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AC issue

963 Views | 16 Replies | Last: 21 days ago by 88agswin
the most cool guy
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Cross posting from home improvement board:

I have a Daikin (Goodman) unit for my downstairs. The evaporator coil started leaking a few weeks ago, and it was under warranty so I had it replaced. Just had to pay for more refrigerant and some labor. The replacement happened a week ago.

Last night I noticed my secondary drain line was leaking, so I went upstairs and saw that the pan was full of water, which has never happened in the 2.5 years I've lived here.

I poured some bleach down the drain line to try and flush it out. and that didn't help. In fact, the liquid in the pan smelled like bleach after that, like it didn't go down the drain line at all. The primary drain line ties into one of my bathroom sink drains, so today I unhooked it and vacuumed it out with a shop vac. Also took my shop vac into the attic and vacuumed it from the other side.

I got all kinds of gunk out of it, so I thought I was good to go.

I turned the AC back on, and it hasn't been running long enough for the pan to fill back up so TBD on that. But now the air is no longer blowing cold.

Is my new coil leaking, or maybe dirty or something? Any clue what the issue could be here?

TIA
Dirty-8-thirty Ag
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AG
Username does not check out
the most cool guy
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I know
Sea Speed
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AG
Get an air compressor and blow air down the line. This will only work if there's a valve you can shut off upstream of the line you poured bleach down.
Dirty-8-thirty Ag
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AG
Sorry. Not meaning to make light of your situation, just saw
your name and couldn't help myself.

I blow my drain line out with some compressed air every once in a while and I also try to put a small amount of bleach in drain pan once a month.
Sea Speed
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AG
Sea Speed said:

Get an air compressor and blow air down the line. This will only work if there's a valve you can shut off upstream of the line you poured bleach down.


Or if you can plug the line where it attaches to the drain.
the most cool guy
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Sea Speed said:

Get an air compressor and blow air down the line. This will only work if there's a valve you can shut off upstream of the line you poured bleach down.

I think the line is clear. My problem now is it's not cooling.
Sea Speed
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AG
Oh I missed that part. My bad.
Sea Speed
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AG
You could have switched the breaker on the unit and only the fan is running?
the most cool guy
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Everything is running. I'm not a stranger to DIY fixing AC issues, but I've just about exhausted everything I can do on my own. I'm thinking maybe the new coil I had installed is defective. I got it through warranty and apparently it's one they don't make anymore, so it's possible they gave me a ****ty used one or something. Whatever it is, it will be under warranty. I'm just pissed I will have to pay for labor and almost certainly another 13 pounds of refrigerant again after doing that a week ago.
Sea Speed
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AG
Look on FB marketplace for refrigerant, you can save a ton on there. I saved several hundred on a tank of R22. Not sure if that will be the same with 410 though, assuming that's what you have.
the most cool guy
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I'm actually not sure. I think I have R22, which from what I'm seeing is more expensive than 410. But thanks for the tip. I will look into buying it myself.
Sea Speed
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AG
I actually have over half a canister remaining I'd be willing to sell very reasonably, but it is in league city. Not sure where you're located.
the most cool guy
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San Antonio
Ribeye-Rare
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AG
Cool Guy,

I know you said the outside unit is running, but can you check to make sure the compressor is running with the condenser fan, and not just the condenser fan?

The compressor will make a distinctive noise, and will be warm to HOT to touch if it is running.

The fact that you were condensing water like crazy and then all of a sudden lost all your refrigerant doesn't seem likely to happen. I'm thinking the float switch contacts may be stuck in the 'off' position. I understand SOME units are wired to just shut off the compressor.

If you can, check that out. That would be a simple (and cheap) fix.

Also, if you don't mind -- What did they charge you to change out your evaporator coil? I just had one go out and I'm thinking of doing it myself. Thanks.
the most cool guy
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So in a strange turn of events, this appears to have solved itself. I left everything off for about 3-4 hours, turned it back on, and now it's blowing ice cold. Definitely not out of refrigerant. I don't think the coils were frozen because I had barely been running it for the 10-12 hours before it stopped blowing cold, and I don't think the last 3-4 hours would have been enough time for them to unfreeze.

Maybe I splashed some water on the overflow sensor or something like that while I was shop vacing everything and it caused just the blower to run for a while. Who knows. Thanks for the tips though.
88agswin
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AG
Yea I just got back in town and was going to suggest checking the float switch. When we install them we hook them up to turn the whole system off. Some people hook them up only to turn off the compressor. The system will blow air like you experienced but not cold air.
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