c w/trane hvac	6/17/2007
Q: put thermostat in w/ B & O hooked up. Turned on power w/out realizing now system won't come back on. ... A: There is a good chance it damaged the low voltage transformer. Open the indoor fan section and ...
AC Drain pouring water out.	6/16/2007
Q: I'm concerned about my Air Conditioner. The air coming out of the vents doesn't seem to be ... A: This amount of condensate is one of the most simple tests for a systems operation. It appears to be ...
Kenmore A/C window unit	6/16/2007
Q: We have a pool of water in the room after about an hour of use. She is about 5 years old and, the ... A: The unit is designed with slope inside of the cabinet and should have been installed perfectly ...
Thermostat won't control A\C	6/15/2007
Q: Need help! I have Intertherm furnace and ac system model number MGH-100-ABWN-05 which is about 19 ... A: The Y terminal is for the outdoor a/c unit. Make sure in the thermostat that the red wire on the R ...
Rheem Classic inside unit	6/15/2007
Q: On a new unit, I am having heavy condensation from the fins area. This condensation is not running ... A: First, make sure the unit is level so if the condensation is building up in the pan and overflowing ...
Heat pump not blowing cold air	6/14/2007
Q: I have a comfortmaker soft sound 1200+ Heat pump Model # CHP224AKC1. The rest of the unit is in the ... A: It appears to be and if so the leak needs to be located and repaired or it will just get low again. ...
Cooling two rooms with one unit	6/13/2007
Q: I live in an apartment in NYC. The only outlet that I can use for my window AC unit is in the 12x12 ... A: I would set the fan about 3 feet from the bedroom door in the living room blowing towards the ...
air conditioning repair	6/7/2007
Q: My repair man wants to charge me $700 to install a condensing coil.The unit is only one year ... A: You do not state the brand of this unit, but this soon under warranty the labor is usually also ...
refrigerated air residential	5/30/2007
Q: I have a 2 year old Goodman refrigerated AC on my home. All the breakers and fused have been ... A: First of all, I apologize for the delay, my computer crashed and it took the technician a full day ...
CARRIER 58PAV	5/20/2007
Q: MY CARRIER IGNITER DOES NOT GLOW BUT THE BLOWER STARTS UP FOR A MINUTE THEN THE DRAFT INDUCER STARTS ... A: Try connecting the two wires on the pressure switch and see if it operates. The pressure switch is ...
Miller furnace vibration	5/19/2007
Q: I’ve only owned the home for 3 years, but have had the furnace cleaned and serviced every year, ... A: If he regularly services oil burners, he should know how to set the air/fuel mixture. There is some ...
Compresser Damaged?	5/18/2007
Q: I recently had a new central A/C system installed. Condenser, evap coil, duct work, etc. We had a ... A: I would try to get the installer to extend your compressor warranty at least another two years as ...
Electrical connection-heater	5/17/2007
Q: I just replaced/installed a new Rheem 2.5ton a/c-heating unit in my home. I cannot get the heating ... A: Look at the thermostat wiring to see if there is just a single R terminal, or a Rc and a Rh ...
Miller Split 13 Seer Mobile Home Install	5/16/2007
Q: How to install a Miller 13 Seer 2/5 Tony AC Unit & matching coil. Both unit and coil have quick ... A: The unit should have a drier inside of the unit, but it will now need replacing as moisture has ...
a/c fan won't shut off	5/16/2007
Q: If our temperature upstairs gets above 90, the blower fan continuously runs while seemingly ... A: If the heating unit is a fuel furnace, this is very possible. The fan bypasses the thermostat and is ...
Electrical connection-heater	5/15/2007
Q: I just replaced/installed a new Rheem 2.5ton a/c-heating unit in my home. I cannot get the heating ... A: Is this a heat pump, if so is the heat pump portion working in heat, just the strips are not, or is ...
A/C Compressor Won't Start	5/14/2007
Q: J, my wife and I purchased a pre-owned home in January. Due to about 3 feet of snow on the ground ... A: Since the stat was replaced, lets start there. Remove the front portion of the stat to expose the ...
AC	5/13/2007
Q: Woke up sweating! Discovered AC blowing but no cool air. Unit was serviced 2 weeks ago, 2 lbs freon ... A: Either the outdoor fan motor has locked up or the capacitor has failed. I would try a capacitor ...
AC not cooling to set temp	5/13/2007
Q: About 3 weeks ago my HVAC unit stopped working. I called a local company to take a look at it and ... A: Your friend was almost correct. If you put a thermometer in the return where the filter was and ...
Loss of power to outside unit.	5/10/2007
Q: Mr. Cook The problem I'm having is when I turn my thermostat on the outside unit doesn't come on. ... A: There is nothing in the 24 volt circuit that would directly cause loss of 240 volts at the outdoor ...
hvac	5/9/2007
Q: I diagnosed my air handler and found out that the blower motor relay was burned out. It is a Carrier ... A: It will require replacement of the entire board. A relay has a set of contact points inside very ...
Hotpoint RL84 Tall Fridge Thermostat	5/9/2007
Q: I have brought a replacement thermostat. the issue is the original had 3 wires, earth, live and ... A: A thermostat is technically just a switch. The original had a ground, a circuit connection and the ...
tesiting/refilling ac parts	5/1/2007
Q: Do you know how to put oil in the compressor. Also need to know how to test a Air condiioner ... A: It takes a special pump, almost like an old bicycle pump to put oil into the suction hose while the ...
Fan operates even when Thermostat is off	4/27/2007
Q: We have a Goodman Central Air Unit and Gas furnace Heat. about 14 yrs and everything seems to bee ... A: On every gas furnace the fan is bypassed by the thermostat so the heat exchanger will be hot when ...
Residential A/C Repair/Replacement Question	4/26/2007
Q: I have a 10 year old York 10 SEER unit (model H1RA048S06B) that's part of split unit paired with a ... A: A leak should be detectable by a good technician. It requires removing the refrigerant, pressurizing ...
Intertherheatpump	4/25/2007
Q: My unit will not turn off, it only turns off when I trip the breaker. It started happening with the ... A: It appears the contactor is stuck in the outdoor unit. It is the device the power wires from the ...
air conditioner	4/25/2007
Q: i turned my air on today for the second or third time this season. i turned it off around 7:00 pm ... A: I feel certain the outdoor contactor is stuck causing the outdoor unit to continue to run. Go ...
Replacement A/C unit	4/24/2007
Q: We have a choice of two units. We are replacing a 13 year old Carrier seer 10 with heat pump. Our ... A: I would not trust any company that did not do a load calculation to determine the system my home ...
Can I change schrader valve ?	4/23/2007
Q: I have the 608 certificate so I can work on small appliances that contain less than 5lbs of ... A: No. Evacuating to a separate tank is recovery. Pumping a system down can only be accomplished if ...
central air - trane vs carrier	4/18/2007
Q: I live in CT and am looking to install central air. I have 2 quotes #1 - Trane XL14i (5 ton) plus ... A: Since $1600 is in question, obviously to some extent money is an object. The reason for pointing ...
Residential A/C System	4/16/2007
Q: I am in the process of getting bids for a residential central A/C system. Currently leaning toward ... A: Yes, it is very common to utilize a single filtered return. Also, check into a Goodman unit also. I ...
Too much heat from Hot water baseboard system	4/14/2007
Q: 2 of the three zones on our propane hot water baseboard heat seem to be stuck on (assuming the other ... A: The valves are to service a specific heater, while in operation I would not turn them off. The only ...
Heat Pumps	4/12/2007
Q: Of the two brands, American Standard or Goodman...which would you recommend? Overall, what brand of ... A: American Standard purchased Trane several years ago. It is still an excellent unit, however in my ...
Olsen Furnace	4/11/2007
Q: Recently bought a new house with an oil Olsen furnace which was installed in 2002. There is a bad ... A: When you stated it happens when firing, I first thought of the heat exchanger before you said it ...
Home A/C	4/11/2007
Q: We have a 4 ton Heatpump (in the yard) with a 5 ton air handler (in the attic). The house and A/C ... A: I would never trust any kind of leak sealer. You did exactly what most technicians do, soak the ...
Digital Thermostat	4/5/2007
Q: I am looking to install a digital thermostat and I live in FL where my primary concern is cooling. ... A: This is an option I have never encountered. I have seen stats keep the fan on after the compressor ...
Replacement AC compressor - side discharge	4/5/2007
Q: I am replacing an AC system. The compressor unit has to be mounted under a raised deck and about 5 ... A: There used to be several manufacturers that made side discharge units, but I do not know of any ...
condensation in central air ducts	3/30/2007
Q: Sir I live in the north east,today I went into my attic and found water in two ducts that com off ... A: First, make sure the condensate drain is clear. Water can spill over the pan into the ducts if the ...
Air	3/30/2007
Q: I have a 2 story and we have been having trouble with the upstairs unit for awhile. The unit runs ... A: The first thing to check is the indoor coil. Make sure it is clean and the filter is clean. You are ...
gaffers and sattler a\c	3/29/2007
Q: I am working on gaffers and sattler a\c -elect heat strip package unit. model EA-7.2-2 S\N 00578C4. ... A: I do not have a lead on this brand. You may have to locate a dealer that can locate parts in order ...
Gas Furnace pilot won't light	3/28/2007
Q: I have a 1994 comfortmaker GNI080 natural gas furnace and the pilot quit lighting last night. the ... A: Occasionally it seems the circuit boards get confused. Have you turned the power off and waited a ...
Fan not running	3/28/2007
Q: My central air unit fan is not running but the compressor is. What should i do to get it running. ... A: The indoor unit is on a different circuit than the outdoor unit. Make sure the indoor unit is ...
Switching from heat to AC in home unit	3/27/2007
Q: how long should the switch take. i m ready for ac now. i switched the unit ove, but air is not ... A: It should switch immediately. With the thermostat set for cooling and the temperature turned down ...
AC Replacement	3/26/2007
Q: My 20-year-old Carrier has a leaking refrigerant coil that my maintenance man (whom I trust) says ... A: If you are speaking of the indoor coil, I would just replace the coil. If the coil is the outdoor ...
HVAC	3/26/2007
Q: I have heat vents (6 inch diameter) in the the floor (concrete slab) and want to have central air ... A: You would need to have a load calculation done to determine the amount of cooling required and this ...
Thermostat wiring	3/25/2007
Q: I bought a Honeywell TH8000 thermostat to replace my old Lennox thermostat on my Lennox heat pump. ... A: I have been in this field for 25+ years, and I have never seen the terminal letters used on this ...
Heat staying on past setting	3/25/2007
Q: I recently have been expierencing my heat staying on past the desried setting on my thermostat. I ... A: Alex it would really be trial and error as I can not test the different components. It may either be ...
Compressor humm	3/23/2007
Q: I have a 2 ton Goodman central ac unit with a Bristol Compressor in it. The unit is 8 years old. I ... A: Even if a hard start will get this compressor going, it appears to be locked up. It is remotely ...
oily smell from heater	3/22/2007
Q: We have a forced air oil heater, Last night when I got home I noticed a oil smell in the house. I ... A: Make sure the vent or the chimney is not blocked and there are no loose connections between the unit ...
adding central air to a central heating unit	3/21/2007
Q: My mother has central heating in her home. We want to add air conditioning to it as well. How would ... A: It can easily be done. For efficiency, I would install a heat pump. They would use the same basic ...
new HVAC install	3/20/2007
Q: My question is regarding choosing a HVAC system for a house that has no existing system. My main ... A: I appreciate you doing your homework, you are off to a great start. First, the load calculations ...
replacing evaporative coolers w/ HVAC	3/19/2007
Q: I reside in El Paso, TX. 9 yr old, 2600 sq ft house w/2 Master Coolers and 2 Ultra 80 Armstrong ... A: Personally I just replaced both of my systems with Goodman units. If you ask, there is an extended ...
Thermal Coupler	3/19/2007
Q: For the past three years, my girlfriend's heater keeps shutting down and the HVAC guy continues to ... A: It is the most common part to fail on a furnace. It is the small metal device that the pilot flame ...
residential gas furnace	3/17/2007
Q: My furnace makes a loud clicking noise after the heat shuts off and continues til the heat goes back ... A: If this is an electronic ignition unit, it sounds like a safety is shutting the burners off and the ...
Radiator Obsolescence?	3/16/2007
Q: Never delt with radiators. Contemplating buy a 1920s house with radiators. Is this type of system ... A: Radiator heat would either be a hot water or low pressure steam heat. Either are very reliable ...
Lennox Heat Pump	3/15/2007
Q: I have a 12 year old Lennox Heat Pump. The other day when the heat was not running but the ... A: You may have a stuck contactor. The refrigerant can only move if the compressor is on, so I do not ...
window a/c installation	3/10/2007
Q: I have a 14 ft vintage travel trailer that I want to install an a/c in. I have seen an internal ... A: You will not have enough ventilation. The unit must have a clear unobstucted access to the outside ...
Pilot Relay coil keeps burning 'open'	3/8/2007
Q: Is it possible for a compressor or the compressor's capacitors to cause a transient spike that ... A: I know it was part of the board, but that is the problem with pilot relays in my opinion. The are ...
Armstrong Air Ultra V Tech 91 (Installed 2003)	3/8/2007
Q: This particular unit is flashing a code of 6 flashes pause 4 flashes on the gas valve in the unit ... A: It could be either. I do not believe there is a different code for each limit. This could indicate a ...
high press	3/6/2007
Q: the unit has r-22. sorryi have a 2 ton pancake split. the lines at the entrance to the condensing ... A: Both of these pressures are extremely high for R22. The first thing is to be sure the outdoor coil ...
LENNOX G26	3/3/2007
Q: I HAVE LENNOX G26 THAT CYCLES, BUT NO HEAT. I REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE, THATS FINE. I STARTING ... A: There are so many safety controls on a gas furnace it is difficult to tell which may be causing the ...
5 year old Goodman heat pump cple36-1	3/3/2007
Q: My problem is this Mr. Cook: During the hot summer months (Florida) I turn on our AC in the morning ... A: It may be a defective cooling relay in the outdoor unit, or the contactor itself that feeds the ...
heating problem	3/2/2007
Q: I live in a two story home and have a single zone heating system. The upper floor gets hot while ... A: There have been controls of this type for many years in the commercial market, and more and more are ...
Installing Residential Thermostat	3/1/2007
Q: REd and White which they are hooked up the way you stated but now I need to connect my common. ould ... A: Is this unit for heat only? If not you need the Yellow on Y for cooling, however if this is a heat ...
Rheem Criterion II Gas Furnace	3/1/2007
Q: I am trying to gather information before I have to deal with a repair service regarding my Rheem ... A: I am certain this button is a manual reset safety control. If a fire had ensued, I am also certain ...
Hot water heater	2/26/2007
Q: I have started to see cloudy water when I run the hot water only. Is this the beginning of rust or ... A: This is most often caused by air in the water and no source for concern. You can fill up a clear ...
Lennox pulse 21 furnace heating problem	2/26/2007
Q: What is the purpose of the safety switch?Mr. Cook: I have a Lennox pulse 21 furnace approximately ... A: There are several safety switches. One is a temperature activated switch that will shut the unit ...
Lennox pulse 21 furnace heating problem	2/25/2007
Q: Mr. Cook: I have a Lennox pulse 21 furnace approximately 10 years old that occasionally stops ... A: It is usually a failed safety or the safety is doing its job and shutting the furnace down. When the ...
What would cause one loud vent?	2/25/2007
Q: I was looking for some help. We have a 3 ton HVAC unit with 5 ducts sending air. Two of them are 8", ... A: I am not sure how much area the total structure is, but a 3 ton unit is a lot of unit for no more ...
baseboard hydronic system	2/24/2007
Q: Greetings I am in process of expanding my baseboard hydronic system to the second story. The ... A: I have to be straight up, I have never used pex. Its not that I am that old school, its just we do ...
Installing Residential Thermostat	2/22/2007
Q: I am replaceing my thermostat with a Totaline Signature Part number P374-1100. I have ... A: You are short one wire to install this thermostat. The green connects to G for the indoor fan, the ...
A/C Vent Leaking	2/21/2007
Q: However, what is causing the water to collect in the ducts? We close the small ceiling vents in the ... A: The water is formed by condensation in the ducts in the same manner as a cold glass develops it on ...
boiler problem	2/21/2007
Q: We have a gas hot water boiler. It is making a loud buzzing noise right before it kicks on. The ... A: I do not believe the valve would make this noise, although it is opened by an electric solenoid. It ...
A/C Vent Leaking	2/19/2007
Q: Hoping you can help. My parents moved in to a new home (new construction) 1 1/2 years ago. The air ... A: The ducts are not sealed. There has to be open connections in the ducts, either at the fan section, ...
heating and air	2/17/2007
Q: Trying to convert 20X20 garage into family room. No windows. How can we get heating and cooling. ... A: The area is too large for a through the wall unit, but almost too small for a separate unit. If you ...
Heat from Forced Hot Air System barely warm	2/17/2007
Q: J. Cook I am living in a recently purchased older home with a Rheem Classic XI Heat Pump/Rheem Model ... A: If you are used to fuel heat, a heat pump will feel very cool as the air temperature is generally in ...
furnace	2/16/2007
Q: I had a high effeciency furnace installed. After discussions with friends this is what I concluded. ... A: If the furnace exhaust is just a straight pipe with no end of any kind, I agree, there needs to be a ...
A/C	2/16/2007
Q: How can you tell a compressor has shorted out? What is the standard color code for wires on a ... A: 1. With the power off and the compressor wires totally disconnected, using an ohm meter you check ...
RHEEM CRITERION 2 RGPH SERIES	2/15/2007
Q: MY FURNACE HAS HAD A IGNITION COMPUTER BOARD AND PLENUM THERMOSTAT REPLACED. THE FURNACE GUY TOLD ... A: I am not familiar with this particular furnace and what this code means. It sounds like you may need ...
water heater	2/15/2007
Q: How can our water heater in the garage is always heating even nobody use hot water ---makes some ... A: A typical residential water heater has two heater elements. It will cycle these two elements in ...
heat not working	2/14/2007
Q: I hear what I believe is my blower in the house working, but nothing is coming out of the vents and ... A: The blower would be what sends air out of the vents, so either this unit has a belt driven blower ...
relay woes	2/13/2007
Q: I have a 2 ton pancake split. For some reason the compressor relay gets stuck and i wind up with a ... A: There are several things to check. First, be sure the coil and relay voltages and amp ratings are ...
hot water heat	2/10/2007
Q: I have hot water boiler with baseboard heat. I am having noises of running water (should like a ... A: There should be a water line connected to the boiler to maintain a specific water level. Be sure if ...
Heat Pump	2/9/2007
Q: I have two questions about my new heat pump. First question is about the low temperature that my ... A: Your contractor is correct. The outdoor unit is actually saving power in defrost mode because the ...
Hydronic Baseboard heat system	2/7/2007
Q: I have a hydronic baseboard heating system it was working fine a few months ago but now none of the ... A: It is common for a system to get air in it that will prevent the water from rising to the upper ...
RPJII	2/7/2007
Q: I have the same problem as J Cook. That is, the heater will turn on but when the blower turns on the ... A: Actually I am J Cook, and I hope a technician was not blowing smoke. There is a device similar to a ...
heater not working	2/6/2007
Q: I have a rheem 80 imperial furnace. It will come on and work fine but before it warms the house it ... A: It is tripping off on a some safety. Turning the power off and back on resets it. It may be a ...
odors in HVAC	2/4/2007
Q: An HVAC company has come to my house and determined the smell in my systems are coming from the ... A: If the problem is caused by the difference in temperature of the two coils, I do not see how ...
old carrer electric heat	2/4/2007
Q: I need to rewire my electric hvac heater control. the unit has 4 5kw heat strips. two are wired to ... A: The first thing to determine in selecting the correct replacement parts is to know the size heat ...
HVAC question (heat pump)	2/2/2007
Q: The blast of cold air I was referring to is when the system comes on and when in defrost mode, does ... A: I agree the strips should be tested, there should be no change when in defrost mode. I do not have a ...
HVAC question (heat pump)	2/1/2007
Q: I have a York heat pump which has served me well for over ten years, my quesiton is when the system ... A: Refrigerant never looses is effectiveness, that is why there is a ban on several refrigerants as ...
UV Fillter or UV light for Furnace	1/31/2007
Q: I am in the process of looking at a UV-C lamp system for my furnace. Do you know anything about ... A: From all of the research I have done and the classes in which this has been discussed, these devices ...
odors in HVAC	1/29/2007
Q: I have a massive problem with odor from my HVAC exterior heat pump. An environmental engineer has ... A: I live in Mt Pleasant, about 20 miles from Charlotte. I just installed two Goodman's in my home and ...
thermostat sensor (possibly?) having trouble	1/27/2007
Q: I have a gas powered furnace that is approx 13 years old. I have never serviced it in the 6 years I ... A: An unserviced furnace can be very dangerous. I always recommend having it inspected for problems at ...
Oil Furnace -- too much smoke?	1/27/2007
Q: But you didn't answer my most important question.....how much white smoke is too much white smoke? ... A: There is no way to answer this. It all depends on how much fuel is being consumed. You may have a ...
Oil Furnace -- too much smoke?	1/26/2007
Q: This is actually a 2-part question, the first part being much more important than the second. So, ... A: Even not knowing the exact system you have, it makes sense not to get as hot of water when the unit ...
no power to unit ac/heat electric heat pump	1/24/2007
Q: I have no power to my unit...it was on on emergency heat, for 3 weeks, because thats the only way ... A: The thermostat gets power from the indoor fan section. Check at the fan section to see if there is ...
carrier furnace model 58pav	1/19/2007
Q: the burner shuts off showing led code 33 flame roll-out switch.first off,where is this roll-out ... A: Anytime a safety shuts the burners off, it needs to be inspected. The roll out switch is usually at ...
York Heatpump / York air handler	1/17/2007
Q: The entire outside unit will not energize at all for heat or A/C. It will start up if I manually ... A: While the jumper is on from Y to R, check the outside contactor coil points to see if you have 24 ...
Thermostat installation in residence	1/16/2007
Q: Mr. Cook, thank you for your time. I have a Payne 373LAV Downflow gas induced combustion furnace and ... A: Since there appears to be no common terminal, leave the brown wire disconnected, nut it off. As on ...
BTU's required to heat a room	1/15/2007
Q: I am heating my garage and it is 24x24. I have insulated walls and ceiling. The ceiling is 8'. How ... A: It requires a much more detailed load calculation. What are the floors made of, how much insulation ...
HVAC Noise	1/11/2007
Q: My central heating unit is set on 72, and on automatic to maintain it at 72. After the unit comes ... A: This may be a fan bearing as the fan is coming to a stop. See if you can turn the fan to on and back ...
fumes as a result of replacment heat exchnger	1/10/2007
Q: A heat exchanger was just replced at my place of employment there is a loy of smoke and fumes in the ... A: Without knowing exactly what is burning, I can not say. The exchanger during manufacturing process ...
Lennox Furnace	1/8/2007
Q: This unit has a standing pilot. Thanks. JerryHello, I'm working on a very old lennox forced air ... A: Has the thermocouple been replaced? It is the metal stem device that the pilot flames is burning ...
Heat Pump sizing.	1/6/2007
Q: My home is about 1900 square feet, in Phoenix, AZ. Last year, our heat pump broke down and we had ... A: I am heating and cooling 1900 sq ft with a two ton heat pump. My home is very tight however with ...
heatpump problem	1/4/2007
Q: during defrost cycle cold air blows out vents in house while heat strips are on .heat strips works ... A: It sounds as though part of the defrost circuit board has failed. It is cycling the unit into a ...
air conditioner condensation	12/31/2006
Q: I have central air in the ceiling and have water stains around the vents. The air unit is in the ... A: I know you seem to have inspected the ducts already, but if you are getting cold air, there is an ...
Perimeter Register Box Ducting	12/31/2006
Q: I have a 2 story home built on slab that has perimeter register boxes on the floor upstairs and in ... A: Ty, before installing a duct that causes a problem in the existing space and also will not make the ...
York heatpump no ac power	12/28/2006
Q: I am getting a "no ac power" code at my thermostat. York heatpump. The house fan continues to run ... A: With the multiple problems this unit is indicating, it sounds like the circuit board in the indoor ...
furnace keeps cutting off after 5 or 10 min.	12/21/2006
Q: how are you today? I'm having a problem I have had my furnace looked at about 3 or 4 times and have ... A: Doing great Cleo, hope you are. When the unit is on, is the fan operating or are just the burners ...
Cooling Red wine and white wine	12/21/2006
Q: My boss wants me to design the red wine and white wine cabinet with two FCUs at the top of cabinet ... A: There is no load associated with an object that does not produce heat. Any object placed in the ...
Bad Smell	12/20/2006
Q: Here's my question. We live in Charlotte, NC. On those days when the weather fluctuates to the ... A: There are a number of things that can cause this. One is a dirty indoor coil. The condensate water ...
Stem Heater	12/18/2006
Q: Okay, I have installed a new shut off valve and new vent valve, removed and drained the steam heater ... A: There is either a clog in the lines, a faulty valve at the affected heater, or there is still air in ...
Trane XE 80- trouble lighting	12/16/2006
Q: HELP- we have a Trane XE 80 bought & installed in 1995. We have been in the house last 7 years, ... A: There is a safety shutting the burners down either due to a failed safety, or it is working as it ...
Have to flip switch several times to get blower to come on	12/16/2006
Q: I have an older Amana Air Command furnace which was in the house when I bought it five years ago. ... A: There is a relay or circuit board that controls the fan in heat mode. Try turning the system switch ...
Circuit Board replacement	12/14/2006
Q: and is blowing neither hot nor cold air. He looked at it, said the circuuit board needed replacing, ... A: If you turn the power off on the unit, write down all the wiring connections, a circuit board is one ...
HVAC blows cool air ....	12/13/2006
Q: Please help. We recently bought this house. The furnace or the HAVC system is only about 1+ year ... A: From the sound of it, I would say this is a heat pump. If you are used to fuel heat, the air does ...
Lennox 80UHG HVA/C blower motor	12/13/2006
Q: I have been sold an A O Smith (AOSEPC) product code HE3J283N motor as a replacement for an Emerson ... A: I really can not know all of the circuit boards as there are hundreds. What you will need to do is ...
new packaged HVAC	12/12/2006
Q: We moved into our house in October of 2005. We immediately had problems with the Payne packaged unit ... A: I admire you for doing all the research in advance. I agree its time to get rid of the albotros. ...
heat pump	12/12/2006
Q: working on a 14 ton 2 stage heat 2 cool.both compressors run fine in cool,but in heat 2nd stage ... A: I agree, it sounds like a restriction. I would test the check valves first at the TXV. In heat mode, ...
american standard 5000 furnace problems	12/11/2006
Q: the furnace will run but sometimes when the furnace goes to kick on, the motor will start up, but ... A: All of these functions are controlled by the circuit board. I would replace it before a new furnace. ...
thermostat wiring for heat pump	12/10/2006
Q: I have an American Standard heat pump with aux heat and AC made in 1992. I purchased a digital ... A: You most likely do not have an outdoor thermostat or thermistor as these are optional devices and ...
Central unit freezing	12/8/2006
Q: We bought a new house a year ago in October with a Rheem central heat and air unit. By winter time ... A: Since the actual components of the system are operating, there is nothing you could do yourself. It ...
Air Conditioning Supply's are dripping	12/7/2006
Q: I am a General Contractor building an addition for a home owner. We have finished and are currently ... A: It is as suspected an insulation problem with the ducts. It may be there are joints that are not ...
Thermostat Wiring	12/6/2006
Q: I installed a digital thermostat over the summer and everything seemed to work fine at the time. ... A: I could not pull up the picture to start with, but I was able to get it and I see there is an O ...
inside	12/4/2006
Q: I would appreciate it if you can help me fix my issue. I have a Carrier furnace model 58STA070. ... A: I am not sure of this error, but the error codes should be on the inside panel of the fan section. ...
Furnace filters	12/4/2006
Q: I need to verify the proper location and size of the filter for a Heil SP80 furnace. None of the ... A: The filters seem to be in the supply side, if they are in the duct that is on top of the fan ...
Furnace Carrier 395B	12/3/2006
Q: My Carrier 395B starts acting up... When the heating cycle is on, everything starts to operate ... A: You need to have a technician do a thorough inspection. It sounds like it is cycling on a ...
a/c	12/3/2006
Q: I recently had the electrical service in my house changed from 40amp to 200amp. Both inside fuse ... A: It is difficult to locate a thermostat diagram. The blue wire was a spare wire not being used. Every ...
Air Conditioner freezes on heating	12/2/2006
Q: I have a 12000 BTU split type Air Conditioner that doesn't work on heating mode. When Cooling, ... A: It sounds like either the circuit board has gone haywire, or the fan relay is damaged, but most unit ...
Brand new AC pumps warm and humid air	12/2/2006
Q: I have installed a brand new AC. 5tn for compressor and air handler. The outside unit has two ... A: To start, if more return was added, it seems obvious the system was installed incorrectly to begin ...
Heil AC/Heating unit	12/1/2006
Q: my problem is when the weather gets pretty cold. my outside unit kicks on then right back off. the ... A: It sounds like the unit charge is low shutting the unit down. Not locating and repairing the leak ...
Payne furnace blower will not start	12/1/2006
Q: I have an older Payne pilot light natural gas furnace AC. It got cold 3 days ago and we used it for ... A: This is a good one because there is some sort of control, either heat activated which would be a ...
Domestic Hot Water - Forced Air Heating	11/30/2006
Q: I have a condo apartment which is heated via the hot water heater (hot water circulated to a heat ... A: A system that uses water as the heat source, whether steam or hot water is a Hydronic Heating ...
Bryant plus 80 gas furnace trouble codes	11/30/2006
Q: I have a Bryant plus 80 gas furnace in my house that is about 8 years old. A couple of days ago it ... A: I am not familiar with the codes on this model, but on any unit with the circuit board with codes, ...
refrigerator problems	11/29/2006
Q: my freezer works,but not my refrigerator A: A residential refrigerator mechanically is actually only a freezer. All of the refrigeration is in ...
loud squeeky noise from home heater	11/29/2006
Q: We own a Payne gas heater Model No: SX345NSOX-2. It has started making a very loud squeeky sound ... A: The blower motor has bearings and will begin making this noise if the bearings are beginning to ...
transformer	11/28/2006
Q: how do you wire up a transformer(24volt) to step down a 240 A: Most transformers are multitap. In other words, they can be connected to a variety of voltages to ...
Combustion blower on & off	11/21/2006
Q: I have a Heil DC90 and the combustion blower turns on & off every three seconds or so. I have ... A: There should only be two wires on the pressure switch. Use a jumper to connect them together and see ...
Refgrigerator	11/21/2006
Q: however,the fan is working. I turned the dial in the refrigerator section, which is on the max(9). ... A: Water could have drained into the vent and frozen where it exits the freezer section. If you can ...
Heating problem	11/20/2006
Q: When I turn the heat on the pilot will light , the blower will come on, and then after about a ... A: Either a defective safety, or worst case a cracked heat exchanger. This is indicated as the blower ...
kenmore side by side fridge 596.58642890	11/19/2006
Q: I have a 6 year old Kenmore 596.58642890 (model number) side-by-side fridge. The fridge no longer ... A: The most likely culprit is the water solenoid valve. It will have two wires connected to it and the ...
furnace problem	11/18/2006
Q: My furnace ignitor will light up, then the flames come on and then when the blower starts the flames ... A: This could be a number of things, but not the thermostat. It could be a faulty safety, but the worst ...
Refgrigerator	11/16/2006
Q: The refrigerator is not staying cold. The freezer continues to work, although there seems to be a ... A: Some residential units have a fan to assist the air flow from the freezer into the refrigerator. Can ...
Dunkirk furnace - pilot problem	11/16/2006
Q: I have a Lennox (Dunkirk) gas furnace, Model GWB8-140S, with a Standing Pilot Light. The Pilot Light ... A: The thermal couple is usually the culprit. It may also be either a gas valve failing, or there is ...
Chronotherm III function	11/15/2006
Q: I have a Chronotherm III thermostat in a new house we moved into. I'm using the conventional ... A: This is normal. If it operated soley on its program, depending on how hot or cold and the mode ...
Shower	11/14/2006
Q: I have low mains water pressure. I have a pump for my shower which used to work with a solenoid ... A: I do not like to respond with the option of this being directed to another expert. I try to respond ...
mobile home central heating unit	11/14/2006
Q: The heating elements come on and when the fan comes on the elements go off and very little air is ... A: It sounds like due to low air flow the heaters are shutting down. Can you put the fan in the on ...
Arcoaire RPJII	11/13/2006
Q: I hope you can help me. It's cold in here. My Arcoaire RPJ2 funace draft motor , I think thats what ... A: This unit needs to be totally checked. This is an indication the heat exchanger may be cracked ...
kenmore frieezer cooling problem	11/13/2006
Q: I have a 2000 Kenmore side by side freezer/refrigerator. Since yesterday, the freezer temp. is ... A: A combination refrigerator freezer is actually only a freezer. All of the refrigeration is in the ...
Rheem indoor/outdoor Heat pump	11/12/2006
Q: I have a Rheem heat pump (Heat/AC). The outdoor unit frequently trips and I have to press the reset ... A: I admire someone desiring to learn in an unfamiliar field. I will assist all I can. I am not ...
Odor during AC mode of heat pump	11/11/2006
Q: We had our heatpump in the heat mode for several weeks and switched it back to the a/c mode with ... A: Sometimes the coil will have a bacteria growing on it that activates when the water from ...
Cold Floors	11/10/2006
Q: I live in South Carolina in a 1 year old home. The Forced air vents are all in the ceiling and the ... A: The least expensive option would be to install a ceiling fan and set the direction of the fan to ...
System Compatability	11/9/2006
Q: Mr. Cook. Recently the church I attend has been having trouble with it's heat and air. To begin ... A: The only thing the code addresses as far as replacement units is the units have to be matched. In ...
Lennox direct vent gas fireplace	11/8/2006
Q: Sometimes when I turn on my fireplace, it lights then the flame turns blue and goes out. It is about ... A: This could be a multitude of problems. At this age, it is time to have the unit serviced. The gas ...
A/C Motor	11/8/2006
Q: I have a rather old Lenox blower in my attic. Today when the A/C kicked on the blower motor started, ... A: The first thing I would try is a new capacitor. It looks like a small can, either round or oval and ...
Thermostat problems with gas floor heater	11/6/2006
Q: I have an old Montgomery Ward Gas Floor unit (1967). The trouble is that every thermostat that I ... A: I appologize for the misunderstanding. There should have been an option for a follow up question. ...
BRYANT HEAT PUMP	11/5/2006
Q: I HAVE A 3.5 TON BRANT HEAT PUMP(14SEER PURON).HAD COMPRESSOR REPLACED.AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE UNIT ... A: First, it is very unlikely you have a txv, almost every residential unit uses a piston. It seems to ...
cold air from duct when in heat mode	11/4/2006
Q: Sorry for a second question so quickly, but I have a brief question regarding the Heat Pump ... A: It is very common for heat pump air to feel cool to the touch. Since body temperature is 96 degrees, ...
Leak in line set	11/3/2006
Q: I had the installer come out and he told me it needed refrigerant which he added and charged me for. ... A: I just purchased and replaced my heat pumps. The instruction manual with my unit gave detailed ...
Freon migration	11/2/2006
Q: Last year (July 2005) I replaced my outside AC unit with an Amana 5 ton unit. Last fall (I live in ... A: It will cause compressor failure eventually. The compressor should have had a heater, it apparently ...
New construction in North CArolina	11/1/2006
Q: I am building a 3000 sqft, 2-story in eastern NC....high humidity...high corrosion...."Extremely" ... A: As a matter of fact, I have a 100 year old home. I have also extremely insulated with the walls, ...
replacing old Honeywell thermostat with Noma	11/1/2006
Q: There are only 5 wirings (G,Y, W, R and Rc) in the old thermostat. In the new one there is no R ... A: The old thermostat will not have a common terminal. The R terminal is one side of the 24 volts, the ...
A/C Vent Placement / 2 zone A/C - Heating	10/31/2006
Q: I am currently having A/C & Heating installed in an older home (1,400 sq ft). The vents will be ... A: Residential zoning is becoming more common that a few years ago. It requires a simple damper set up ...
replacing old Honeywell thermostat with Noma	10/31/2006
Q: I replaced our old Honeywell thermostat with the Noma 7-day programmable. There are 5 wirings in ... A: You do not have both legs of the 24 volts. It is required in order to operate a programmable, it was ...
thermostat	10/31/2006
Q: I have an old gas furnace with water filled radiators. The thermostat is a honeywell, the round dial ... A: It is not difficult, but you will need one more wire than the current stat uses. See if the cable ...
Split Level House HVAC	10/25/2006
Q: We have a 40 year old split level house with a new Rheem 80% 100,000 BTU natural gas furnace. Due to ... A: I have two heat pumps, both are 16 years old with the original motors. These new motors virtually ...
compressor	10/25/2006
Q: what is a semi hermetic compressor? what is a open compressor? what is the pinch off tube used for? ... A: A hermetic compressor of any type uses a piston for compression. An open compressor needs ...
CONVERTING ELECTRIC TO GAS	10/18/2006
Q: WHAT WOULD AN AVERAGE COST BE TO CONVERT ELECTRIC HEAT TO GAS HEAT? THE HOME IS 2300 SQ FEET, IS ... A: If you are talking about coverting from an electric furnace to gas, I would say it would be ...
furnace venting	10/18/2006
Q: I've read that high efficiency condenser furnaces can be vented directly outside using PVC but do ... A: Venting is a somewhat scientific process. A contractor needs to determine the BTU's of the furnace ...
AIR CONDITIONER WHISTLING	10/17/2006
Q: PLEASE HELP. WE HAVE HAD SEARS OUT HERE TO CORRECT AIR CONDITONER/FURNACE PROBLEMS. FIRST IT IS A ... A: It has to either be a section of ductwork that has a fitting causing the sound, or a vent itself. If ...
Overtemperature switch keeps tripping on my Rheem 90 plus	10/17/2006
Q: I have read some of your replys and the nearest one to my problem deals with intermittant heater ... A: You have to almost totally disassemble a unit to see the entire heat exchanger to verify if there ...
furnace question	10/16/2006
Q: I have a comfortmaker furnace. When the heat kicks on, it will run for a few minutes then the fan ... A: The fan control is out of adjustment. The fan energizes after the heat exchanger reaches a certain ...
power to thermostat	10/15/2006
Q: thermostat seems to have no power coming to it to turn heater/AC unit on. no circuit breakers seem ... A: Turn off power to the indoor fan section. The low voltage transformer is in this section. Locate the ...
Heat Pumps-Turn Down the Stat?	10/15/2006
Q: We have recently built a home that has a heat pump. We are used to turning down the stat at night ... A: I just discussed this today with the Police Chief in a new $14 million dollar facility that opened ...
Trane YCC Gas Pack Unit Not Igniting...	10/14/2006
Q: I have a Trane YCC024 unit, and it has worked fine until now. The blower comes on but no heat. I ... A: It would be too expensive to experiment. Either the control board that signals the valve to open for ...
furnace will not kick on	10/14/2006
Q: we live in a home with a electric coleman furnace. the furnace will not operate unless i rub the ... A: When you remove the wire and then reconnect it, you are resetting a safety somewhere in the unit and ...
AC Blower runs with unit off - Fan in auto	10/14/2006
Q: When I turn of my unit from the thermostat the fan continues to run. The fan is in the auto ... A: Most likely the fan relay is stuck, or if you have fuel heat, the fan thermostat. You can trace the ...
heating system	10/13/2006
Q: Last year, I installed a new heating system in my home. It's a UTICA boiler which operates on ... A: I think $500 would be worth the investment. The radiators that are not getting hot has to be in that ...
New Heat-pump system wiring ?	10/13/2006
Q: I have a new Goodman 5 ton heatpump, new air handler and honeywell TH8320U thermostat. My son is ... A: The blue wire is correct, this is the second leg of 24 volt power and the reason it is not needed on ...
flushing a hot water furnace	10/12/2006
Q: How do you flush the water in the circulating pipes of the hot water furnace (gas)? A: The boiler must be cold to prevent damage. There will be a drain at the boiler. Shut off the ...
wm boiler water not flowing no heat	10/12/2006
Q: i have a weil mclain boiler.When i turn it on pipe coming from boiler gets hot but doesnt make it ... A: If this is a hot water vs a steam boiler, the circulation pump needs to be checked to see if it is ...
TRANE air conditioner, does it need replaced	10/11/2006
Q: Mr. Cook- Hello & Help! I have a Trane a/c that started kicking the breaker at the end of summer. ... A: The next thing I would do is replace the compressor contactor and this breaker that has been ...
brant heatpump fan	10/11/2006
Q: both inside and outside were icing, only inside fan running slow during a/c cycle. emerg heat comes ... A: A slow inside fan will cause icing in a/c mode. The fan may be wired incorrectly to the relay, it ...
Outside Fan	10/10/2006
Q: I installed a new thermostat. I also went ahead and installed a new connector. The minute I turned ... A: I am not sure what you mean by a new connector, but it sounds like some control wire is incorrect ...
Outside Fan	10/10/2006
Q: I recently turned on the heat on my Rheem Heat Pump on a cool night. now when I turn the air back ... A: The outdoor unit is on a different circuit than the indoor unit. Make sure the breaker feeding the ...
Lennox HVAC Desert Unit 2 years old has a mind of its own	10/8/2006
Q: I had a Lennox HVAC unit installed on my house 2 years ago August. The unit has worked fine until ... A: I would say it is a short somewhere in the control wiring. Inspect the wiring all the way to the ...
Residential HVAC Fan	10/7/2006
Q: Mr. Cook, My family and I recently purchased our home. The home has two HVAC units. The fan on ... A: Check the thermostat wiring first. The green wire or the G wire on the sub base is the fan circuit, ...
a/c	10/6/2006
Q: How would i get the water to drain from a condensate line and what causes it. A: First the drain must have a constant downhill slope. The water is from the evaporation in the fan ...
Builtin AC return pipe smaller in diameterpipe	10/6/2006
Q: The house did not have AC before atall. The house is 2700 sqft two story. The contractor says I need ... A: A 3/4 line is not large enough for a 5 ton unit. The compressor will eventually fail due to lack of ...
Bryant Heat Pump	10/5/2006
Q: I purchased a new home with a Bryant 10 Seer-Model 661C heating/ac unit. As soon as the ... A: I would be certain it has damaged the unit to some degree. I would talk to the service manager at ...
water falling off condensor but not into drip pan	10/3/2006
Q: Inside our AC unit Bryant the part with the coils in the water is not flowing down the underside ... A: In some cases the fan is not on high speed allowing the water to fall from the coil. Also the unit ...
13 Seer Heat Pump for old inside unit	9/24/2006
Q: I need a new heat pump to mate to the old inside unit. Originally 20 years ago - all were Snyder ... A: In order to upsize the outdoor unit, the indoor would have to be upsized or the refrigeration system ...
Ice	9/24/2006
Q: When we came home tonight, our house was 78 degrees. My husband noticed that NO air was circulating ... A: When you turn the fan from auto to on, at the same time you have to turn off the system switch or ...
FURNACE CARRIER	9/23/2006
Q: UNIT; AC,-HEAT.- 119,000BTU- carrier,/ thermostat new,// air,con. works fine/furnace won"t ... A: Try replacing the thermocouple. This is the device that the flame is burning against, like a small ...
Residential central air	9/23/2006
Q: My husband and I want to move our central air unit approximately 10 feet from its present location. ... A: The electrical will be no problem, however when you cut the lines, you will be dumping the ...
Condense motor wiring	9/23/2006
Q: I had old OEM condenser fan motor 1/3HP which had 3 wires Brown on 3-terminal CAP (F), Red ... A: First, be sure you have a new capacitor, never replace a motor without the capacitor also being ...
AC Compressor cover	9/22/2006
Q: Good day, I have an older York AC compressor(Model number: H1CH036S06A). I recently replaced the ... A: First, do not use a tarp. A tarp will hold moisture under it and cause more rust than using nothing. ...
To Lube or Not to Lube?	9/21/2006
Q: I have a Carrier 58PAV upflow model that was brand new in 1997. I would like to know whether or not ... A: A unit this new should require no lubrication. I have three Carrier units that are now 15 years old ...
Blower motor on a/c starts and stops.	9/21/2006
Q: I have a coleman central a/c and when i turn on the a/c the blower motor starts and runs at a low ... A: With a new motor, you always install a new capacitor, so I would try the capacitor first. If this ...
wiring 24v thermostat	9/21/2006
Q: I am trying to wire my new 24v thermostat but do not have the common wire that is necessary to power ... A: Are you replacing an existing thermostat? If so, the components to the fan section and compressor ...
Grinding noise from Compressor	9/20/2006
Q: I have a 2001 Rheem AC (I think it is considered a split unit, AC in garage, fan/compressor in ... A: It is rare that a compressor will be making this noise. You can listen closely to the unit as the ...
spilt home a/c	9/20/2006
Q: The compressor does make louder noise now and had it checked by 3 diferent teck's.I would like to ... A: The problem with a replacement compressor is the warranty. Usually the most is a one year warranty, ...
Heat Pump Filters	9/20/2006
Q: I am getting ready to move into a new construction site-built home. The home has a heat pump w/AC ... A: You are exactly correct. It is obvious the person was not very up on filters when he had never heard ...
thermostat control wiring	9/19/2006
Q: I installed a outdoor woodstove water heating unit. We installed a heat exchanger coil inline of the ... A: You can install an inexpensive Honeywell heat only mechanical thermostat, the older models were all ...
central air conditioning	9/19/2006
Q: I have a Goodman residential aiconditioning unit. A few days ago it stop working. It is 5 years old. ... A: With the power off, check the compressor electrical terminals. If they are good and the wiring ...
Chronotherm III	9/18/2006
Q: We used to have a Chronotherm 3 (honeywell) thermostat for our AC/Heating unit--we loved its ... A: This may be more information than requested, but since you asked about the C terminal, I will give ...
A coil freon leak	9/18/2006
Q: I changed from a 3 ton Carrier matched unit to a 3.5 ton Ducane unit and a universal 3.0-3.5 ton a ... A: This is why it is against mechanical code to mismatch equipment. All equipment is engineered to ...
HOME HOT WATER RADIATOR HEATING SYSTEM	9/15/2006
Q: I HAVE A NATURAL GAS HOME BOILER THAT HEATS WATER FILLED RADIATORS THROUGH OUT THE HOUSE. I TURNED ... A: A new boiler system will have different piping arrangements as you can imagine, but replacement is ...
A/C not cooling the house.	9/14/2006
Q: We have two Tempstar A/C units. The one for upstairs is working. The down stairs unit is blowing air ... A: The pressures are not correct if the compressor is running. It may be a low refrigerant charge which ...
Air conditioner capacitor	9/13/2006
Q: J Cook: Would the capacitor be considered part of the condenser on an air conditioner unit? My ... A: The indoor motor and the outdoor motor have separate capacitors, so it depends on which motor was ...
Trane A/C	9/8/2006
Q: J.~ Well, the A/C installer just left one more time and this is what transpired: Trane Customer ... A: It still sounds like a lot of smoke blowing going on. I think my question to him at this point would ...
Trane A/C	9/8/2006
Q: Good Morning, J.~ We were without any A/C last night. Not pleasant, but thankfully we aren't ... A: Based on the existing ductwork and filter size, it most likely had about a 3 ton unit originally. ...
HVAC relocation	9/7/2006
Q: My house has central ac with the compressor outside and the evap coil in the attic. The house is 2 ... A: It will not affect the system at all, go for it. I did the same thing for my upstairs unit, a ...
Central Air	9/6/2006
Q: I live in a condo and my central air unit ( the big box thing) is outside. Very close to the unit ... A: I think you have located the culprit. Very few systems have a good sealed duct system, and it is ...
Trane A/C	9/6/2006
Q: No additional returns were added. I believe it is a single return--only one filter to change. The ... A: That was exactly what I suspected. A system return is rated at the minimum of 200 sq inches per ton. ...
Trane A/C	9/5/2006
Q: The duct work is from the previous system.Hi again.........the A/C installer just left..........I ... A: That was suspected and more of an indication the unit is oversized for the ductwork. Was any ...
Trane A/C	9/5/2006
Q: ........the A/C installer just left..........I asked him about the 5 ton unit being too large and ... A: Another reason not to oversize a unit is the larger unit will run for a short time, drop the ...
air handler noise	9/5/2006
Q: I have a lennox outside unit and also the air handler is lennox.The units work okay but the ... A: There is a likely chance it is the ductwork. When the system comes on, the ductwork gradually ...
Trane A/C	9/5/2006
Q: Would the fact that a 5 ton unit was installed be reason for the coils to freeze up? I trusted the ... A: Was this a complete system installation including new ductwork? If this was a replacement, my best ...
Trane A/C	9/4/2006
Q: On July 26, 2006, I had a "Trane 13 seer High efficiency 5 ton condenser & 5 ton Trane 13 seer ... A: Two main reasons a unit will ice up are insufficient air flow, and a low charge. I also question a 5 ...
wiring color	9/1/2006
Q: i have a bathroom, fan light heater combo unit. the heater motor unit in the bathroom has a black ... A: Without opening the unit to see how they are connected it is difficult to tell. There are some other ...
Payne Heat Pump Compressor Turns Off	8/31/2006
Q: Why would the compressor only turn off on a Payne Heat Pump Model # PH10JA036E, when the outside ... A: This is an indication the unit is either overcharged, or the outside coil is dirty causing the ...
HVAC thermostat removal for replacement	8/30/2006
Q: My question is probably relatively simple as HVAC question go but I'm stumped. I bought a new ... A: Most thermostats have three parts. It sounds like you have taken the front cover off, now there are ...
Blower motor?	8/29/2006
Q: I have 2 York central air conditioning units in my house, one for upstair and one for downstair. ... A: A blower motor for a unit with a furnace will be at least a two and most often a three speed motor. ...
fridge cooling problem	8/28/2006
Q: We have a Magic Chef (model RB19kA-4A) and it is 14 years in age, all of sudden the fridge part will ... A: All of the actual refrigeration for a residential refrigerator is in the freezer compartment. The ...
boiler heat and air conditioning options	8/28/2006
Q: I believe my home has a boiler, so there is no duct work in my house, right now we are useing window ... A: Other than having the structure ducted and a central system installed, there are really no other ...
Kenmore side by side fridge.	8/28/2006
Q: I have a fridge which stopped suddenly. I checked both the fans, Kept it unpluged for 12 hours. The ... A: I would not run this unit any longer before attempting repairs as the compressor is going to fail ...
BDP Model# 513co188fc	8/27/2006
Q: I am evidently BDP is now Payne AC, but I am trying to find a manual to this older unit. Our home ... A: I would go as high up in the company with this warranty company as is required, including contacting ...
Coleman C/A- Coil Freezing	8/27/2006
Q: I have a Coleman Central Air system and I noticed that there is no air blowing thru the vents. I ... A: There are two reasons a unit will ice. There is low air flow. Make sure the indoor coil is clean. If ...
refridgerator	8/27/2006
Q: my 1yr old fridge stopped working, the freezer is still working, but not the bottom portion, ... A: All of the refrigeration of a residential unit is in the freezer. If the freezer is working, there ...
Bumping Noise in A/C Duct	8/26/2006
Q: My home A/C Central unit has a bumping sound after it shuts down from Cooling or heating. Usually ... A: I have seen this in a number of installations. It is actuallly an installation flaw. The metal duct ...
HVAC	8/26/2006
Q: I was changing the filters located on the floor of my home the other day and the plastic bag that ... A: It has to be located and removed. If it has not already reached it, it will eventually end at the ...
coleman mach ac	8/25/2006
Q: We have a coleman mach travel trailer a/c. We last used it Memorial Day and the a/c worked great. We ... A: There are start components that will be the first to check. The compressor will be wired to these ...
Condensor cleaning	8/25/2006
Q: We have a house that was purchased new in September 2004. In July of 2005 the compressor was ... A: I think it would be rare on this new of a unit for the coil to be so clogged it would cause ...
system operating pressures	8/25/2006
Q: i have a 4 ton split a/c system. i took pressure readings of 54/230 at 80'F ambient temp is this ... A: The pressures depend on the indoor temperature as well, and also the type of refrigerant in the ...
Weil Mclain boiler won't light	8/24/2006
Q: I have a Weil Mclain HE II gas boiler. About a year ago, I replaced the control module, and the ... A: I apologize Clint, but it is difficult to be familiar with all controls, and I am not sure on this ...
Trane Heat Pump	8/24/2006
Q: I have a seer 12 Heat Pump that clunks when it shuts off. This is coming from the compressor. What ... A: I would persue this with the service manager of this company, and also Trane in order to document ...
Return Air	8/24/2006
Q: I am in the process of selecting an HVAC company to install a system in my new house. One ... A: If cost is not a factor, a return in each room is the ideal installation, although very few are ...
Air condition outside fan unit	8/24/2006
Q: What could be wrong with our a/c fan? The inside fan comes on. Checked on the outside unit and it ... A: Try replacing the motor capacitor. It looks like a small can, either silver or gray, and round or ...
mixing 10 seer w/a 13 ser spacepak	8/23/2006
Q: I am replacing my old air conditioner-found a deal on a 10 seer carrier-wondering if I could use ... A: There are several issues. First, it is against mechanical code to mismatch components, and second, ...
Types of A/C installations	8/23/2006
Q: I am curious why some A/C units are installed on roofs and others are installed on the ground. Why ... A: Convenience and vandalism. It is easier in a commercial application to install on the roof as ...
Portable AC unit issue	8/23/2006
Q: Mr Cook, I a writing to ask your advice and experiance on my current portable Sunpentown 12000 BTU ... A: It may not have been visible, but a/c by nature produces condensation. The heat from the condenser ...
Cooling garage	8/7/2006
Q: Cook: We have a three car garage that has three garage doors and a door with access to the deck on ... A: I would install a separate 2 ton heat pump unit. This way you can have heat if you ever wanted it, ...
Center A/C Outside Unit exhaust fan	8/7/2006
Q: The fan on the outside unit runs for a few minutes and then stops, but the outside unit is still ... A: The first thing to replace would be the motor capacitor. It looks like a small can, either round or ...
Air conditioner compressor wiring	8/6/2006
Q: I am having a 3-ton 13-seer ac system made by Payne installed by professionals. They don't do the ... A: I would check with the contractor to see if a 30 amp circuit will be enough. I have a 2 ton system ...
Specifications	8/6/2006
Q: We want to install a standby generator. So I need to know the running and starting energy ... A: A compressor will typically need double the circuit requirements for start up. Most residential ...
Heat Pump /Clicking	8/6/2006
Q: The contactor is clicking in and out often when system is running. When I connect the red wire at ... A: Make sure the yellow and red wire are tight on the thermostat. The transformer can be eliminated ...
Lennox Furnace	8/5/2006
Q: I had a Lennox Value 80 furnace and AC installed in 2000. In 2003, three years and two months later, ... A: There are many variables that are a part of a failure. It could have been a power surge, low ...
Thru the wall Air Conditioner	8/4/2006
Q: Some follow up questions, ----------- Questions on the sleeve side-------------- 1. For the 10" ... A: It is very rare for a unit of this type to have two fan motors. 99% only have one motor and it has ...
Thru the wall Air Conditioner	8/4/2006
Q: My question is about a friedrich thru the wall Air Conditioner. It is 10k BTU, and it is in a ... A: No problem on the length, you can never give too much information. One of the problems is the ...
Bryant A/C Ststem	8/4/2006
Q: My Bryant central a/c system is about 6 years old it has been working fine until today. I turned it ... A: Jim, either the reversing valve is stuck, or it is not energizing for cooling, or the defrost ...
Residential AC Unit	8/3/2006
Q: A new AC unit was recently installed for my house. Within a short while after the AC unit shuts ... A: It is not adjustable and will sound different with some manufacturers. This is the sound of the gas ...
A.C NOT CCOLING HOUSE	8/3/2006
Q: HOUSE COOL I HAVE HAD THE COMPANY OUT 5 OR 6 TIMES AND THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG I PUT THE AC ... A: A simple test of a units performance it to use a good thermometer and check the temperature at the ...
No 24 volts to contact switch	8/2/2006
Q: Yesterday my significant other cut the two wire wich carry the 24 v to the contact switch on the ... A: The yellow and black wires will be connected to the low voltage transformer. Make sure the ...
A/C units-R22 vs R410a(PURON)	8/2/2006
Q: I am getting ready to have A/C installed and have gotten conflicting opinions from those I have ... A: I am in the process of replacing my units also. R 22 will be availble for enough years to get the ...
Does Freon Leak Sealant work?	8/2/2006
Q: My 2440sft house have only 1AC unit (capacity unkown). 2years back a tech filled 1.5lb of freon,and ... A: I am not saying this product will not cure the problem, but in 25+ years, I have never used this ...
central air unit.	8/2/2006
Q: Good evening. My husband and I recently put a central air in our home, and to our dismay, it has ... A: With the given information, I would have to agree. It sounds like a dead compressor. It is highly ...
Condensation on air handler	8/1/2006
Q: I have a lot of condensation on my air handler. I live in texas so it is hot as @#&& right now. The ... A: Actually Mike, a lot of condensation is a sign the unit is kicking butt. If the condensation is on ...
central air	8/1/2006
Q: We recently had a unit installed in our home. It is a Trane x13i. Our home has 2400 sq ft. This ... A: I think it is time to call the service manager of the company you have been dealing with and let ...
A/C and Furnace runs same time	7/31/2006
Q: I had a problem with my A/C unit outside not running, but only the fan in the basement furnace ... A: If the furnace still operated with the white wire disconnect, it sounds as though the heat relay is ...
How to wire the condensation pump into the heat pump	7/31/2006
Q: I need to hook up a condensation pump and the best way is to wire the pump power line into the heat ... A: The condensate line voltage will not be from the unit, most have a regular cord end that plugs into ...
unit going bad?	7/31/2006
Q: The church also has a smaller carrier unit that is brand new to help cool and heat the building. The ... A: There may be a couple of issues. A simple test of a systems performance is to check the supply and ...
Central Air - Frozen Coil - Please Help.	7/30/2006
Q: We have a central air conditioning system......compressor unit outside the house, fan/blower unit in ... A: A froze coil usually indicates a low air flow due to a dirty filter or coil, or a low unit charge. ...
Central A/C Made Bad Noise, Now Not Cooling	7/30/2006
Q: I have a Zepher (that's all I know about it, sorry!) central a/c which was installed about 10 years ... A: This may have been the outdoor fan motor. The outdoor unit is on a different circuit from the indoor ...
Central Air not cooling adequately	7/30/2006
Q: The unit is a 20 year old Lennox. The air coming out of the room vents is slightly cool, but ... A: A simple check of a system is to check the temperature of the return air at the return grille, then ...
A/C Unit Outide	7/29/2006
Q: My A/C unit outside is only making a humming sound. The fan/blade does not spin, however, if I turn ... A: The indoor unit is on a different circuit. I agree, the first thing to try would be a new capacitor ...
Comfortmaker AC not cooling house	7/29/2006
Q: My air conditioner has been running constantly but does not cool the house. The thermostat is set at ... A: Yes it should. A quick check of a systems performance is a temperature test. Check with an accurate ...
Return Doesn't Pull	7/28/2006
Q: Many thanks. I agree that we need additional insulation. But, do you think that the air flow could ... A: I am assuming this is not the only return. The return duct needs to be traced from the unit to the ...
Return Doesn't Pull	7/28/2006
Q: I have one return in the second floor hallway of my two-story 1500-1600 square foot townhome. The ... A: The most common problem is using a single system without elaborate dampers to control two levels of ...
Air Handler Replacement	7/28/2006
Q: Mr. Cook, I recently had to have my ac system serviced (I have a heat pump). The system stopped ... A: You will most likely not be able to locate a 10 seer coil and it can not be replaced with a ...
Outside A/C unit fan will not shut off	7/27/2006
Q: We have a very hold central air unit. The fan runs constantly. Turning off the outside circuit ... A: It also sounds to me like the contactor, which is a sort of relay. Turn off power to the outdoor ...
Drip Pan Plug	7/27/2006
Q: I have an Ac window unit, Ge avp24. When I installed it the drip pan plug was installed. The ... A: First, it is critical the unit is perfectly level. The plug should not be removed. There is an area ...
Old mechanical thermostat to programmable	7/27/2006
Q: I took it apart and it has green, red, white, and yellow wires attached to the thermostat. There is ... A: Sometimes a spare wire is wrapped around the cable or taped to the cable, this blue wire should not ...
Trane FDT312A1	7/27/2006
Q: I have the above referenced model in my classroom. When it was working, outside air would come out ... A: There is a separate motor controlling the air to the inside. Either the compressor and this motor ...
Trane XE1000 A/C	7/26/2006
Q: See thread below: My follow up question is whether or not the filters are shared by the heating and ... A: I did not answer the original question, but yes the filters would be for heat and a/c. The outdoor ...
My outside AC fan will not turn on	7/26/2006
Q: My outside AC fan recently stopped working. The condensor is still operating because I can here it ... A: Look carefully at the wiring diagram on the motor itself. The capacitor is not in the circuit the ...
matching indoor coil to outdoor unit?	7/26/2006
Q: The indoor coil of my AC is leaking R22 and needs to be replaced. The tech advised against ... A: He is correct. As of January of 2006, unit manufacturers are required to produce systems of 13 seer ...
Old mechanical thermostat to programmable	7/26/2006
Q: I have the old-fashioned round basic Honeywell thermostat for natural gas furnace/electric AC. It ... A: You will need to check the cable feeding the current thermostat and see if there is an unused wire. ...
I cant find the fuse, just a switch.	7/26/2006
Q: During recent rolling power outages in CA, my breaker would jump and the AC unit ventilator (on the ... A: Either the fan has failed, or it does not have power. If you are not familiar with a volt meter, you ...
New Heat Pump	7/25/2006
Q: I have a lennox heat pump, 4ton, 16 Seer. I was the state of the art when installed in 1992. The ... A: First, a new compressor will only have a very limited warranty, often only 6 months. A lot of money ...
Programmable thermostat wiring	7/24/2006
Q: I am replacing a honeywell thermostat with a noma programmable. The old one has wires going to G,Y,W ... A: Every manufacturer for whatever reason likes to identify these terminals differently. The R terminal ...
Air conditioning runs continiously	7/24/2006
Q: I live in Arizona and rely on my air condition. My air condition is running continuously. I have it ... A: There are very few thermometers that will read exactly the same unless you pay for a very expensive ...
cleaning coil	7/23/2006
Q: After a costly and time consuming repair from and unsatisfactory technician on a 4 year old res. a/c ... A: Both coils should be cleaned annually. If it is a heat pump, the best time is in the fall before ...
A/C freeze up/ Compressor won't shut off	7/23/2006
Q: I have a Merit 10ACC Lennox A/C unit that has been freezing up the last couple of days. The air ... A: It sounds like the compressor contactor is stuck. You can verify this by turning off the disconnect ...
Air conditioning problems	7/23/2006
Q: I noticed last night that my outside unit was louder than usual. When I went outside to check it ... A: Do not use the a/c as it will damage the compressor. Either the outdoor fan motor has broken, or the ...
Condensor Fan wiring	7/22/2006
Q: I have a 15yr old Rheem AC with a bad condensor motor (Emerson 1/3hp 208-230v 2a 1075rpm - model # ... A: On the old motor, the black or yellow connected to one side of the capacitor and the brown to the ...
Residential AC unit not turning on.	7/22/2006
Q: J, I have tested the breaker, the removable contact, and the thermostat with an multimeter. ... A: With the outdoor disconnect off, open the outdoor unit and be sure the contactor is working. It will ...
Hot House!	7/21/2006
Q: I replaced my condenser unit last summer. Granted,l it is slightly (maybe a half ton) too small for ... A: A simple unit test is to use an accurate thermometer, check the return air temperature at the ...
AIR BLOWS COLD/SMELLS BURNT RUBBER	7/21/2006
Q: we live in a 2 story home w/ 2 outdoor A/C units the one that blows downstairs is blowing cold but ... A: With the power off, the indoor unit panels that can be removed need to be removed and the unit ...
central air condensate drains	7/20/2006
Q: My a/c condensate drains up in the attic keeps draining to the drip pan once the outside unit shuts ... A: The drain pan is an auxillary device with the drain at an obvious location by code. As you have ...
A/C recharge	7/20/2006
Q: I have had problems with my system freezing up recently Ihad a tech. come to the house to check it ... A: This unit is far from needing to be replaced. Never allow a technician to add refrigerant to a ...
Dirty indoor coils versus a leak	7/19/2006
Q: Mr. J. Cook, I have learned a great deal by reading your previous answers. A few people have asked ... A: The difference could very well have been as much as 2 lbs. The problem is the technician added to ...
a/c furnance the right size?	7/19/2006
Q: I was told my 2.5 ton condensing unit is 3/4 ton undersized, its a 1400 sq. foot house. They counted ... A: Each ton of cooling does require a specific amount of air flow and return, and this may be what this ...
Air Conditioning not cooling like it used to - Don	7/18/2006
Q: I have a 30 year old AC unit that has worked great for the past 10 years that I have lived in this ... A: It sounds like two problems. First, the unit seems to be overcharged allowing liquid refrigerant to ...
air return	7/18/2006
Q: I have a Trane XE60 upright gas furnace. It was installed in my 2 floor townhome 15 years ago. The ... A: The filter may not appear dirty, but try installing a new filter, after one month soak it in water ...
A/C Fan	7/17/2006
Q: Yes the outside fan is the one the cuts off. I think compressor is on, the unit still is making ... A: The first thing I would try is the fan motor capacitor. It looks like a small can, either silver or ...
temp. regulator	7/13/2006
Q: I have lived in Minnesota and Phoenix, AZ. I moved to Oklahoma City, OK. last July. I am renting a ... A: If I understand correctly, the heat is electric, not a heat pump. This will as you saw cost greatly ...
Lennox Merit 10ACC Compressor	7/13/2006
Q: My Lennox unit is 2 years old and has probably been used a dowzen times. This summer, when i turned ... A: The duct problem should not have affected the compressor this quickly, in long range it may have. ...
Heil gas pack	7/13/2006
Q: I have a Heil gas pack unit. It is about 6-1/2 years old. Every summer since we bought it there ... A: Often you can turn the circuit breaker off and back on and it will reset the controls. A word of ...
Central AC	7/12/2006
Q: Mr. Cook, I have a Central Carrier AC/Heating unit in my 1288 sq. ft. home. We have recently ... A: The main problem is a single unit. It is very difficult to condition two levels with a single unit. ...
Rebuilt compressor for a York CA91-25E	7/12/2006
Q: I'm hoping that you can help me. I own a furniture store in Colorado that's in a former, origional ... A: I am assuming this large unit served a much larger area than is required to be conditioned now. If ...
Thermostat wiring	7/12/2006
Q: ------------------------- With the orange wire moved to and joined with yellow the air now works ... A: Look at the thermostat directions and see if there is some sort of jumper or switch to change the ...
24 volts	7/12/2006
Q: ok im in a roof top. when i turn on the disconect. it delays then the blower comes on. the blower ... A: You either have a defective board, or there is a safety in the control circuit shutting the unit ...
Thermostat wiring	7/10/2006
Q: ------------------------- Followup To I have the orange wire connected to the o/b connection. ... A: Some manufacturers energize the reversing valve in cooling, and some in heating. A good item to ...
Wire overheating	7/10/2006
Q: I have an outside residential A/C unit. Last week my system stop blowing cold air, it only was ... A: This sounds like the capacitor. If this cylinder is silver or gray and has two or three connection ...
Compressor and fan cutting off	7/9/2006
Q: When the outside temp gets hot the compressor and outside fan motor kick off. If I turn the unit off ... A: It could be several things. First, make sure the outdoor coil is clean. You can use any dish ...
Payne heat pump 13 seer split unit	7/8/2006
Q: Installed a new 13 seer Payne unit to replace a defective Goodman unit. The Payne unit comes on but ... A: It sounds like it may be a weak transformer not providing enough to pull the contactor in. Check the ...
Problem with my Lennox Air Conditioning System	7/8/2006
Q: We just bought this house a couple months ago and the home inspection showed the air conditioning ... A: The first thing I would try is replacing the capacitor to the indoor motor. Of course be sure the ...
Thermostat wiring	7/7/2006
Q: The old one was not programmable. All the wires went to like colored terminals but black this went ... A: Now it may really be complicated. Do you know if the heat pump has the typical electric strip heat ...
Rudd Airconditioner	7/7/2006
Q: HELP. IT IS OVER 85 DEGREES IN OUR HOME. I CAME HOME TONIGHT TO FIND THE AIRCONDITIONER INSIDE OUR ... A: Sorry for the delay, the site has be unaccessible. The indoor unit is on a different circuit than ...
Thermostat wiring	7/6/2006
Q: I`am installing a honeywell th8110u therm. on a heatpump.The wires are ... A: Is this a programmable or have a lighted display stat, and was the old one? By the wiring, it looks ...
outside unit noise/no cooling	7/2/2006
Q: I have a residential AC question. My unit works fine most of the time but has a strange problem: at ... A: The sound most likely is the refrigerant equalizing in the system when the compressor cuts off. ...
Modern HVAC Systems	7/2/2006
Q: Has any company produced a forced-air heating and A/C system that features quiet and continuous air ... A: Any unit that makes that much air noise was either sized improperly or installed improperly. You can ...
nordyne 5 ton package unit	7/1/2006
Q: i keep hearing a buzz whenever my unit kicks on coming from my inside fuse box. a electrician said ... A: If the unit was shorting, the breaker would immediately trip. The buzzing is from one of the ...
AC outside unit noise	6/14/2006
Q: Our outside AC unit is making a loud buzzing noise usually when we come home and turn down the ... A: There is a device in the unit called a contactor. It has brass points that actually make the ...
ES22a Refrigerant	6/14/2006
Q: I see that I can buy ES22A home A/C refrigerant. I basically know how to charge an A/C system, but ... A: There will be more and more products making the claim it can be added directly to R 22, but until ...
Seer 13 Refrigerant Line Size	6/14/2006
Q: My second floor ac is about gone (17 years). I'm researching to having it placed. This is what I ... A: R 22 will be available for at least another 20 years, although production is now being scaled back, ...
Filter/ Drier installation	6/14/2006
Q: I have a Rheem 3 ton heatpump and would like to know where the best location to install a filter/ ... A: Yes you will need a bi directional drier for a heat pump as the refrigerant will reverse depending ...
HVAC system is dead	6/12/2006
Q: Apologies in advance for the probably incorrect terminology. :-) I went to switch on my A/C today ... A: You may have made a common mistake. If you checked each power leg to ground and read 125 volts, you ...
Heating, Air Conditioning, Fridge, HVAC, Appliance Repair: Possible prob with thermostat	6/12/2006
Q: I have a 3.5 ton Payne central A/C unit for my 1400sf home. My home is about 30 years old and isn’t ... A: A digital thermostat is not as sensitive as the old mercury bulb type. When the mercury reached ...
a.c. condensate leak	6/10/2006
Q: The indoor unit of my 10 yr. old Lennox heat pump is dripping condensate from the outside of one of ... A: You can clean the coil with a gallon pump sprayer with a solution of dish detergent. Saturate the ...
ac fan and compressor	6/10/2006
Q: up front. been reading past advices. very informative. have read about capacitor operating outside ... A: The student is off the hook. The compressor could have died for any number of mechanical reasons, ...
heat pump	6/9/2006
Q: I have a 100,000 btu gas furnace with a 3 ton ac unit. In reality I could get by with a 80,000 btu ... A: You are exactly correct and to me this would be an ideal system to have the heat pump as primary ...
hvac - compressor not working	6/8/2006
Q: I am having a problem with my a/c unit. I have replaced the cap and 20amp fuse and the fan on the ... A: On most units the outdoor fan and compressor are powered by the same contactor. Look for the device ...
suction line freezing	6/8/2006
Q: The suction line on my split air unit is freezing up at the condensor and all the way to the ... A: I need to know what refrigerant is in this system. It sounds like R22. The high pressure is high and ...
air conditioning/humidification	6/6/2006
Q: That's a good thought, J, and some days it might work. The pattern here seems to go lower temps and ... A: It can get somewhat sophisticated but with an outside vent connected to the return, there is a ...
Heating and air conditioning ducts	6/6/2006
Q: Our house has ducts embedded in the concrete slab. We recently had the ducts scoped and there is a ... A: John, I have never encountered ducts embedded in concrete, and rather than steer you incorrectly, I ...
wiring heat pump thermostat	6/6/2006
Q: This is the wiring schematic for my present Bryant thermostat: ... A: R - Red wire, this is one side of the 24 volts. Y1 - Yellow, this is the compressor circuit. W2 - ...
Heil Split HVAC Unit	6/5/2006
Q: my old outside condenser/compressor unit fan locked up. I think the compressor started making some ... A: There are internal overloads that will cut the compressor off if it gets too hot. They are supposed ...
HVAC thermostat bad?	6/5/2006
Q: Can I check this at thermostat or only at transformer with a voltmeter? ThanksI have a two year old ... A: If the thermostat is a programmable, it will have both sides of the transformer available and can be ...
cental ac compressor not kicking in	6/5/2006
Q: Opened unit ,Before i did all that, i noticed a switch on the high pressure side, pushed it and when ... A: That is exactly what this switch is for. The capacitor may have failed. It looks like a small tin ...
low suction pressures	6/5/2006
Q: recently installed a new 5 ton hvac system. can not get suction pressure above 61 lbs. did a ... A: The pressures will equalize in the system after shut down unless there is a solenoid valve in the ...
HVAC thermostat bad?	6/4/2006
Q: I have a two year old Carrier HVAC unit including thermostat.It has been running fine until...I ... A: All Carrier furnaces that I have seen do have a kill switch that shuts the unit down when the panel ...
HVAC Fan Always On, Cant Shut it Off	6/4/2006
Q: I have a Nordyne RA 80+ Series Residential Gas Furnace. Recently, the fan that circulates air ... A: It will not damage the unit, but it will increase the utility bill. There is a control for the fan ...
cental ac compressor not kicking in	6/4/2006
Q: I ahve a lennox cental ac system it's about 18 yo and just yesturday the blower was running and the ... A: My dentist is a great dentist, but I know he is not this handy. I suspect a dead compressor with ...
replacing window units	6/4/2006
Q: We are in the process of purchasing a 4 unit apt building. Current cooling is window unit and ... A: At all cost with kerosene heat in a tenant space, eliminate them. The units proposed sound like heat ...
central a/c	6/3/2006
Q: Mr.Cook, We had a new central a/c installed and was completed yesterday, this is the first full day ... A: I am assuming with the return in the ceiling, the supply vents are also and the fan section is in ...
Air Conditioning not cooling like it should	6/3/2006
Q: The AC(heat pump) runs constantly, but yet the temp. inside my apartment (800-825 sq.ft), never ... A: The supply air temperature is directly related to the return air temperature. There should be around ...
Walk In Cooler cooling on and off.	6/3/2006
Q: I have a walk in cooler in my C-Store. About two months ago the thing stopped cooling and called in ... A: The unit is cycling on the low pressure control designed to protect the compressor on a loss of ...
air conditioning/humidification	6/2/2006
Q: J, I have a cigar shop in Florida where I'm attempting to keep it roughly 70 degrees or so with a ... A: If it is feasible considering the location of the fan section, you may be able to run a vent from ...
Re: Need Help with HVAC.... Thanks..Daren	6/2/2006
Q: .. My name is Daren Harrison with Georgia For Sale.com. I sell homes in Metro Atlanta and am ... A: but I work for a municipality and offer my service without compensation. There are two things that ...
HVAC Auxillary Heat	6/2/2006
Q: I asked a question regarding a new HVAC and your reply was very helpful. You mentioned that the ... A: It is most likely the outdoor fan motor or motor capacitor that has failed for the fan to be ...
A/C or Thermostat acting weird	6/2/2006
Q: We have a Bryant A/C unit that is approx. 7 years old and has always worked great. We have a ... A: There are safety controls in the unit, inside and outdoor unit that will reset when the power is ...
RV Air Conditioner	6/2/2006
Q: I have a coleman mach 3 rv air conditioner. last week when i turned on the ac at the wall control, ... A: Either a relay, circuit board, or some other electrical component feeding the compressor has failed. ...
AC	6/1/2006
Q: J Cook - Thanks for the help... Our townhouse AC unit does not seem to be cooling the third floor ... A: If this is a single unit, it will be very difficult to condition three floors without dampers or ...
Heat Pump Question	6/1/2006
Q: Can you offer any suggestions. I am working on a 5 ton heat pump system, r22 refrigerant. System ... A: The system may be so low on charge that adding some will begin the frosting, but it has to have more ...
Furnace/Air Conditioner	5/31/2006
Q: I have just a follow up question. If their is frosting on the line and the air flow or charge is low ... A: If you are comfortable checking, you can turn the power off to the indoor fan section, remove the ...
Furnace/Air Conditioner	5/31/2006
Q: I turned on my air conditioner and it did run, however, it never really cooled the house. Their was ... A: It may be the indoor coil is iced up. This can be caused by a dirty indoor coil, or a low ...
Trane XE1000	5/31/2006
Q: The past 2 days the pipe coming out of the compressor (Fan) into the house is freezing. What is ... A: It is either low air flow due to a dirty indoor coil, or the unit charge is low. If the charge is ...
heating AC unit size	5/31/2006
Q: I bought a house with an old furnace and ac unit. The furnace was ok in the winter, but now that ... A: It is a very detailed load calculation that is done to properly size a system. It will include the ...
central air	5/31/2006
Q: Wy does my coil freze up and have ice all around it in the inside of the furnace and on the line ... A: This can be caused by low air flow due to a dirty indoor coil restricting air flow, or the unit ...
Blower motor "sparks" when A/C turned on.	5/31/2006
Q: I had the A/C on during the weekend and all of a sudden the circuit breaker tripped and there was a ... A: Rather than the motor, with the explosion I would more think that water got into the controls and ...
Bryant Central Air Unit running but little air from vents	5/31/2006
Q: Here's what it's doing: My wife said that after about 5PM today, the unit did not seem to be blowing ... A: Most likely the indoor coil is frozen with the ice on the refrigerant line. Turn the a/c off and the ...
Refrigerator fan noise	5/31/2006
Q: I have a new LG side by side refrigerator which has just recently started making a loud noise from ... A: It could either be the fan is out of balance, or when the ice builds up the fan hits it before the ...
Moving an exchange	5/30/2006
Q: I am going to knck out a wall in my house so that I may have a larger bedroom. Unfortunately there ... A: it really depends on the type ductwork. If it is flex duct, it is easily extended. If it is metal ...
HVAC	5/30/2006
Q: Yes it is on. The blower on the inside is not working/ or blowing cold air. Thanks for your help. ... A: There is a problem with the indoor fan motor. Turn the thermostat fan switch to the on position ...
A/C Blower motor not working	5/30/2006
Q: As usual over the holiday weekend my blower motor on the air handler unit quit working. 1st noticed ... A: It could very well be the capacitor. With a failed capacitor, you can hand start the motor as ...
air conditioning outside unit	5/30/2006
Q: When I turn on my central AC it appears to be running properly inside the house (and blows air), but ... A: Either the outdoor fan motor has failed, it is not getting full voltage, or the capacitor has ...
hard start kit	5/30/2006
Q: can you send me a diagram on how to wire a hard start kit. I finish school for ac-heating a year ago ... A: I have no way to send a diagram, but if it is a typical hard start capacitor with only two wires, it ...
A/C Freezes Up	5/30/2006
Q: I have a 5kbtu Emerson 'Watt Watcher' window a/c unit that likes to freeze up over night (early ... A: 5000 btu is very small for anything but one room. It runs so close to the freezing point on the coil ...
A/C (& heat?) Issue	5/30/2006
Q: (Miller Central unit, in a doublewide mobile home, about 6 years old)At the end of last summer our ... A: There is something in the installation that is causing a problem with moisture getting into the ...
Flat Roof Venting	5/30/2006
Q: I have an 1,800 square foot Brooklyn Brownstone which often seems to be far hotter than the outside ... A: Actually there are many exhaust fans mounted for flat roofs that usually vent a kitchen or restroom, ...
Home Central AC drain problem	5/29/2006
Q: I have two attic mounted central AC units, both of which share a common drain drop to a bath tub. ... A: The clog may be anywhere, but I would take it loose as near the unit as possible, use a union to ...
AC	5/29/2006
Q: Tried to turn on AC for first time this season. Heat Pump did not start. MODEL CH7536VKA6 STYLE ... A: It is a process of elimination. Start at the cool relay and follow the 24 volts through each device ...
Poor cooling HVAC Carrier Heat Pump	5/29/2006
Q: Greensboro NC. Carrier 2.5 Ton 12 Seer Heat pump pack installed 3-13-98. Honeywell media filter. ... A: I would contact the service manager and let them know the unit was just serviced and the unit is not ...
Compressor Problems	5/29/2006
Q: Recently I ran an air compressor outside and a shop vack in the garage and tripped the breaker for ... A: If it is only 3 years old the compressor is still under warranty, but yes, I would say it has ...
Dripping noise from upstairs ac unit	5/29/2006
Q: There is a dripping noise coming from our upstairs air conditioning unit. The noise can only be ... A: Any unit in an attic is required to have an auxillary drain pan under the unit, so if the main drain ...
Circulating air blower works on "on" but not "auto"	5/28/2006
Q: I just submitted these questions to the wrong person so resubmitting to J. "Goodman A/C Mod. CK ... A: Since the fan operates in the run position, it eliminates the capacitor as the problem. The ...
freezer problems	5/28/2006
Q: I have a frigidaire gallery stand up side by side fridge freezer model number frs26zgew.The problem ... A: Actually a unit of this type as far as the refrigeration goes is only a freezer. The refrigerator ...
Cnetral Air Compressor	5/28/2006
Q: I have a 3 ton Rheem Central Air System installed in 1994. I purchased the home in 2004, I live on ... A: It sounds as though when a cooling cycle ends, the unit attempts to start back up too soon and the ...
AHU Drain Pipe Clogging	5/28/2006
Q: Apparently I have face some problem with most of the AHU's drain pipe i have been servicing in the ... A: I am familiar with exactly what you are experiencing. You may try a small piece of pool chlorine in ...
FURNACE BLOWER	5/28/2006
Q: TEMPSTAR FURNACE, I INSTALLED 1994 WITH CENTRAL AC. ? IS SIR BLOWER ALWAYS STAYS ON SAME SPEED FOR ... A: It will require two relays for the fan. The fan uses high speed in a/c because the air is denser, ...
HVAC Add-on	5/27/2006
Q: I recently closed in my garage and made it into two rooms. I wanted to run central HVAC to the ... A: A duct system is a very sophisticated animal. It is sized from the unit forward, gradually reducing ...
Charging central Air condition Unit	5/27/2006
Q: What is the proper procedure to add refrigerant to 20+ yr old GE condensing unit using R 22. A: I am not attempting to be smart about it, just realistic. It requires an EPA certification to use ...
Noisy supply air registers	5/27/2006
Q: The problem is in one of our buildings at Trinity Southern Baptist Church in Casa Grande, Arizona. ... A: Unfortunately there may be little to be done. It sounds as though the ducts were sized incorrectly ...
ac not cooling	5/26/2006
Q: i have a 5 ton ac for about 1700 square feei house it use to work great untill this yeari cant get ... A: 5 ton sounds way oversized for this area. It will cool down quickly and not run long enough to ...
ac not cooling	5/26/2006
Q: i cant get the whole cool below 80 degrees the freon was check and was full the filter is clean ... A: since it cools down at night when there is less load on the structure, it sounds as though this unit ...
A/C	5/26/2006
Q: I have a Trane A/C unit. It cools for a while and then the outside unit lines freeze up. I have to ... A: It is caused by either low air flow at the indoor unit because the indoor coil is dirty, the motor ...
Problem with Steam Boiler constantly Filling	5/26/2006
Q: The other night we noticed water seeping from the air vent on one of the radiators on our first ... A: I have seen water pressures so high it will overide this valve and continue to introduce water in ...
A/C Heat Fan	5/26/2006
Q: as I have 2 furnaces for my house, I swithched the capacitors and the problem remains. Bumped the ... A: It still sounds like a capacitor when you can bump the motor and it starts. Since you have ...
Heat doesn't turn off except at breaker	5/25/2006
Q: New to this site but I must say it is great! My system will not turn off and it only stays on heat ... A: There is a relay, either a separate relay or it is part of a circuit board that has failed keeping ...
Home air conditioning	5/25/2006
Q: We ve just installed a central A/C in a three-story rowhouse. The unit will only cool the first two ... A: as you have found, it is difficult to condition a two story structure with a single unit without an ...
air flow between rooms	5/25/2006
Q: Actually there is no central system - that is our problem. It is just a big through the wall AC ... A: There is not going to be a realistic way to do this. The reason is the a/c unit is returning the air ...
A/C Heat Fan	5/25/2006
Q: I have a central A/C heating system (Lennox). My fan stop running with thermostat on Auto or On. ... A: The first thing to check is the indoor fan motor capacitor. It looks like a small tin can usually ...
air flow between rooms	5/25/2006
Q: The large air conditioner in our living room cools off the other rooms in our ranch style house - ... A: There should already be supply air vents in all rooms, however are there returns in every room? If ...
Central A/C blower fan	5/24/2006
Q: Cook, I have a central A/C with blower fan located in the attic. It blows cold air into each ... A: Excellent question Jeff. Believe it or not, but it is proven often with three phase motors which are ...
A/C Frosting up	5/24/2006
Q: J, My elderly parents run an A/C unit pretty hard. The model they have is a Whirlpool #: ... A: It is critical on these units to change or clean the filter regularly. It may have a stopped up ...
ac unit	5/24/2006
Q: mi ac was getting frozen lots of ice in the garage unit and outside unit this was 3 weeks ago i ... A: Try replacing the capacitor on the outdoor fan. It looks like a silver or gray small can that is ...
home air conditioning	5/23/2006
Q: whats the problem when your outside unit freezes up? All the oarts in the unit freeze and then you ... A: This usually indicates a low refrigerant charge. Make sure the indoor coil is clean and the indoor ...
A/C air handler occasionally doesn't start	5/22/2006
Q: My air handler blower doesn't start up sometimes. The compessor (outside) will be operating, but the ... A: Walt it can be a number of things. It may be the fan relay is weak, the motor capacitor is weak. You ...
Replacing residential A/C thermostat	5/22/2006
Q: My mom's house has a central A/C with a very complicated programable thermostat. I would like to get ... A: Honeywell is probably the most common thermostat maker. The proper stat is determined by the total ...
A/C unit Bryant	5/19/2006
Q: As of yesterday we turned on our Central air system to a cooler temp. on the thermometer. The unit ... A: The outdoor unit is the a/c portion, the indoor unit is only the fan to distribute the air and they ...
Blower shaking hard	5/19/2006
Q: I looked thru the previous answers but didn't see what I needed, so here I am. The blower on my air ... A: This can be many things. It may be a motor or blower bearing has failed, the motor is loose on the ...
How big of a furnace do we need?	5/18/2006
Q: We are considering purchasing a home that is approximately 4000 finished sq feet, including the ... A: First, NEVER, EVER, close a vent. It will cause the hot air to back up in the heater and damage the ...
Central Air	5/18/2006
Q: We have a central air conditioner tied into our 2 heaters. I turned it on this evening to cool the ... A: That is the major problem with a single unit attempting to cool or heat two levels. All of the heat ...
Changing electric cooktop to gas	5/17/2006
Q: I am changing my electric cooktop to gas. I have had gas plumbed in, but have no electrical except ... A: That's better. First order of business is in the panel. If you are not comfortable working in a live ...
oil burner blower wheel for abc slow speed burner	5/15/2006
Q: I have an abc slow speed burner (this is the information I was given by a repairman) anyway the ... A: You should be able to get this part. A motor is generic, so they are easily accessible, but for a ...
Electric Range Repair	5/12/2006
Q: My girlfriend tells me her GE Mark 27 series electric range's oven, both the bake & broil elements, ... A: If this is all it takes for your girlfriend approval, wait 'till you tell her you can fix a TV. I ...
Central Air	5/11/2006
Q: My house is 1 1/2 yrs built. My central air fan stays on but there is no cold air blowing. I changed ... A: The indoor unit is on a different circuit than the outdoor a/c unit. Go outside and see if this unit ...
dirty sock syndrome	5/8/2006
Q: We had a new heat pump and new ducts installed for our downstairs about four years ago and have had ... A: The odor is usually from lack of dehumidification. Often it is the result of an oversize unit that ...
Heat pump fan/blower	5/7/2006
Q: We have a 13 yr old York heat pump. I noticed that the fan-inside unit blower was running ... A: It is possible it is the thermostat, but more likely the fan relay points are sticking. The motor ...
air conditioner comparisons	5/4/2006
Q: We are replacing a 15 year old central air conditioner. I have several quotes for the outside ... A: With the efficiency of units today, it is best when replacing the outdoor unit to use a " Matched " ...
Basement heating and cooling	5/1/2006
Q: I finished my basement with three new rooms. A home theater which is completely window free, and a ... A: Your best option for this small of an area would be a small heat pump which would provide heating ...
Supplemental heat	4/24/2006
Q: I have a two year old ranch home in Wisconsin with 2400 sq feet on the first floor and 1600 sq feet ... A: I do not know the future use of the basement area, and at this point, you may not either. I ...
AC air handler not blowing?	4/22/2006
Q: We have a 5 year old home with dual zone heat pumps/AC units. Our downstairs unit has not been ... A: The outdoor unit is on a different circuit than the indoor unit with the fan that circulates the ...
A/C Startup Noise	4/19/2006
Q: My central air conditioning unit is fairly new (5 years) and near the end of last season I had it ... A: Due to the unit not being level, it is most likely the outdoor fan blades hitting the frame of the ...
Burning smell from blower motor	4/18/2006
Q: When the A/C is on. The smell starts after the blower motor kicks off with the thermostat, and ... A: I am not sure what type of sensor he can be talking about that would cause the motor to overheat and ...
Burning smell from blower motor	4/17/2006
Q: I have a 10 year old electric Nordyne central air unit, model # E1EB015HA, ser # E1E9604 06196. I ... A: You did not mention if the odor is anytime the fan is on, or if the odor is when it is running heat ...
A/C	4/17/2006
Q: Joey: Do you feel that it is necessary to get an annual check up for a central A/C system, one ... A: I would not be as concerned with the air as the heat. For the a/c, take some detergent or a ...
compacitor	4/14/2006
Q: sir i have a duo-therm central air unit the compacitor is missing the one hooked up to the ... A: I can not locate any definitive info on this particular system either. From the information I did ...
RHEEM 12 SEER GAS PACK	4/5/2006
Q: I HAVE A 1993 RHEEM GAS PACK AND THE HEATING EXCHANGE HAS A CRACK IN IT. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND ... A: That is not a bad price for the exchanger replacement. Unfortunately in your situation to just get ...
dryer repair	3/27/2006
Q: How do I get to the motor area to remove excess lint,Frididaire model #FDE 646 GESO Answer - It ... A: I was not familiar with the Fridgidaire # and thought you had a refrigerator. On a dryer, the back ...
Split type inverter AC blower problrm	3/26/2006
Q: I have a split system inverter A/C unit. The temperature output appears fine, but the indoor unit ... A: Mark, the motor is most likely starting to lock up, however you can try replacing the motor ...
i have a micro wave oven the...	3/19/2006
Q: i have a micro wave oven the just stopped seems like its blown a fuse .Can you tell me if they have ... A: Certain makes do have internal fuses. Make sure the receptacle has power, and if so, the most likely ...
No Heat	3/16/2006
Q: The problem: No hot air from Rheem heat pump. The system(5yrs old)has always worked fine until now. ... A: The outdoor unit is on a different circuit than the indoor fan. Make sure the outdoor unit ...
Dryer	3/13/2006
Q: Joey Hi, my clothes dryer stopped spinning it heats up but won't spin. Any ideas? A: it is most likely one of two things, either the belt broke, or the tumbler motor has died. You can ...
air conditioner wont kick on	3/10/2006
Q: 1999 fleetwood ducted coleman ac unit. I replaced the thermostat because the ac compressor and ... A: That does not sound good Doug if you are talking about the outdoor fan. It is usually controlled by ...
electric	3/9/2006
Q: I am producing a charge of electricity through induction from an alternating current. I am able to ... A: A load will always pull the voltage down to some degree depending on the starting voltage, the load, ...
HVAC WIRING	3/3/2006
Q: I HAVE A TRANE XV 90 FURNACE W/ TRANE A/C. IT HAS A HONEYWELL EMM-3U MINIZONE PANEL AS IT IS A ZONED ... A: I do not believe this can be done very easily. The fan being a variable speed has a controlling ...
Split A/C removal	2/28/2006
Q: Cook, I am moving and need to disconnect and remove my wall hanging split A/C. The wiring is easy ... A: These lines are precharged from the factory and have piercing mechanisms in the collars that pierce ...
No Heat!	2/26/2006
Q: Hey Joe, I have a Carrier HVAC unit that is having problems heating the house. I think the ... A: I would say at this point it is a circuit board problem, a safety failure, or a safety that is ...
HVAC WIRING	2/21/2006
Q: I HAVE A TRANE XV 90 FURNACE W/ TRANE A/C. IT HAS A HONEYWELL EMM-3U MINIZONE PANEL AS IT IS A ZONED ... A: This unit will have a three speed motor. Locate by the wiring diagram which relay the low speed wire ...
trane electric heater	2/20/2006
Q: I experiencing problem with my electric heater made by trane. I am not sure the model but the house ... A: There are a combination of safetys on these heaters, including fuses internally, limits, and fusible ...
Propane Gas Hot Air Furnace	2/20/2006
Q: Follow-up from a question of 2-13-06. Furnace would not cycle properly. Had to switch thermostat off ... A: With this amount of age, I think you made a wise decision. Even with a new unit, please use carbon ...
Air Conditioner - 3 phase or 1 phase	2/17/2006
Q: My husband and I recently purchased a home in the Caribbean. We want to put in air conditioning and ... A: I am not familiar with the service availability there, but if there is much fluctuation in voltage, ...
Propane Gas Hot Air Furnace	2/13/2006
Q: Went away for a week Feb. 1st. Left the furnace on with thermostat at 55.Got home and the tempeture ... A: There are safety controls that will reset when either turning the stat off and back on, or turning ...
White Rodgers Thermostat Display not working	2/11/2006
Q: I think the battery on my thermostat display box is out. I dont know how to replace it, but I am ... A: I do not believe anything is wrong with the stat. I believe it has lost the 24 volts that operates ...
Hi Joey - I bought a 2 year...	2/10/2006
Q: I bought a 2 year old home in New England last summer. I have central AC and an oil furnace. As you ... A: There are a couple of things you may try. If the vents are accessible, you can install a manual ...
HVAC blower won't turn off	2/6/2006
Q: After my heat runs its cycle the outside fan will not shut off. I have to turn it off at the ... A: There is a relay and or a contactor that powers the fan. It is common for the contacts to stick on ...
heat pump	2/5/2006
Q: last year the heat pump worked o.k. this year the h.p. didnt come on when the thermostat is set in ... A: First, most defrost boards do not have fuses. It is a mystery why the a/c works, but it will not ...
over stove microwave	2/3/2006
Q: .. My 3 year old Kenmore is totally dead. I unplugged it, discharged it, and tested the ... A: Unfortunately we all get lemons sometimes. Actually the Kenmores are very highly rated for a good ...
Beverage Cooler Not Cooling	1/31/2006
Q: I own an older Kold-Draft Beverage Cooler Model # KA-4, Made by Uniflow. It sits under my counter ... A: With the EPA regulations, you have to be EPA certified to open a refrigeration circuit. It is a ...
Heat pump problem	1/30/2006
Q: I have a Rheem heat pump, model # RPKA-049JAZ, which recently stopped producing heat. The unit was ... A: I do not agree with the way most test a capacitor, and a true capacitor tester is much more ...
My 10x10 room is stuffy	1/28/2006
Q: I hope that you can help me. i have a 10x10 room facing the beach here is Westminster CA. My room is ... A: It is a somewhat costly item, but you may be able to control the air quality the best by installing ...
heat pump	1/23/2006
Q: The thermostat runs on a battery. I connected the wires as instructed in the instructions so I'm ... A: It is common when changing a stat with the power on, the transformer gets shorted out when two low ...
Forced hot air heating..fan/blower problem	1/23/2006
Q: Followup To Question - If you think you can help me with this subject, I will follow up with the ... A: The 100 degree setting is to shut the fan down after cool down. The 150 is the on setting after a ...
Forced hot air heating..fan/blower problem	1/23/2006
Q: If you think you can help me with this subject, I will follow up with the problem...Thanks Answer - ... A: On this old of a system, I suspect it has the type of fan control that is the bi-metal type. You can ...
heat pump	1/22/2006
Q: I attempted to install a Hunter programmable thermostat for my heat pump. It says it is for multi ... A: I need to know which color wires are connected to what terminals, and was the power off on the ...
Temco floor furnace	1/21/2006
Q: I have an older Temco floor furnace[ducted], natural gas. model 506-1, serial no# 22032, 50,000btu ... A: The gas valve is actually a sophisticated solenoid valve. My fear is after not being used for this ...
Heat Pump Maintenance	1/17/2006
Q: I have a question about what do I need to do as far as preventive maintenance on my heat pump. Is ... A: There is very little to be done for preventive maintenance on a heat pump. The main things to be ...
The thermostat was already...	1/17/2006
Q: The thermostat was already removed. What's the wire color coding and corresponding lettering on ... A: Sly, there are several connections that are standard, but unfortunately others are not due to ...
heat pump	1/13/2006
Q: i have a carrier heat pump and it is not defrosting i know it is one of the 3 things therostat ... A: It has been my experience the problem is 99% of the time in the circuit board. Replace the circuit ...
Heat Pump	1/12/2006
Q: I checked the contactors and am certain the coils are the correct voltage and the contacts appear to ... A: I believe you are correct. It sounds like there is liquid getting to the compressor. Usually the ...
Heat Pump	1/12/2006
Q: I have a Lennox HP-14 heat pump. The compressor, accumulator, check valves, compressor contactors, ... A: It sounds like a defective contactor since it is tripping the breaker when this happens. A reversing ...
Ice Maker	1/9/2006
Q: Water was in ice tray and leaking through front dispenser. I shut off water and cleaned up. When I ... A: Some debris may have entered the feeder water line when the water was turned back on. Turn the water ...
how to determine the cooling capacity of my portable room A/C	1/9/2006
Q: I have an air conditioner that is not working very efficiently. I have a friend who is a lawyer who ... A: The only way to get the exact BTU output would be to do an in depth diagnosis while the unit was ...
heating	1/4/2006
Q: american standard furnace model x100c948c serial number z3810y57g can the speed on the blower motor ... A: I do not have a diagram for this particular model, but you are most likely correct. Be sure on the ...
insulating the heating ducts	1/3/2006
Q: It has been very clarifying. After your advice i did further research on the net and stumbled upon ... A: That is a new product for me, but I can not imagine a paint on insulation that would be as efficient ...
insulating the heating ducts	1/3/2006
Q: It is in the basement. I have shut off the heating to the basement (to conserve heat) and instead ... A: For no more than insulation costs, I would use the same R 6 on all of the ductwork. I prefer the ...
dryer with scrambled brains	12/29/2005
Q: We have a kenmore 110-60092990 dryer. Intermittently it will flash 'PF' and not respond to attempts ... A: I have the Whirlpool models just like this set, and actually Whirlpool makes the Kenmore appliances. ...
Two-zone Water-to-air Heat Pump System	12/29/2005
Q: Re: Two-zone Water to Air Heat Pump System I recently replaced the expansion tank on my two-zone ... A: The unit is operating normally. There is a set pressure the unit is designed to operate at, and the ...
Furnace intermittingly blows cool air	12/26/2005
Q: MR Cook..I have a HEIL GAS FURNACE QuietComfort80 series Model No. NTC6100GF that after heating ... A: To give a little credit to the technician, it is very difficult to determine the exact problem when ...
heat pumps	12/23/2005
Q: We recently purchased a second home (in a colder climate) which comes with a carrier heat pump. Im ... A: You would need to use an amp meter while the radiant heat is on and get an amp reading to determine ...
refrigerator won't work	12/20/2005
Q: have a practically new bottom freezer ge. We moved it to another home and plug it in for 24 hours. ... A: You may have damaged the compressor or the start components. A refrigeration system builds up ...
mattress near heater	12/19/2005
Q: it is a radiator. (sorry, i couldn't remember what they were called before.) my dad thinks it is a ... A: A radiator either has steam or hot water circulating through it. There should be a valve to damper ...
No Heat, but have air- Nordyne for mobile home	12/18/2005
Q: We have a central heating & air unit, outside, 4 ton for our DW mobile home. unit is about 10 yrs ... A: There is not usually a reset on the blower section. It is most likely a faulty breaker since it has ...
mattress near heater	12/17/2005
Q: I am moving into a room right now and the place that i want to put my mattress is right next to a ... A: It really depends on what type of heater this is. If it is a gas heater, or a baseboard heater, I ...
Heater not heating	12/16/2005
Q: Cook I'm not sure what information you all need but here goes. Last year I noticed that the heating ... A: The small fan is called an inducer motor. It expells the exhaust gases from the firing chamber and ...
Heating	12/16/2005
Q: I have a Rudd 2 zone forced air heating/airconditioning system in a vacation home in the mountains ... A: On a heating system of this design, the heat exchanger has to get to a set temperature before ...
Kenmore dryer	12/15/2005
Q: My electric dryer doesn't shut off when it should. Do you happen to know the name of the part? Is it ... A: Yes it is the timer. It is actually on the face of the dryer, the knob that you turn to activate the ...
PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT	12/10/2005
Q: My question is do you really save money by using a programmable thermostat? I leave my house about 7 ... A: Good question Larry. The way I explain this is consider the house a pot of water on the stove. You ...
ac/ , heat pump ,strip heater complete system	12/10/2005
Q: Hey Joey: I am thinking of getting a new system (split) for our home as ours is now about 15 years ... A: What you will need is a heat pump outdoor unit, a matching indoor fan section, and there are usually ...
Carrier 58SSC Intermittent Heat	12/9/2005
Q: Joe: Please bear with me but I want to give you as much detail as I can. I have a Carrier Model ... A: You have experienced as have I that the manufacturers are clear as mud with their diagrams and ...
Thermostat Issues	12/8/2005
Q: Is it hard for someone with little experience to replace it, or should I look into hiring someone? ... A: The main body of the thermostat should snap loose from the mounted sub base and in the back of the ...
Thermostat Issues	12/8/2005
Q: Sir, Quick question. I have a digital programmable thermostat that has recently started resetting ... A: It should only reset itself if it loses power and there is no back up power source such as a battery ...
Heating Duct System	12/7/2005
Q: I need help with a question for school. Your answer would be greatly appreciated, and help me out ... A: They all could be, but the least likely is a plenum. When referring to a duct system, a plenum is ...
AC dies ?	12/3/2005
Q: I have a window Panasonic 9BTU unit -only about 4 years old- (in NYC) - - I had it on the fan ... A: In most cases a service call may be as much as a replacement. If you can locate a repair service ...
Bryant Heat pump	11/30/2005
Q: My Heat pump does not seem to be blowing enough warm heat out to warm my house.If it is 45 degrees ... A: A simple test of the refrigerant charge is to allow the outdoor unit to run about 15 minutes in heat ...
fan blows cold air (instead of heat)	11/27/2005
Q: I got a problem with a Coleman DGAA056BDTA central gas heating system. Details are: - furnace ... A: I have never heard of an attic fan in relation to a furnace. It may either be a fan that is commonly ...
occasional water leak from the refrigerator	11/27/2005
Q: I have a GE side by side refrigerator/ freezer that is approx 8 years old. It has automatic ice ... A: It is one of two things. Either the water valve for the ice maker has a loose connection, or being a ...
Gas fireplace shuts after a few minutes	11/25/2005
Q: We have a Heat N Glo gas fireplace, about 4 years old. It has a standing pilot and adjustable flame ... A: I think you are on the right track. With that much difference in pressure it would affect the pilot. ...
Energy Star progamable Thermostat	11/23/2005
Q: I would like to replace the old thermostat for a gas furnace. Would like to find a Energy Star ... A: I can understand the frustrations. I have been in this industry for over 20 years, and it seems ...
gas pack failure to light	11/23/2005
Q: Joey: My rheem gas pack is a 3 ton unit installed in 1992. When the weather is warm it will light ... A: The number one component that fails on a gas unit is the thermocouple. It looks like a brass stem ...
toe kick heater	11/21/2005
Q: i was wondering if the problem could be with the thermostat or switch itself ? i have a 220 toe kick ... A: It could be either, but most likely the heater coil. One way you can test the thermostat, turn off ...
New Central AC unit Installation	11/20/2005
Q: I am building a Garage with a condo on the second floor of it. The garage/workshop portion is about ... A: This type of system is called a split system due to the fact there is an indoor and an outdoor ...
Need Help with wiring Carrier 40VU003320	11/19/2005
Q: Need Help with wiring Carrier 40VU003320 I got this problem with not know if the wire are correct ... A: I am not familiar with this particular device and I do not want to try anything that may do more ...
toe kick heater	11/19/2005
Q: i have a 220 toe kick heater in my kitchen ubderneath my kitchen cabinets. today it quit working and ... A: All electric heaters have a high temperature safety in them. It may indicate the safety has opened ...
HVAC question	11/19/2005
Q: Should I be getting a mixture of cold and hot air when my heat is on ? Also when I try to shut my ... A: I would inspect all of the ductwork. There may be a loose fitting in the return allowing ...
Gas fireplace shuts after a few minutes	11/19/2005
Q: We have a Heat N Glo gas fireplace, about 4 years old. It has a standing pilot and adjustable flame ... A: I would say the thermocouple is good. Its function is to send a signal to the gas valve to indicate ...
blower motor	11/17/2005
Q: My central heat and air unit is giving me problems, The fan that blows air into the vents won't go ... A: I am not sure which one of these controls the fan, but you can determine it one of two ways. One, ...
Trane heat pump	11/16/2005
Q: I have a trane heat pump located in my attic which provides heating and cooling for my second story ... A: It could be either, but we can do a relatively simple test. The breaker needs to be turned off on ...
Air Conditioning	11/15/2005
Q: I have a Chrysler Airtemp unit # 1264-01K S/N # 1J234461 Compressor Model # 3003-06 P/N 2025349 . ... A: I have a couple of options. I know Chrysler built their own compressors in the large commercial and ...
Transformer in air handler short	11/15/2005
Q: I have since gone out to the compressor unit and found that the contatctor was 'open' and was able ... A: Often when the coil shorts, the contacts will also be burned and cause the contactor to stick. If ...
Transformer in air handler short	11/15/2005
Q: I had the transformer ~24vac / 240vac in the house burn the common lead on the high voltage side. I ... A: A simple way to test part of the control wiring would be to turn off power the the indoor or outdoor ...
Return air calculations	11/15/2005
Q: Two years ago, two of the four returns in our house were removed. This was done to add ceiling ... A: I wish I could be more help, but I do not have enough information, although even if I had the ...
HVAC electrical issue	11/12/2005
Q: I have a question about our heat pump system. We have a Trane outdoor unit and thermostat, and I ... A: The blue and red lights are both for the electric stip heat. A heat pump thermostat has the electric ...
Central a/c	11/11/2005
Q: Our home in New Orleans was flooded following Hurricane Katrina. Two central a/c units will have to ... A: The higher efficiency units have many bells and whistles and can get very expensive, with it ...
Air Conditioner	11/10/2005
Q: I just wanted to let you know the outcome of my problem. They put a new outside unit in and it has ... A: That is great Trisha. I try to start with the most obvious, which were the items I mentioned. As we ...
Air Conditioner	11/8/2005
Q: I seem to have a mystery problem. My AC is blowing damp, humid air. My air handler is new. The coils ... A: The charge may still be part of the culprit if he did not charge it properly. A simple test of a ...
Cold Air Ducts	11/7/2005
Q: I purchased a house last year and it's all electrical. I have seperate electric heaters in each ... A: I am assuming that all of this ductwork is inside and not exposed to the outdoors in any way. By ...
HVAC Blower	11/6/2005
Q: I have a 15-year-old Ruud roof-mounted HVAC. In the heat mode the blower fan keeps running long ... A: Every furnace has some sort of fan sensor to allow the heat exchanger to heat up before energizing ...
Kenmore dryer flashing 'PF'	11/4/2005
Q: My very old kenmore dryer stopped running last night (it squealed softly for awhile and then would ... A: I am not sure on the Elite. The Kenmore appliances are made by Whirlpool if you can locate someone ...
Fridge	11/4/2005
Q: Hey Joey, I have a small fridge, 6 months old. Out of warrantee. The freezer (separate ... A: Something most folks do not realize is that a refrigerator is actually only a freezer as far as the ...
HVAC system fan not turning off	11/4/2005
Q: We have a Carrier furnace (heat pump system) in a townhouse we own, and the fan is running ... A: The fan is operated by a fan relay that is energized with the thermostat. It may be part of a ...
Adding Central Air conditioning	11/3/2005
Q: Greetings, I have a newer house with separate climate controls for main floor and ... A: There is an indoor coil that must be installed in the furnace. The fan motor may also need to be ...
HVAC	10/31/2005
Q: I have forced air natural gas heat. I can provide details on the equipment if necessary. My ... A: Check the unit when it cycles back on and see if the furnace is actually firing, or if it is just ...
Insuring contractor uses correct furnace sizing methodology	10/29/2005
Q: I read how a contractor should use Manual J, "Residential Load Calculation," published by the Air ... A: You are correct. Many contractors do not take the effort to size equipment properly and it will ...
Bryant Inducer Broken?	10/28/2005
Q: My Bryant furnace was working for a week or so as it was getting colder in the D.C. area. Then, the ... A: I do know if the inducer motor is not working, nothing will attempt to work for heat. The inducer ...
can 42000 btu condenser unit...	7/29/2005
Q: can 42000 btu condenser unit to run with 36000btu evap coil the brand name of the unit is AMANA A: I apologize for the delay and you may not receive this response as the site has suspended me, but I ...
heat/air	7/29/2005
Q: When i try to run my heat pump/cooling unit on cool it runs for a few minutes and then my fan quits ... A: Sorry for the delay but you have most likely made a repair. I was injured and am awaiting surgery ...
Teletrol Systems Model: LE	7/27/2005
Q: Where could I find the schematic diagram for a Teletrol System Model: LE? This device controls a VAV ... A: Terry I am not familiar with this particular control. There should be a manufacturer name if it is ...
HVAC training	7/26/2005
Q: I don't need help with repairs. I'd just like to get feedback from you concerning your HVAC ... A: you are exactly correct that on the job experience can not be replaced by anything else. The best ...
Furnace blower controls	7/22/2005
Q: We have a Roberts Gordon GI100a furnace we just converted to central air. Blower has 1/3 hp 2-speed ... A: That makes a lot more sense than the way I was interpreting it. This can be done with one 24 volt ...
Furnace blower controls	7/22/2005
Q: We have a Roberts Gordon GI100a furnace we just converted to central air. Blower has 1/3 hp 2-speed ... A: I can not recommend doing this. The fan is designed to operate on high speed in cooling because cool ...
AC unit	7/21/2005
Q: I have an an Amana HVAC unit that was installed at the end of February 2005. I live in Dallas, ... A: The supply air temperature is directly related to the return air temperature. There should be approx ...
Supply vent air temp	7/20/2005
Q: I just had the heat pump system replaced for my upstairs. What should the temperature be of the air ... A: Good question Barry. The supply air temperature is directly related to the return air temperature. A ...
required maintenance ??	7/19/2005
Q: We recently installed an elect.Heatpump / air cond.syst.in our home. All works very well but this ... A: Unlike a fuel burning furnace, a heat pump requires very little maintenance. A service contract is ...
A/C Home	7/18/2005
Q: A/C quit , sounds like compressor is working, but fan does not come on when turned on, pipe is warm ... A: It sounds like the outdoor fan motor has failed, but for the suction line to be warm, a technician ...
thermostat	7/17/2005
Q: I have a new heat pump(was installed in summer of 04) It is a rheem classic,2.5 ton. The problem is ... A: I would have the system tested for capacity. Either the units capacity is not at peak performance, ...
A/C	7/16/2005
Q: I was wondering about the timers that people use to control the on/off and temperature settings of ... A: The " Others " that you speak of I can guarantee are not in the HVAC industry. ANY time you adjust ...
AC mount	7/16/2005
Q: How do you mount a window box air conditioner into a side-sliding window? AC boxes tend to be only ... A: Most side sliding windows are not large enough to install an a/c unit on the open side, but if this ...
Window a/c not working	7/13/2005
Q: I have a two-year old 10,800 BTU window unit. A few days ago it suddently stopped working. It didn't ... A: A window a/c unit is a factory sealed unit, and the odds that it is low on refrigerant are almost ...
A/C compressor fan	7/11/2005
Q: My A/C compressor fan is working continuosly. It is running backwards when the unit is off and ... A: It sounds like there is some damaged wiring powering the fan continuosly. There may be some wires ...
AC Ice build up	7/11/2005
Q: I have central AC and have noticed an ice build up around the pipes entering the unit and the ... A: This is a classic sign of a low air flow or a low refrigerant charge. Turn the power off on the ...
Condensation around Supply	7/11/2005
Q: Greetings from the massive rain of Dennis! I am having a condensation problem with one of my AC ... A: both of these areas are caused by the same problem, a breakdown of the insulation, or a crack ...
HVAC	7/9/2005
Q: I moved into a new house in Memphis, TN 3 years ago. The house is 1.5-story with a 3 ton unit for ... A: The first thing I would request is a copy of the load calculation that was done which determined the ...
AC blower motor Whirlpool package unit	7/9/2005
Q: The blower motor on my whirlpool package unit seems to be getting weaker. This morning I barely had ... A: There is really no in between with a blower motor, it will operate or not. I suspect the indoor coil ...
central a/c system	7/7/2005
Q: Can continuous running of a/c compressor during 100° heat cause a "freeze up" of the unit or can low ... A: It is remotely possible. Units are designed for continuous operation above 95 degrees. Most often ...
central air	7/5/2005
Q: the fan on my central air unit stopped working when the unit goes on. it is physically able to ... A: The first thing to replace would be the motor capacitor. This gives the motor a boost on start up. ...
Charging an A/C Unit	7/5/2005
Q: I hope all I need is to charge my A/C. I have no air condtioning. The outside unit will run as will ... A: A licensed tech will have to do this. Because of supposed global warming, it is a $25,000 fine to ...
A/C filters	7/5/2005
Q: Cook Other than filtering out some dust and pollen etc... what is the purpose of the filter in my ... A: good question. The purpose of the filter is to protect the indoor coil. Even in a very clean ...
My Central Air is Broken	7/3/2005
Q: We brought our home 3yrs ago and we tried to turn the A/C unit on for the first time since then ... A: The same thermostat does control the a/c, however it is on a different power circuit than the heat. ...
Compressor not kicking in	7/3/2005
Q: I have a 16000 btu Kenmore 115 ac window unit that is five years old. The condenser fan broke and I ... A: Did you replace the capacitor when you replaced the motor. Often times this is the problem. The ...
what is wrong with the ac unit when it freezes up about every other day?	7/3/2005
Q: our ac unit freezes up about every other day, and the ac man shows up only when its not doing that, ... A: The two main reasons a unit will ice up are low air flow, and a low refrigerant charge. The indoor ...
8000 BTU Window A/C Problem	7/1/2005
Q: Ahhh......the fan works....but when I turn the control knob to COLD/High or actually any ... A: It is the compre