Why is my AC leaking water?

People always talk about how Arizona has a dry heat. Well during monsoon season the dry heat becomes a wet heat. Most people don’t even realize how well their air conditioner is working to keep out the humidity until they walk outside of their home. Have you recently asked yourself “why is my AC leaking water?”

13336076_10209853917691167_2895391890897447139_n — Looking for pinholes of leaking refrigerant on a rusty evap coil last year.

Air Conditioners use the condensation method to remove the moisture from the air in your home. The same thing that runs down your cold drink on a warm day. Is also keeping your home at a comfortable humidity range. This is the water you are seeing when you see water pouring from a drain in the side of your home.

If you have a package unit on top of your home. Then you should see a PVC or copper pipe coming from the unit. It should either run off the roof or into some sort of drain. Continuous water should be directed off your roof. It could progress deterioration of your roof over time.

If you have a split unit then you will usually either have an air handler in your attic or a side closet. These kind of units will usually have PVC or copper drains going through a wall to leak the condensation outside or to a separate drain.

Installed 2 new split systems earlier this year. Notice the PVC directing the condensation water to a separate drain.

20170725_153350 — New Trane Package Unit on top of a custom curb adapter. Notice the PVC connecting to an existing drain.

It is important to remember that these drains can get clogged over time with dust and it can turn into a sludge. These drains really can cause a problem if they get fully clogged, and if they are located inside your attic. They usually will have a secondary pan underneath the air handler if located in the attic. The pan will mostly always have a PVC or copper drain connected from it to the outside. A lot of people will usually not pay attention to the subtle signs that the condensation is leaking through the emergency drain instead of the primary drain. Once the secondary pan gets clogged as well. They tend to fill up after a few gallons. The water will then ruin your drywall and insulation underneath where unit is located. When looking at the side of your home where the drains are located. The lower drain should be your primary passage for the condensation. If your condensation is leaking through the higher drain. Then you can probably guess that your secondary pan is catching the leaking condensation from your air handler. I immediately suggest you go in the attic to inspect the pan.

If your secondary pan has water in it. Then I suggest you immediately turn off your AC unit to stop adding water to the situation. I suggest you get a Wet/Dry vacuum to put on the outside drain to try to unclog it. Don’t forget to remove the dust filter inside your wet/dry vac before sucking up water. If you cannot unclog it this way then I suggest going into the attic with your wet/dry vac to remove the obstruction from the drain this way. If you can’t get the drain to clear. Then I suggest you suck the water from the pan before working on the drain lines. It may take you a few trips to safely remove the water without too much damage to your insulation and drywall. Once the pan is clear from water. I recommend you using your wet dry vacuum to make sure the line is clear.

Most the time I will cut the drain line, and I will my pressurized nitrogen bottle to blow about 200 psi though the line. This method is the fastest and will usually take care of the problems for me. I then reconnect the drain line with either a shark bite quick connect fitting if it’s copper line, or I will use PVC coupler and glue. Condensation drain lines are usually 3/4″ but I have seen 1/2″ drain lines before.

I have attached some tools that will help you clear condensation drain lines more efficiently.

RIDGID 32975 Model 103 Close Quarters Tubing Cutter, 1/8-inch to 5/8-inch Tube Cutter RIDGID 31632 Model 151 Quick-Acting Tubing Cutter, 1/4-inch to 1-7/8-inch Tube Cutter K-D Tools 2107 Mini Tubing Cutter Pipe and Tube Cutter, Ratcheting Hose Cutter, One-hand Fast Pipe Cutting Tool with Ratchet Drive for Cutting Less Than 1-1/4 PVC Pipe Cutters By Haisstronica One-hand Fast pipe cutter tool with Ratchet Drive for Cutting Less Than 1-5/8in(42mm) O.D. PEX, PVC, and PPR Pipe Stanley Wet/Dry Vacuum, 6 Gallon, 4 Horsepower Shop-Vac 2021000 Micro Wet/Dry Vac Vacmaster 2.5 Gallon, 2 Peak HP, Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum, VP205 Vacmaster VFB511B 0201 Beast Series Professional Wet/Dry Vacuum Uniweld 40040 Nitrogen Sludge Sucker and Blaster Kit with Metal Carrying Stand for 40 Cubic Feet Nitrogen Tank DiversiTech CB-2 DrainDawg Condensate Line Drain Cleaning Kit New 20 cu ft Steel Nitrogen Cylinder with CGA580 Valve Fernco 1056-075 Condensate 3/4-Inch plastic or 3/4 and 1-Inch copper Pipe Connector PVC Pipe Coupler – Socket / Slip – Schedule 40 – White – 3/4-Inch – Pack of 6 SharkBite U016LFA4 Straight Coupling Plumbing Fitting, 3/4 Inch, PEX Fittings, Push-to-Connect, Coupler, Copper, CPVC SharkBite U3016LFA 3/4-Inch SharkBite Lead Free Repair Slip Coupling

I hope this article has helped you. Please comment or email me if you have any questions.

dollarmech@gmail.com

October 21, 2017 0

How to replace a capacitor on an AC

Did your AC stop blowing cold air? Are you dreading to call the AC guy? Did they charge you both arms and legs last time? Fear not! I will show you how to replace a capacitor on your home AC system, and help you save yourself $100-$300 by following these simple instructions. Capacitors are one of the most common things that could go wrong with an AC.

You will need to have the required tools that I mentioned in my other post.

ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICAL POWER BEFORE OPENING THE UNIT!!!

Please always be cautious of the fan blade, and try not getting shocked from the electricity.

Capacitors will hold a charge after the unit is turned off. So avoid touching both the terminals together at the same time. Until you can safely discharge the capacitor by putting the metal part of a screwdriver across the terminals after the unit is turned off.

First sign that a capacitor will need to be replaced is usually the outdoor fan or compressor will not be kicking on. If your outdoor fan motor blade is stuck still when unit should be energized. Then that is a sign that the outdoor fan motor will need to be replaced. Whenever a motor is replaced. I recommend replacing the capacitor along with it. Most residential units will have single phase voltage. That means that both the outdoor fan motor and compressor will have a capacitor for them. Most residential units will use Dual Run Capacitors which is both capacitors built into one. Three phase motors don’t use capacitors.

If you don’t have a microfarad tester built into your multimeter. Then I recommend getting a separate tester for capacitors. It would be a cool tool to lend to your friend if his capacitor went bad on his unit. You can test a capacitor by taking the wires off the terminals. Then put the tester on the terminals. Your tester should read what the capacitor is rated for. So if your capacitor was a 40 microfarads, and the capacitor was reading 36.4. Then your capacitor is bad and needs to be replaced. The capacitors microfarad readings will need to be whatever the motor calls for plus or minus 6%.

Motor Run Capacitor Round 30 uf MFD 370 Volt VAC 12717 PACKARD TRCD455 Titan Pro 45+5 MFD 370V Round Run Capacitor Replaces PRCD455 GE Genteq Replacement for Capacitor 30/5 uf 370 volt 97F9833, 370V, 30/5 MFD, Dual Run, Round Capacitor TradePro 40+5 uf MFD 370 or 440 Volt Dual Run Round Capacitor Bundle TP-CAP-40/5/440R Condenser Straight Cool/Heat Pump Air Conditioner and Zip Tie 40/5 MFD Multi-Purpose 440 or 370 Volt Round Run Capacitor Replacement TradePro 40+5 PACKARD TRCD455 Titan Pro 45+5 MFD 370V Round Run Capacitor Replaces PRCD455 PACKARD TRCD455 Titan Pro 45+5 MFD 370V Round Run Capacitor Replaces PRCD455 MARS – Motors & Armatures 12286 40 + 5 uF MFD x 440 VAC Genteq Replacement Dual Capacitor 10 MFD 440 or 370 Volt Oval Run Capacitor Replacement TradePro 10 microfarads Five Two One Inc CSR-U1 Compressor Saver Hard Start Capacitor Supco SPP6 Hard Start Kit RECTORSEAL 96506 Ks1 Kickstart Hard Start Kit Pocket Hose Ultra Expandable, 3X Stronger, 75 Feet LawnPRO 50’ Expanding Garden Hose. Kink-Free. 5,000 Denier Woven Casing. Copper Fittings. Steel Assembly Clamps. 12 Month Manufacturers Warranty. + Free Storage Bag HOAEY 100ft Expanding Hose, Flexible Garden Expandable Water Hose with Pipe Brass Fittings for Car Garden ( 100 Feet )

I know you probably have questions still. So please leave a comment, and I’ll update the article to address them.

October 19, 2017 0

How to become a self sufficient AC DIYer

Alot of AC guys will probably get mad at me for sharing information this easily and readily available to the public. I feel that we should all live by the “to give a man a fish, or to teach a man how to fish” philosophy. So I decided to share this information with the masses. This information is meant for people who are pretty “handy” with tools. I don’t recommend doing anything that you feel uncomfortable or unsure about doing. As you may hurt yourself or the machine. I also want you to know that it is illegal to handle refrigerants without your Universal EPA license in the United States. They are fairly easy to obtain. I feel I can give you enough knowledge to safely save yourself a few bucks if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty in the process.

Always becareful when getting on roofs or climbing ladders. You could potentially get really hurt or even die. I am a professional and I fell through a sky light a few months ago while not paying attention to where I was stepping.

After falling through the skylight, and before my seven stitches.

First thing you will need is some of the AC technicians most basic tools. I have attached links to some I approve of getting.

Multimeter- these are mainly use to check voltage, continuity, and amps. Getting one with an amp clamp is quick way to check how much amperage motors are drawing. I also recommend getting one that reads microfarads for reading capacitors.
Refrigeration gauges- I recommend getting some for R-410A refrigerant. These are the highest pressures you will probably deal with. R-410A is one of the most common refrigerants you will encounter.
Screwdrivers-Both flat and phillips various lengths.
Channel locks
Wire strippers/cutters/terminal crimper
Needle nose pliers
Power drill or driver with 5/16″ and 1/4″ bits and phillips head bits
Tool bag
Ladder- to get on top of whatever roof you are trying to access.
Rope- to bring parts and tools onto the roof.

I will add some other posts with updates to various simple discrepancies in your system that you may encounter.

Klein Tools 55421BP-14 Tradesman Pro Organizer Backpack Klein Tools 5541610-14 Tradesman Pro Organizer 10-Inch Tote Fieldpiece SC260 Compact Clamp Multimeter with True RMS Fieldpiece HS36 Expandable Autoranging True RMS Stick Multimeter w/Backlight Yellow Jacket 42006 Series 41 Manifold with 3-1/8 Yellow Jacket 41711 Series 41 Manifold with 2-1/2 Yellow Jacket 19109 Quick Coupler Sealright Coupler Fieldpiece BG44 Single Strap Bag System FIELDPIECE SPK1 Fieldpiece ATC1R Pipe-Clamp Thermocouple 1/8-Inch to 3/4-Inch for Refrigeration by Fieldpiece Klein Tools J203-7 Journeyman Standard Long-Nose Pliers, 7-Inch IRWIN VISE-GRIP GrooveLock Pliers Set, V-Jaw, 2 Piece, 2078709 Klein Tools 85078 Cushion-Grip Screwdriver Set (8-Piece)

October 16, 2017 0

Don’t stress plants out

When many of us think about plants. We don’t usually think of them as other living organisms with feelings. It is difficult for many of us to think that plants can get stressed out from their environment as many humans and animals do. After growing plants for a few years. You start to get a feel for how they are feeling at times. Plant stress is a real thing.

22195775_10214689990269959_3673553820146281118_n — Some wild flower seedlings sprouting in my backyard flower bed.

Growing in my garden in Chandler, Arizona. I have to deal with a harsh summer heat, and at certain times throughout the winter. It may freeze during the nights. You really have to have everything else on point if you expect to produce anything noteworthy. Sonoran Desert can be pretty unforgiving at times.

Some people have different views on putting stress on plants. Some think it will make them more robust in the long run. I on the other hand think that they will produce more and better quality with less stress. I feel plants like to be treated as Kobe Beef cows get treated. Anything that can be done to make the plants feel more at home to their native lands will increase your yields.

Proper plant nutrition is key. A balanced diet of nutrients for the plants will produce healthy happy plants. I found that composting is the best way to get a balanced diet for your garden, and it will help do your part to keep waste out of the landfills. I ordered a compost tumbler off Amazon (like in the link below) to hold the compost as it is getting ready. I also ordered a small composting container for my kitchen. It holds the composting materials a few days at a time so I don’t have to make daily trips to my compost tumbler. It has a charcoal filter to prevent odors. I noticed banana peels are a great way to get the compost party started. I also ordered some composting bags that break down naturally, and are compost safe. I recommend getting a roll to keep the time down when transferring the composting materials from bin to bin.

I got interested in the composting concept when I heard the fact that if you compost. You can reduce the amount of trash you send to the landfills by around 30%. Not to mention the benefits your garden will get in the long run. I have plans to set up a neighborhood composting program in the future once I could use the extra help for my garden. I will continue to keep you guys updated on the progress.

Yimby Tumbler Composter, Color Black The Most Beautiful Composter in the World, Made in the USA, Food Safe, BPA and Rust Free, No Assembly Required, Envirocycle Composting Tumbler Bin and Compost Tea Maker Redmon Green Culture 65-Gallon Compost Bin MaxWorks 80699 42-Gallon Rotary Tumbler/Composter Miracle Gro DC270MG Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter Barton Tumbler Composter Composting Bins Top Rated Epica Stainless Steel Compost Bin 1.3 Gallon-Includes Charcoal Filter Premium Quality Stainless Steel Compost Bin 1.3 Gallon, Includes Charcoal Filter – Utopia Kitchen Norpro 100% Compostable Bags, 50 Count Full Circle Fresh Air Biodegradable Compost Waste Bags, 25 Count

Shop at Bootstrap Farmer

October 16, 2017 0

DIY Mini Split AC! The benefits of the newest and easiest way to add HVAC to your existing home.

Mini split sales have been increasing around the world for a few decades. Their popularity is finally getting noticed in the United States. The more I have came across them as an HVAC technician. The more I have been impressed of their quality. They can be pretty simple to install in comparison to the more traditional package and split systems. Which usually in turn means less labor and less costs.

There are a few things to take in consideration when deciding on the mini-split system. First thing is to consider what you will be needing the adding cooling for. There are 2 types of cooling. The first is comfort cooling, which most systems operate in this fashion. They tend to only care about a specific temperature in mind and tend to run far less than the other kind. Process cooling is the other type. Process cooling is used for rooms that build large amounts of heat from a variety of sources. Many data centers and grow rooms use process cooling systems due to the amount of heat needed to be removed from the environment. Process cooling systems tend to be a little bit pricier than the more traditional comfort cooling systems, but they are built with higher quality parts to withstand the abuse of constantly running.

Next you need to decide on how much cooling you will need. For comfort cooling systems most people use the rule of thumb. For every 500 sq ft of space you should have 1 ton of cooling (12,000btus). This also depends on how tall your ceilings are for the room. If you are using a Mini-split for a grow room. I have attached a helpful link to help you determine the btus and cooling you need.

BTU calculator

It is also important to keep in consideration how well your room is insulated. Proper seals around doors and windows can keep your system running less. Which leaves your electricity bill lower.

Many mini split systems use far less electricity than their bigger counterparts. It is important to make sure there is enough room on your electrical circuit panel too. This is not that easy to determine for the DIYer so I recommend getting an electrician or HVAC guy to help if you need more assistance. I am available for installs and servicing your mini splits with proper compensation. I have attached a few mini split systems that I would recommend getting for a comfort cooling setup.

LG LSU360HV3 3 TON SINGLE ZONE INVERTER OUTDOOR MINI-SPLIT HEAT PUMP UNIT 16.1 SEER 208-230/60/1 R-410A Frigidaire Ductless Wall Mount Mini Split Inverter Air Conditioner with Heat Pump, 22000 BTU (2 Ton), 20 SEER 230 VAC, Full Set LG LMU187HV/LMN097HVT 1-1/2 TON PIONEER Air Conditioner Inverter+ Ductless Wall Mount Mini Split System Air Conditioner & Heat Pump Full Set, 12000 BTU 230V 9,000 BTU Innova Ductless Mini-split Air Conditioner – Inverter SEER 15.2 – Cooling & Heating – Dehumidifier – 115v/60hz – Pre Charged Condenser – Ultra Quiet – 16 Feet Line Set + Accessories MRCOOL DIY 24K BTU 16 SEER Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump w/ WiFi FRIEDRICH M12YJ FRIEDRICH DUCTLESS MINI-SPLIT HEAT PUMP SYSTEM 12000 BTU 230 VOLT 21.5 SEER (1/EA)Marketing Holders AC-GUARD A/C Security Mini-Split Cage

October 15, 2017 0

My AC stopped running! Now what do I do?

The sad truth of the matter is that many people don’t worry about their Air Conditioning system till it has stopped running. It is one of those simple things in life many of us take for granted till we realize we can’t survive the summer temperatures without it. As I currently work as an Air Conditioning Technician for a National Air Conditioning Repair Company based out Arizona. I see a wide range of problems from Air Conditioners. Some problems are pretty simple, and some are really complex. I feel that I could save you a few dollars if you ran into one of the simple issues I will talk about later on.

First thing to know about Air Conditioners is that they mainly come in 2 styles.

20170810_154612 — Compressor safety relief popped open and sprayed burnt compressor oil all over.

When you see the whole AC on top of a house in one “package” then that is called a Package System. If has a natural gas heater in a package system. Then some people call those a “Gas Pack” system.

The other style of AC is a “split” system. Those AC’s will usually have a condenser unit on the side of the house, and an Air Handler in the attic or an outside closet.

Air Conditioners will have a variety of heaters as they can be fitted for any kind of climate. They can have a wide range of heat sources depending on what is most readily available. Some of the most common heaters are electrical, natural gas, and heat pumps.

Most residential systems range in size from 1 to 5 tons.

Commercial systems can range in size depending on the application. Most of the larger buildings have built in chiller systems such as Hospitals, Malls, Data Centers.

If your AC stops running on a hot summer day then there could be a few things to check for. First thing is first and I always check the thermostat of the unit. Depending on the style of thermostat. Your thermostat batteries underneath the cover could be dead. If your thermostat batteries are fine or if it doesn’t have any. Then I would next check the circuit breaker panel. In the summer time some units will have a hard time getting rid of all the heat that is built up in the buildings. They tend to over amp during the hot days which will cause your circuit breaker to trip, or maybe one of the fuses may pop. One of the fastest and easiest ways to help remedy this situation is to first take a look at your Air Filter. If it is dirty then you should replace it with a similar style. If it is a reusable filter then you should clean it according to the style it is. Next thing that will help this situation is cleaning off your outside condenser coils. They tend to build up unwanted layers of dirt and grime over the years. The dirt helps insulate the heat within the condenser coils and prevents it from transferring out. The best way to prevent this is using a recommend coil cleaner like in the link below. Make sure you thoroughly wash off the coils with water to prevent them from chemical damage unless specifically stated on the bottle. Some chemicals will state that they are a “No-Rinse” formula.

Brooks $

Nu-Calgon 4171-75 Evap Foam No Rinse Evaporator Coil Cleaner, 18 oz.A/C SAFE AC-921 Air Conditioner Coil Foam Cleaner, Cleans Evaporator and Condenser Coils and Fan Blades Air Conditioner Condenser Fin and Refrigerator Coil Cleaning Whisk Brush UEi Test Instruments PDT650 Folding Pocket Digital Thermometer Etekcity Lasergrip 774 Non-contact Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer Temperature Gun -58℉~ 716℉ (-50℃ ~ 380℃), Yellow and Black HOLDPEAK 981C Non-Contact Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer Temperature Gun Instant-read -58 to 1022℉ (-50 to 550℃) with 9V Battery and Emissivity 0.1-1.0(Adjustable)

October 15, 2017 0

Welcome to brooksdollar.com

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to welcome you to my site brooksdollar.com I hope you find it useful and entertaining. I will cover a variety of subjects in my content. Please like and share my videos if you feel they have helped you. I will update the site from time to time with content that I feel will benefit the masses. Thanks for stopping by.

Brooks $

October 14, 2017 0