Heat Pump/AC Struggling
#1
06-11-18, 05:27 PM
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: USA
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Heat Pump/AC Struggling
Once it gets in the 90s it’s typical for my heat pump to run all day to cool the house. Seems to “struggle” as compared to new. It’s a completely new Lennox system installed in 2015. Are these air bubbles normal (95F out today)? I feel I’m seeing them more often than I used to.
Once the warm weather hit this year my AC had trouble kicking on for an entire day that I was at work. I flipped it to heat to get the heat pump going then I turned it back to AC and it began working.
Instant read infrared thermometer says 10F spread between intake and vent but if I hold the “instant” read on there it widens up to about 14-15F spread.
Heres the video of the air bubbles. I’m located in Missouri
https://youtu.be/YfhroRRiPhk
Once the warm weather hit this year my AC had trouble kicking on for an entire day that I was at work. I flipped it to heat to get the heat pump going then I turned it back to AC and it began working.
Instant read infrared thermometer says 10F spread between intake and vent but if I hold the “instant” read on there it widens up to about 14-15F spread.
Heres the video of the air bubbles. I’m located in Missouri
https://youtu.be/YfhroRRiPhk
#2
06-11-18, 05:41 PM
Group Moderator
On a small residential system.... the sight glass is not terribly effective for indicating the charge level. It sounds like having the refrigerant charge checked would be a good idea.
#3
06-11-18, 06:13 PM
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: USA
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#4
06-11-18, 06:37 PM
Group Moderator
The lack of performance indicates a low charge.
If the charge is low then it's likely there is a leak in the system.
If the charge is low then it's likely there is a leak in the system.
#5
06-11-18, 07:00 PM
Quick follow up question, is the heat pump located in full sun?
I ask because, for years, we had duplex rentals, upstairs and downstaris of one house.
One A/C unit was in the shade by noon, left side tenant put a white picket fence around it to hide it.
Other A/C unit was in full sun by noon, right side tenant always managed to blow the grass clippings into it. Needless to say, same exact equipment, one worked flawlessly for years and years, other was a constant headache which never really cooled.
I've notice the same with window air conditioners (old farmhouse).
AC unit in a south facing window (no shade) and it barely keeps up and runs constantly; move it to a different window in the same room facing east (shade) and the room is cool and it only runs occasionally.
Of course, your-mileage-may-differ, Florida State did a study and found that planting a few shrubs for shade on a west facing yard is worth less than 3% efficiency, while energy.gov says up to 10%. I suspect that their differences depend on having a sufficient volume of cool-air-in-the-shade for the AC unit to use.
I ask because, for years, we had duplex rentals, upstairs and downstaris of one house.
One A/C unit was in the shade by noon, left side tenant put a white picket fence around it to hide it.
Other A/C unit was in full sun by noon, right side tenant always managed to blow the grass clippings into it. Needless to say, same exact equipment, one worked flawlessly for years and years, other was a constant headache which never really cooled.
I've notice the same with window air conditioners (old farmhouse).
AC unit in a south facing window (no shade) and it barely keeps up and runs constantly; move it to a different window in the same room facing east (shade) and the room is cool and it only runs occasionally.
Of course, your-mileage-may-differ, Florida State did a study and found that planting a few shrubs for shade on a west facing yard is worth less than 3% efficiency, while energy.gov says up to 10%. I suspect that their differences depend on having a sufficient volume of cool-air-in-the-shade for the AC unit to use.
Last edited by Hal_S; 06-11-18 at 07:31 PM.
#6
06-13-18, 05:13 AM
Member
All AC's should run all day and well into the evening when it gets into the 90's. Saying that your delta T is a tad low. Like the others I agree might want to have the charge looked at.
#7
06-13-18, 07:40 AM
Member
It's normal for rooms with a lot of sun exposure to need more cooling, the impact of placement, whether in shade or full sun is not that significant.
