Window AC question
#1
07-17-14, 01:38 PM
Window AC question
I live in an apartment, and have a window AC unit. My question is, they just installed a new AC unit, and it is cycling on and off, when it is set on high, at 70 deg, and my room temp is 80 deg. The old one did the same thing. The indoor RH is 50%, as is the outside RH. The outside temp is 75.
I have the impression that it would run constant, until it reached the set temp of 70 deg. If someone could let me know if it is working as it should, and why it cycles, even when it has not reached the set temp, that would be great. Or let me know if there's potentially another problem, that could be causing this.
I live in a retirement complex. This is an extremely small apartment, at a whopping 600 sq ft. I have a combo living room - kitchen, one small bedroom, and a small bath. There are only two windows, and two doors.
Thanks for your time.
I have the impression that it would run constant, until it reached the set temp of 70 deg. If someone could let me know if it is working as it should, and why it cycles, even when it has not reached the set temp, that would be great. Or let me know if there's potentially another problem, that could be causing this.
I live in a retirement complex. This is an extremely small apartment, at a whopping 600 sq ft. I have a combo living room - kitchen, one small bedroom, and a small bath. There are only two windows, and two doors.
Thanks for your time.
#2
07-17-14, 01:52 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
The compressor in a window unit should run until it reaches set temperature... it should not cycle until it reaches that point.
The compressor in a window unit should run until it reaches set temperature... it should not cycle until it reaches that point.
#3
07-17-14, 02:20 PM
Is anything in front of the unit, airflow pointed upward away from the return grill?
Sounds like you've got cool air circulating back into the return area tripping the thermostat.
Make sue the cold discharge air is blowing upwards and away from the return grill.
Sounds like you've got cool air circulating back into the return area tripping the thermostat.
Make sue the cold discharge air is blowing upwards and away from the return grill.
#4
07-17-14, 02:35 PM
Nothing in front of the unit. The cold air flow was directed straight out into the room. I just adjusted the grill to force the cold air up. Will see if that helps.
This is probably an off the wall question, but, is there any possibility of the electric supply to the window AC unit, not being correct, and possibly causing something like this ?? Reason I ask this is, they remodeled this apartment right before I moved in. They installed new electric baseboard heaters. Then when winter moved in, I had no heat. They forgot to hook the power up to the electric heaters somewhere between the heaters and breaker box during the remodel. This error has me wondering if possibly they goofed up the electricity / power going to the AC ??
Thanks.....
This is probably an off the wall question, but, is there any possibility of the electric supply to the window AC unit, not being correct, and possibly causing something like this ?? Reason I ask this is, they remodeled this apartment right before I moved in. They installed new electric baseboard heaters. Then when winter moved in, I had no heat. They forgot to hook the power up to the electric heaters somewhere between the heaters and breaker box during the remodel. This error has me wondering if possibly they goofed up the electricity / power going to the AC ??
Thanks.....
#5
07-17-14, 02:41 PM
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Tom is correct as far as he goes but even angling the discharge louvers upwards is not a cure. Cooler air will fall and be immediately drawn into the inlet louvers. If you can include a baffle, even cardboard will work, to keep the discharge air as far from the intake as possible will do wonders.
The window unit I have in my bedroom used to cycle just as yours until I added some ductwork pieces to direct the discharge up and away from the unit AND added a baffle about 6 inches in front of the intake grille. Now I can get the air temperature and relative humidity in the room down to 65 degrees and less than 46% before the machine will cycle off.
A couple of years ago I also had a unit in a different room and had the short cycling problem. Just adding a piece of 1/2 inch foam insulation board the width of the machine between the discharge and intake, about 10 inches out from the front made all the difference in the world. Admittedly these modifications will look ugly but for me comfort is far more important than is appearance.
The window unit I have in my bedroom used to cycle just as yours until I added some ductwork pieces to direct the discharge up and away from the unit AND added a baffle about 6 inches in front of the intake grille. Now I can get the air temperature and relative humidity in the room down to 65 degrees and less than 46% before the machine will cycle off.
A couple of years ago I also had a unit in a different room and had the short cycling problem. Just adding a piece of 1/2 inch foam insulation board the width of the machine between the discharge and intake, about 10 inches out from the front made all the difference in the world. Admittedly these modifications will look ugly but for me comfort is far more important than is appearance.
#6
07-17-14, 02:55 PM
I prefer to be comfortable. I will certainly ad something as you've suggested. This is the first time I've had a problem like this with a window unit.
The engineers are cutting corners so tight, that these are re-circulating the output air with the return air and shutting them down. Just as well save my money and buy a floor fan and be done with it then ...LOL Cost of production trumps performance and reliability, this is a sad fact.......
Thanks....
The engineers are cutting corners so tight, that these are re-circulating the output air with the return air and shutting them down. Just as well save my money and buy a floor fan and be done with it then ...LOL Cost of production trumps performance and reliability, this is a sad fact.......
Thanks....
#7
07-17-14, 05:09 PM
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A window unit will cool a lot more area (like 600-sf with a small 6,000-Btu/hr) if you use a floor fan mounted on a stand higher the A/C.
Most window units do not throw the discharge air high enough & far enough to avoid short cycling & only cooling a small sf area.
I cool around 650-sf 1st floor, 1937 farm home with a lot of windows with a little half ton unit.
Same thing upstairs, & then usually only in late evening & then an hour or so at night.
They use about the same wattage or less than the indoor blower motor on a central system.
I rarely let them cycle on their thermostat...
Most window units do not throw the discharge air high enough & far enough to avoid short cycling & only cooling a small sf area.
I cool around 650-sf 1st floor, 1937 farm home with a lot of windows with a little half ton unit.
Same thing upstairs, & then usually only in late evening & then an hour or so at night.
They use about the same wattage or less than the indoor blower motor on a central system.
I rarely let them cycle on their thermostat...
#8
07-17-14, 06:22 PM
Did you feel the cold air come out of the AC ? if not, check your temp setting. These days, those digital panels are not that obvious. I bought a new smart TV, took me 2 days to get a few things right, many functions are still not working. I am sure the TV is OK, it's me the problem..
#9
07-18-14, 01:17 PM
Yes I am aware of the control panel, and have the AC set on 70 deg. The weather right now doesn't require the use of the AC, but that is going to change in a couple days.
I've put a deflector / baffle on the unit as suggested, and turned the cold air grill upwards to help eliminate the cold air being sucked into the inlet, and shutting it down.
I will report the results in a couple days.
Thanks.....
I've put a deflector / baffle on the unit as suggested, and turned the cold air grill upwards to help eliminate the cold air being sucked into the inlet, and shutting it down.
I will report the results in a couple days.
Thanks.....
#10
07-21-14, 05:44 PM
Thanks for all the replies guys !!
I turned the cold air louvers upwards as far as they would go, and placed a cardboard piece below the cold air louvers too. The AC unit now runs constant until it reaches the set temp, and shuts down as it's supposed to.
I was pretty disappointed with my situation, but the help here, helped me find a resolution to the frustration.
I appreciate everyone's help !!
I turned the cold air louvers upwards as far as they would go, and placed a cardboard piece below the cold air louvers too. The AC unit now runs constant until it reaches the set temp, and shuts down as it's supposed to.
I was pretty disappointed with my situation, but the help here, helped me find a resolution to the frustration.
I appreciate everyone's help !!
