Earlier this summer, the kids had an issue with their AC. It got warm and they turned it on and it kept popping the breaker. So they called me for help.
I went over and it turned out they had two issues. First, the filter in the furnace was clogged almost solid. Second, the outdoor coil on the AC was clogged solid. Easy to fix, just time consuming and dirty. And I was the right person for the job.
I tore apart the outside system and cleaned it the best I could (it's a rental and the AC had been neglected for who knows how long and was pretty packed with dirt and debris). While I worked and swore at that, CK and Dudette headed out to get some new filters.
Finished it all up and it worked like a champ. Chew asked the best way to keep the outside system clean and I gave him some advice including something I was trying. Because of all the cottonwood in the area, and how nasty that stuff is at clogging the outdoor unit, I put screen-door screen around the OD coil area to catch the main amount of cotton the trees put off. Seems to work very well, just clean it off every week or two with a vacuum and you're good to go.
Well...early this week, when we were having record breaking heat, I got home and OUR Heat Pump was off. Popped the breaker. REALLY? In 108 degree weather? I was PISSED shocked and surprised. I get that way when the inside of the house hits 85.
Looked at the screen around the coil, and though two sides looked a little dirty, the third was packed. OK. That would cause it to overheat and kick the breaker. Clean it off, reset the breaker, and we're back in business.
It started right back up. Ran about 30 minutes and kicked again.
So I went back at it. Took off ALL the guards and cleaned it some more. Every CFM of air over the coil counts. Especially at those temps. Reset the breaker and fired it back up. Ran fine. GOOD. It's 87 inside now.
30 mintues later, it kicked.
Tore the panels off and started checking the system out. A capacitor had gone South on me. For those not electrically inclined, when a capacitor goes out, things tend to run hot, pull high amps, and just generally screws things up. In this case, it was the one for the compressor...LOTS of HOT, LOTS of amps. None of it good. And close to 6 pm. Guess when the stores close that carry this stuff? UH-HUH!
Found a dealer who was still open. Told them what I wanted and they hesitated. Not often do they get a call from a person who actually knows what they are doing. They told me they didn't know if they had one on a shelf at the offices, but their service people would have one on a truck. I asked them how much a service call would be to get one.
They laughed. "Tonight? No way. With this heat, we are booked solid with emergency calls."
"All they have to do is drive by, swap parts for money, and keep going. If they are coordinated enough, they don't even have to stop, just slow down."
"How are they going to diagnose the system and install it?"
"Already torn apart and diagnosed. I just need the part."
"Lemme call you back after I see if we have one here."
They called back within 10 minutes, they had the part. Only $50. And, BTW, they couldn't make change at the office, so it would have to be exact change with cash, or a check. I was on my way.
When I got there, I kind of got the 3rd degree. Not a lot of people can talk "shop" when they walk in off the street. And they aren't used to people diagnosing their own systems. After giving my history, and letting them know I BUILT that unit, they were a lot more comfortable handing over the part. Still cost me $50 for a $15 part...mark-up and all...but hey,that's business and they had what I needed. And, I've been there. Now, if my favoriteshops had been open...maybe could've walked out only paying $20. Either way, I needed the part, and they were open and willing to sell it without a service call (that would've been another $150 as it was after hours).
By the time I got home, it was 89 inside, and climbing. Got the capacitor put in and fired up the unit. Let it run an hour to make sure it hadn't damaged the compressor, then turned it off to get the panels back on. It was still 82 when we headed off to bed, but got much nicer as the night progressed.
Breakdowns happen.
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