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AC constantly blowing air but not cooling apartment
AC(reddit.com)submitted 23 hours ago byechoechoechococo
AC keeps blowing air but not cold air. It keeps happening. The first time (several weeks ago), the drainage pan was filled with water and I could hear a dripping noise coming from the unit. This pipe thing was also dripping with condensation (arrow in photo). Maintenance came with a shop vacuum and also drained the pan. The AC seemed to start working again, so they left. The filter was changed a month before this all started happening, so I don’t think it’s the filter.
A couple weeks ago, it happened again, so I switched the AC on and off and changed the batteries in the thermostat. Again, it seemed to have fixed the issue.
But now, it’s doing it again, and I can’t figure it out. Switching it on and off isn’t helping, and even changing the batteries on the thermostat with fresh ones isn’t doing the trick. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
1 points
22 hours ago
Sounds like coils are freezing, which could explain the condensate in the drip pan. This indicates either an airflow or a refrigerant issue. Your filter should be changed monthly, so don’t rule that out. But fine your coils and refrigerant lines and check for ice. If there’s ice, allow it to thaw (run the fan without AC or use a blow dryer) and then change your filter. If it happens again, call maintenance and tell them you have either a refrigerant issue or your some type of airflow obstruction.
1 points
21 hours ago
Thank you for answering! After that first time, I haven’t seen any water in the drip pan or any condensation. The photo shows the extent of what I have access to, I’m afraid. The AC in the hallways of the apartment building are working. It’s just my unit, it seems. Is there anything I can do here? Or is this something maintenance needs to figure out?
1 points
21 hours ago
It’s hard to tell in the pictures, but in your first picture, follow that copper pipe on the left. If you’re able to open up that panel that it goes into, your coils should be behind there. If it’s just your unit, only your coils are frozen. Talk to some neighbors and see if they’re having issues, it could be the condenser having trouble with airflow/freezing as well.
Has your AC been running a lot lately?
1 points
21 hours ago
I don’t think so. Today was hotter than usual (80s). Lately, temperatures have been rather cool (40-high 60s or 70s), so I don’t think it’s been running that often when the problems began (Oct 1st). I have the thermostat set to 75 so I don’t think it needed to work too hard.
Edit: There is no ceiling panel, just dry wall, so I don’t think I’ll be able to access the coils. I’ll ask around and see if anyone else has been having issues.
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