Split A/C doesn't blow cold (but condenser works)---help!

[catalytic]

I need some GarageJournal group wisdom.....

I'm (finally) traveling for the summer and currently in a nice rental with a new-ish split A/C system. It is correctly set to 'cool' and the thermostat is set to the lowest, but it only blows air that is exactly room temp. On the outside of the house, I can see that the compressor/condenser unit fan is running and condensation is dripping out at a good/normal pace.

-I cleaned the air filters (which looked fine)
-I turned it off and on at the breaker
-if I turn up the thermostat, it automatically turns the fan speed down, and the fan speed increases again when I turn the temp down (so I think the thermostat is OK)
-I tried turning it off and leaving it for 5 hours. Still no joy when turned back on.

The owners are clueless, and it's going to be 95° tomorrow ---if you have ideas about this, I'd really appreciate it.

 

[aandpdan]

Have the owners call for service. It's their responsibility.

 

[Nthill93]

Find a new rental

 

[phred]

No refrigerant.

 

[Awag]

There should not be condensation dripping outside. That should be dripping inside. Is it a heatpump and stuck in reverse flow for heating?

 

[pattenp]

I think he saying that the condensate line is dripping which should be exiting outside.

 

[catalytic]

There should not be condensation dripping outside. That should be dripping inside. Is it a heatpump and stuck in reverse flow for heating?

I think he saying that the condensate line is dripping which should be existing outside.

^^ I meant to say that when I look at the compressor/condenser unit, which is outside, there is condensation dripping from its drain line. That may just be where the drain line from the indoor unit comes out---I'm not sure. But the fact that there is condensation dripping means that something must be getting cold, right? I thought that if there was no refrigerant, then there would be no condensation (?).

I believe it is a combo heat+A/C unit, though when I set it to heating mode nothing happens inside (it stops blowing air).

Maybe the refrigerant is not pumping/circulating back to the indoor unit?

 

[Viper98912]

Might not have any refrigerant in it. Owners need to call the service person to do the diagnostic. This is not your responsibility as a renter. There's probably a law in your state that says you can withhold rent payment if your landlord is not providing adequate accommodations (which in this case, no A/C during a dangerous heatwave could constitute that....)

 

[catalytic]

Might not have any refrigerant in it. Owners need to call the service person to do the diagnostic. This is not your responsibility as a renter. There's probably a law in your state that says you can withhold rent payment if your landlord is not providing adequate accommodations (which in this case, no A/C during a dangerous heatwave could constitute that....)

It's actually a rental home in the Alps (finally a vacation!). It's otherwise great (including a garage with a bunch of rebranded Knipex no less!), and there aren't many alternatives nearby, so I hope to get this fixed. They're sending the installer out today or tomorrow, but I'd also like to solve it myself if I can---from talking to the owners, I suspect it may have been in "no cool air/fan only" mode since it was installed, so the installer may be an idiot.

 

[bluedog225]

Yeah. Needs to be evacuated, leak tested, and new refrigerant weighted in. Be interesting to see if the Swiss techs are all that.

 

[Viper98912]

It's actually a rental home in the Alps (finally a vacation!). It's otherwise great (including a garage with a bunch of rebranded Knipex no less!), and there aren't many alternatives nearby, so I hope to get this fixed. They're sending the installer out today or tomorrow, but I'd also like to solve it myself if I can---from talking to the owners, I suspect it may have been in "no cool air/fan only" mode since it was installed, so the installer may be an idiot.

Well in that case yes, hopefully they can get it fixed quickly

 

[motterpaul]

Feel the copper line sets outside. The small one should feel much colder to the touch than the big one. If not, it is low on coolant (assuming it is a mini-split). If there is ice on the pipe it is also low on coolant. The fastest/cheapest fix is to call someone with sealant and R410a to pump the system up, but a real long-term diagnostic fix would be much more extensive and costly. The owners should pay for it either way.

 

[Jim greengo]

Feel the copper line sets outside. The small one should feel much colder to the touch than the big one. If not, it is low on coolant (assuming it is a mini-split). If there is ice on the pipe it is also low on coolant. The fastest/cheapest fix is to call someone with sealant and R410a to pump the system up, but a real long-term diagnostic fix would be much more extensive and costly. The owners should pay for it either way.

Theres more than 1 reason a system can ice up ,not just being low on freon.
Pumping a system full of stop leak is generally not a good idea,find the leak and fix it.

 

[motterpaul]

Theres more than 1 reason a system can ice up ,not just being low on freon.
Pumping a system full of stop leak is generally not a good idea,find the leak and fix it.

Yeah, for the owners. In this case, the OP is at a short-term rental in the Alps.