Today ...

[Robert]

Today in my 86F house I attempted to clean the AC coils… needless to say I created a disaster that left me covered in insulation and water seeping into my son’s bedroom and the living room. I was so focused on cleaning the disaster that I have no idea if I even got the coils cleaner.
Summary is that I cut out all of the floor insulation and about 2 inches around the base. Hopefully my efforts pay off and I don’t have another 400+ power bill… sigh… maybe after this next baby we can afford a new AC unit
Can someone give a stimulus check in the summer in the south and one in the winter in the north? Everyone would love that! Free money! Let’s make my AC cost triple what it does!

If you lived close to me, I would come over and help you sort it all out. Hope it works out well. I had a $650 electric this month. Should have another the same amount this coming bill.

[Soloist]

Close is relative

Looks like the attempt to clean it was unsuccessful despite all the effort. For all I know, I did something though, temp is dropping, although it is outside too.

[Robert]

Close is relative

Looks like the attempt to clean it was unsuccessful despite all the effort. For all I know, I did something though, temp is dropping, although it is outside too.

Dirty coils will not make the temp go up like that unless they are mostly blocked, then the unit will try to freeze and you will see ice inside.

Grab each line going into the outside condenser. One should be quite cold 50F and the other should be quite hot 110F. Spray your outside unit down with a water hose. You can do it while running. Just spray the coils off to clean them. This will give you a few degrees inside. If you got water everywhere, it sounds as though your drain line is clogged. Blow compressed air or pour a little bleach in the drain line to open it.

I have fixed a lot of systems of late replacing the run(start) capacitor in the outside condenser unit. If you are not knowledgeable with electric, do not try to do that. You can get shocked easily. The capacitor helps get the outside fan and the outside condenser running. If it is bad, either of them will not run, or run too slow creating the issue you are having. A good HVAC person will not charge but a service call and $20-$40 for the capacitor. You can Youtube it to find out how to change one yourself if you are determined. I just automatically change them whenever a unit is acting up. Most the time this summer it has been the issue. I am fixing 3-5 units a day just doing that. If you do decide to try to change it and you can get one, I would be happy to talk you through it on the phone or video chat.

[RZehr]

Wow. My house has central AC and is all electric, the bill I got today is $221.25. Last month my AC quit because my furnace filter was clogged and sucked up into the fan. The. My lines froze up. Replaced the filter, but after I paid $$$ for a service technician.

[Soloist]

There might be other problems too but in this situation I can easily see the dirt on the coils
This house wasn’t taken care of prior to us getting it…
The tech who checked stuff for us said it’s running well given the condition, no leaks and unit outside is good.
The catch though is all the connections to the coils are very rusted… if they took the coils out to clean them, they wouldn’t go back together.
The water everywhere was from my attempt to clean them in place. I had coil cleaner and a garden hose. Still looked pretty dirty after and waking up this morning we still were at 76 rather then 74. It’s 80 right now and the high heat is part of the problem. I have noted ice before too so it was a probably problem.

My computer’s power supply recently died… I draw the line at capacitors… my knowledge of electrical is too limited and my tremor would end up being the death of me.

[Robert]

The water everywhere was from my attempt to clean them in place. I had coil cleaner and a garden hose.

There is coil cleaner that you just spray on and let it go. No need to wash it off. The condensed water cleans them. No wash coil cleaner. Just be ready for a few fumes in the house for a little bit.

The ice is most likely the air flow restrictions you are having. Once that opens up, the icing will disappear.

[Robert]

Wow. My house has central AC and is all electric, the bill I got today is $221.25. Last month my AC quit because my furnace filter was clogged and sucked up into the fan. The. My lines froze up. Replaced the filter, but after I paid $$$ for a service technician.

We have a big OLD farm house. I put $1500 of insulation in the attic and need more. That will happen in about a month, after the heat abates. Just hard to find time to do it right now.

I doubt we have anything int he walls, but most walls are coved by massive windows that are single pane and quite old also. Still working on how to remedy that without spending $500+ per window of the 18 I need.

[QuietlyListening]

I doubt we have anything int he walls, but most walls are coved by massive windows that are single pane and quite old also. Still working on how to remedy that without spending $500+ per window of the 18 I need.

Back in the 80s we lived in an old house with very old single pane windows and house had no insulation. We found insulated blinds and they made a huge difference- both in the summer and winter- we lived in VA.
Maybe if you can find insulated blinds? Ours had grooves son when you pulled them down they had no opening, like sealed to the window.

[Robert]

Maybe if you can find insulated blinds? Ours had grooves son when you pulled them down they had no opening, like sealed to the window.

I have not seen any of those, but I will keep an eye out. I just ordered some tinting that blocks UV and reflects a lot of the light/heat back out. I am going to do a test with it. If it works well, I will build my own fixed storms and out that on them. That will really reduce the heat transference.

[temporal1]

Soloist, glad you crossed paths with Robert, i’m sure this dialogue is useful to many reading.

Wow. My house has central AC and is all electric, the bill I got today is $221.25.
Last month my AC quit because my furnace filter was clogged and sucked up into the fan. The. My lines froze up. Replaced the filter, but after I paid $$$ for a service technician.

RZehr, you may have the best electric rates on forum! i’m glad for you and your family.

Maybe if you can find insulated blinds? Ours had grooves son when you pulled them down they had no opening, like sealed to the window.

I have not seen any of those, but I will keep an eye out.

I just ordered some tinting that blocks UV and reflects a lot of the light/heat back out.
I am going to do a test with it. If it works well, I will build my own fixed storms and out [put?] that on them. That will really reduce the heat transference.

A. Window film
We used this film at one location, i expect you’ll be happy with it.
The film comes in different grades, the more blocking, the darker the film .. but, even the darkest (we used on a south facing skylight) made for pretty blue skies, and helped a lot with heat transferrence. It wasn’t too dark for that use.
i would like to have the film now.

i’m not sure of the brand we used, this link describes how it works, year-round.
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/home-window ... e-control/

B. Curtans, blinds, shades, awnings
As for shading windows, indoor insulated curtains, blinds, shades help, and can be adjusted during the day.
Outside awnings help, some can be adjusted, i’ve never had awnings, but i’ve dreamed of them.

C. Trellis for vines
Years ago, we experimented with an inexpensive product to shade a 4’ wide bay window in an ancient house.
Who would put a bay window facing due west in our area?! The bay window had been replaced, but even with newer materials, the west sun was a beast.

i don’t see the exact product made anymore, but, basically, it was a roll of heavy duty white vinyl netting much like the link below, it had vinyl edging all around which gave it a neat finished look, and prevented tearing, i’m sure. The edging had grommets so it could easily be hung.

From ground to soffit/fascia, it might have been 10-15’.
The men installed several hooks to hang it, then used landscaping anchors/pins to secure it to the ground.
Our house had white trim, it looked nice.

There are various trellis materials+designs/colors. Be careful of EGRESS windows.

In spring i planted Morning Glory seeds. They are easy to grow and climb quickly.
By hot weather, the vines were lush and provided great shade for indoors. i thought they were pretty from inside, we still got bright light, but not glaring direct sun.

In later fall/winter, the vines faded away, had to be removed. Replant in the spring.

Heavy-Duty Outdoor Deck Netting 15 ft. Roll, Translucent White
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cardinal-Ga ... /303396023

D. Insulated boards
Before the vinyl trellis, we fitted an insulated board to the window - it was unsightly! We were desperate to block that western sun. The trellis+morning glories were a big improvement!


^^It was similar to this, but ours hung perpendicular, soffit to ground.

Warning: not for EGRESS windows.

E. Reflectix roll insulation / primary use is attic insulation
i like this product for several uses. It’s lightweight, clean, easy to cut+use. (Example: i cut pieces to fit over crawlspace vents in winter.) It’s versatile. i have not used it in windows, but, in desperation, i would.

Reflectix
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Reflectix-R-21 ... -L/1014123