My A/C is busted, anyone know how to fix it?

[zappa_parappa]

does having the pilot light on matter? I know nothing of things of this sort.

[Beer Snob-50]

1. go to the appliance store

and buy a new one. it always works with me.

[zappa_parappa]

3. well this isn't just a window unit, its a really large one

I don't think i want to fork out that kinda money.

[Lyric]

2. Mine is malfunctioning too, but

ours is a big old window unit, not a central system. The cooling motor doesn't want to kick on very much--it might do so once an hour, run for a couple of minutes, then the motor shuts off again and it's just the internal fan blowing. It has me a bit freaked out, because the summer heat is so close, we live in a mobile home (it gets like an oven in here in the summer), and we can't afford to replace it right now.

I wish I knew more about air conditioners, so I could fix it myself.

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. Here's a site that explains about your window unit

http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-maintain-an-air-conditioner1.htm

Window units will have a shorter life if overtaxed over time by being used to cool down more square footage than designed to do.


To learn a bt more about that, go here and read about BTUs and Tonnage (Ton = one hour of cooling for 400-700 sqare feet)

http://www.acdirect.com/hvaclingo.php

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. The pilot light has nothing to do with the A/C...it's for lighting the burners on the furnace

And if your furnace-A/C combo is newer (and those that are combos usually are), it doesn't have a pilot light; it would have an electronic igniter. A furnace-A/C combo is usually the furnace is in the garage, and the A/C is outside of the furnace location, and directly linked to the furnace by a condensate line so the blower fan can move the cooled air into the house.

Re: your A/C

It could be your thermostat, especially if you have a programmable thermostat, as those are the type to have the shortest life.

It may be that the condensate line doesn't have adequate insulation, so check the insulate cover that should be in place over the line that links the A/C to the furnace. If the insulation is cracked/falling apart, the line is heating up enough which can cause the A/C fail-safe to shut down the unit.


It also could be your breaker switch in your house electrical breaker box. The A/C breaker switch is usually a double set of switches. If you switch it to off, then switch it on, and your A/C starts working, then the best idea is to call a professional to find out WHY the switch is kicking off. A/Cs have a limited life, and it could be that the motor in the unit is conking out. The motor can get overtaxed as it wears out, making it work harder, and then will suddenly shut down as a fail-safe.

Here's a troubleshoot site for you, too:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-maintain-an-air-conditioner.htm

[seemunkee]

6. Our office AC has been out for weeks

Actually we have two units and the one on the other end of the office is working. My office is probably 85 right now with it being cloudy and breezy outside.

[AlCzervik]

7. a pilot light for an a/c unit? don't light anything please, call a professional.

are you confusing your water heater for your hvac system?

[Red State Rebel]

8. We have a Heating & Air Business

What is happening/not happening? The pilot light will not effect the operation of the a/c. Keep in mind that most A/C systems involve 2 units - one outside and then the coil air circulating part inside. What kind do you have?

[flvegan]

9. Check your outside lines, running from the big unit

See any frost/frozen areas? Might have a leak.

Heh heh...I said "big unit"