Help AC can't keep up with the heat.

[DCal430]

It is currently 108 outside of my house, and even though I set my AC to 75, it is currently 80 in my house, because the AC can't seem to cool the house good enough. Any ideas how to improve the efficiency of the AC unit to help it reach the desired temperature?

 

[NutBucket]

Short of making sure the condenser coils are clean and your filter isn't clogged there isn't a whole lot else you can do on your own IMHO.

 

[Gillbot]

Better insulate your house.

 

[Mixolydian]

Use fans to help move air throughout the house.

 

[zerocool84]

Either your house is horribly insulated or the a/c is too small for the house.

 

[bradley]

Five more good suggestions, check that: your vents are clean and have an airtight seal, your refrigerant lineset is completely insulated, your outdoor compressor is shaded, the area in and around your indoor condenser is insulated. Also try buying some duct boosters.

 

[Leros]

You might have a freon leak. About once a year, I have to have somebody come out and add a little bit of freon to my A/C. It cost about $100. They want to tear apart my house to find the leak, but I'm not to keen on that idea.

 

[DCal430]

The AC is able to cool the house fine on most days, just when we have these horrible heat waves. The AC unit is very small.

The unit it self is probably a little over 2.5 feet tall.

 

[bradley]

You might have a freon leak. About once a year, I have to have somebody come out and add a little bit of freon to my A/C. It cost about $100. They want to tear apart my house to find the leak, but I'm not to keen on that idea.

I found my major leak/s using soapy water and a flashlight, recaptured the freon, then sandpapered and cleaned the area/s and spot welded them, and refilled the unit. The HVAC guy thought it would never work, yet six years later and it's still going strong.

 

[skyking]

the biggest thing I have done is to limit insolation by shading windows outside the house.
When you pull a shade inside, the back side of that shade still heats up a great deal.
Look for windows that just get hammered by the afternoon sun, and set something up to shade them.
The big box stores sell outside shades.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I would just add in a window unit for use on extra hot days.

 

[Azraele]

Close the curtains to keep the sun out during the hottest part of the day.

 

[notposting]

Get a bigger unit. Or do all of the little suggestions as well. And +1 on a window unit to supplement the cooling capacity.

Free upgrade though: go stand outside for 5 minutes then walk back inside.

 

[Humpy]

The unit it self is probably a little over 2.5 feet tall.

Your AC is too short. For 108° you need a unit at least 3 to 3.5 feet tall.

 

[Balt]

Your AC is too short. For 108° you need a unit at least 3 to 3.5 feet tall.

:biggrin:

 

[preCRT]

Outdoor window awnings to keep the sun off windows, especially on the south and west.

 

[Angry Irishman]

I would rely on the government to fix it.

 

[BoomerD]

I would rely on the government to fix it.

He IS the gubmint...see how well that worked?

 

[CPA]

Get a bigger unit. Or do all of the little suggestions as well. And +1 on a window unit to supplement the cooling capacity.

Free upgrade though: go stand outside for 5 minutes then walk back inside.

You can't just get a bigger unit. If the unit is too big for his square footage he can easily make his house very humid, which is just as bad as having it at 80 degree in his current situation.

 

[Imp]

Got windows with a lot of sun getting in?

Cover them up with curtains or blinds. Better to do it from outside, but it's better than nothing.

If it's that hot, I'm guessing you live where no trees grow. Look into overhang shades.

 

[Squisher]

The only thing not mentioned so far is to clean the condenser with a garden hose. If a lot of fins are smashed together there is a comb you can buy to straighten them out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwzwboqN5Cw

 

[zanejohnson]

hehe, not used to the heat?

i'm from texas, suns about down, my room temp is FINALLY falling below 84F...


no central a/c in this old house, window units in bedrooms/living room...

black out curtains help alot, this house has an attic fan, and also gaps above alot of the interior walls for this very purpose (move air around)

 

[DCal430]

Well the house is now 77, outside is has dropped to 104. I will go going on vacation after today, but I might have an AC tech look at it some time when I get back.

 

[DCal430]

hehe, not used to the heat?

i'm from texas, suns about down, my room temp is FINALLY falling below 84F...


no central a/c in this old house, window units in bedrooms/living room...

black out curtains help alot, this house has an attic fan, and also gaps above alot of the interior walls for this very purpose (move air around)

Sounds like a nightmare.

 

[zanejohnson]

Sounds like a nightmare.

it is, if i'm forced to be at home during the hot part of the day i'm constantly taking cold showers just to keep myself from dying.

my electricity bill only hits like 150 during the hottest parts of the summer (not yet) though, so it's a good trade off i guess.. in another month i'll be used to the heat..