Would shading the outside condenser of my AC system make it cool better?

[Chaotic42]

It has been very hot and very dry here over the last couple of weeks. My little thermometer sensor in the carport has been hitting 100 for the past several days. I have a 10 month old AC system, but it is not really handling the task as well as I would hope. We're at 76 near the handler and 80 in front of the computer.

The condenser is outside in direct sunlight. Would shading it help? I have no idea how hot it's getting, but I would think that it being dark grey and in the sun would affect its cooling capabilities.

Any ideas?

 

[drnickriviera]

It doesn't hurt. That's just extra heat load that it doesn't have to deal with.

 

[spidey07]

Nicer ACs have a cover for this very purpose.

 

[sao123]

shading is good, but do not restrict airflow around the unit.

 

[bctbct]

Are you saying the unit will not cool lower than 76/80 degrees? If so I would say that the unit is undersized.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: bctbct
Are you saying the unit will not cool lower than 76/80 degrees? If so I would say that the unit is undersized.

Well, it's 2.5 ton for an 1100 square foot house. This has been the hottest June that I can remember, so I guess it's a proper test. If I can make myself, I need to go up into my very cramped attic to check the insulation around the air handler.

 

[bctbct]

did you check the temp at the register? Should be 55-58 degrees

 

[nickbits]

Ac covers are for winter not to be used when it is running

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: nickbits
Ac covers are for winter not to be used when it is running

Yeah, mine's going to run all year. Where is the register?

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
It has been very hot and very dry here over the last couple of weeks. My little thermometer sensor in the carport has been hitting 100 for the past several days. I have a 10 month old AC system, but it is not really handling the task as well as I would hope. We're at 76 near the handler and 80 in front of the computer.

The condenser is outside in direct sunlight. Would shading it help? I have no idea how hot it's getting, but I would think that it being dark grey and in the sun would affect its cooling capabilities.

Any ideas?

if its 10months old, get someone in to check it out, it should be under warranty. Did the unit perform well in the beginning? Has performance been dropping over time? <-- This is important

Check the temperature at the outlets, and compare it to the return air temperature.

Also make sure your air filters are clean, this can affect performance. And at 10 months old, they are well due for cleaning.

And post your temps in Degrees Celcius please.

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: nickbits
Ac covers are for winter not to be used when it is running

Yeah, mine's going to run all year. Where is the register?

You mean the vent on the wall?



A lot of the cheaper units have thick wire holding up the condenser fan - there's really nothing shielding the coils from the sun. Go up in $ and they use vented sheet metal.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
It has been very hot and very dry here over the last couple of weeks. My little thermometer sensor in the carport has been hitting 100 for the past several days. I have a 10 month old AC system, but it is not really handling the task as well as I would hope. We're at 76 near the handler and 80 in front of the computer.

The condenser is outside in direct sunlight. Would shading it help? I have no idea how hot it's getting, but I would think that it being dark grey and in the sun would affect its cooling capabilities.

Any ideas?

if its 10months old, get someone in to check it out, it should be under warranty. Did the unit perform well in the beginning? Has performance been dropping over time? <-- This is important

Check the temperature at the outlets, and compare it to the return air temperature.

Also make sure your air filters are clean, this can affect performance. And at 10 months old, they are well due for cleaning.

And post your temps in Degrees Celcius please.

Dont be stealing our a/c customers. OP, in Fahrenheit only please.

 

[bctbct]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: nickbits
Ac covers are for winter not to be used when it is running

Yeah, mine's going to run all year. Where is the register?

just put a thermometer in the duct where the air comes out.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
It has been very hot and very dry here over the last couple of weeks. My little thermometer sensor in the carport has been hitting 100 for the past several days. I have a 10 month old AC system, but it is not really handling the task as well as I would hope. We're at 76 near the handler and 80 in front of the computer.

The condenser is outside in direct sunlight. Would shading it help? I have no idea how hot it's getting, but I would think that it being dark grey and in the sun would affect its cooling capabilities.

Any ideas?

if its 10months old, get someone in to check it out, it should be under warranty. Did the unit perform well in the beginning? Has performance been dropping over time? <-- This is important

Yes, but it had a problem once before with leaking freon. This was fixed back in March or so. Since then it's never had a problem keeping the air at its setpoint of 73F / 22.8C

Check the temperature at the outlets, and compare it to the return air temperature.

Temperature at vent in my room: 61F / 16.1C
Temperature at intake under air handler: 76F / 24.5C
Temperature in front of computer: 80F / 27C
Outside highs lately: 100F / 38C
Outside lows lately: 80F / 27C
Dew Points: 72-78F / 22.2-25.5C

Also make sure your air filters are clean, this can affect performance. And at 10 months old, they are well due for cleaning.

It looks clean and I've already replaced it once. I will replace it again right now.

Thanks!

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
It has been very hot and very dry here over the last couple of weeks. My little thermometer sensor in the carport has been hitting 100 for the past several days. I have a 10 month old AC system, but it is not really handling the task as well as I would hope. We're at 76 near the handler and 80 in front of the computer.

The condenser is outside in direct sunlight. Would shading it help? I have no idea how hot it's getting, but I would think that it being dark grey and in the sun would affect its cooling capabilities.

Any ideas?

if its 10months old, get someone in to check it out, it should be under warranty. Did the unit perform well in the beginning? Has performance been dropping over time? <-- This is important

Yes, but it had a problem once before with leaking freon. This was fixed back in March or so. Since then it's never had a problem keeping the air at its setpoint of 73F / 22.8C

Check the temperature at the outlets, and compare it to the return air temperature.

Temperature at vent in my room: 61F / 16.1C<--- This is too high
Temperature at intake under air handler: 76F / 24.5C
Temperature in front of computer: 80F / 27C
Outside highs lately: 100F / 38C <-- This is very warm
Outside lows lately: 80F / 27C
Dew Points: 72-78F / 22.2-25.5C

Also make sure your air filters are clean, this can affect performance. And at 10 months old, they are well due for cleaning.

It looks clean and I've already replaced it once. I will replace it again right now.

Thanks!

Your supply air reading is too high. The next thing i would do is check refrigerant pressures. Have your installer come out and check the refrigerant pressures


What brand of unit is it?

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Sea Moose
Your supply air reading is too high. The next thing i would do is check refrigerant pressures. Have your installer come out and check the refrigerant pressures


What brand of unit is it?

The compressor and handler are both Goodman.

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Sea Moose
Your supply air reading is too high. The next thing i would do is check refrigerant pressures. Have your installer come out and check the refrigerant pressures


What brand of unit is it?

The compressor and handler are both Goodman.

This is not a brand i am familiar with, sorry. But i would have someone come and check the pressures. You might be 500grams short of refrigerant. Your unit has a history of leaking.
Once the right amount of refrigerant has been added you should see 16degC drop down to about 6 to 9.

But the mechanic might notice somthing i am not seeing. *Sigh* thats the hard part of trying to diagnose over the interweb.


I have to go, Let me know you get on.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Sea Moose
Your supply air reading is too high. The next thing i would do is check refrigerant pressures. Have your installer come out and check the refrigerant pressures


What brand of unit is it?

The compressor and handler are both Goodman.

This is not a brand i am familiar with, sorry. But i would have someone come and check the pressures. You might be 500grams short of refrigerant. Your unit has a history of leaking.
Once the right amount of refrigerant has been added you should see 16degC drop down to about 6 to 9.

But the mechanic might notice somthing i am not seeing. *Sigh* thats the hard part of trying to diagnose over the interweb.


I have to go, Let me know you get on.

Thanks man, I appreciate it. I'd imagine it's like grandma calling up with a computer question.

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Sea Moose
Your supply air reading is too high. The next thing i would do is check refrigerant pressures. Have your installer come out and check the refrigerant pressures


What brand of unit is it?

The compressor and handler are both Goodman.

This is not a brand i am familiar with, sorry. But i would have someone come and check the pressures. You might be 500grams short of refrigerant. Your unit has a history of leaking.
Once the right amount of refrigerant has been added you should see 16degC drop down to about 6 to 9.

But the mechanic might notice somthing i am not seeing. *Sigh* thats the hard part of trying to diagnose over the interweb.


I have to go, Let me know you get on.

Thanks man, I appreciate it. I'd imagine it's like grandma calling up with a computer question.

But the major point is its only 10 months old. PUSH FOR WARRANTY.

I really have to go, Please pm and let me know how you get on.

 

[13Gigatons]

The direct sunlight would affect the operation quite a bit. Some shade from a tree or the house itself would lower the temps a lot.

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
The direct sunlight would affect the operation quite a bit. Some shade from a tree or the house itself would lower the temps a lot.

This

 

[captains]

also check the condenser outside to see if leaves are packed in there. use hose to spray any leaves that maybe restricting airflow

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
The direct sunlight would affect the operation quite a bit. Some shade from a tree or the house itself would lower the temps a lot.

Yeah, I'd have to build something. I guess I'm going to call the guys back out. If this thing is legitimately broken again, I'm going to be unhappy. Especially since it cost $4300.

 

[drnickriviera]

Goodman is a builder grade unit

 

[BoomerD]

Do you have a condenser unit outside? If so, have you cleaned it our since you got it? I hose mine out twice per year. It's amazing how much dust, leaves, and misc. crap the fan can suck into the cooling fins.

Mine is on a covered patio and does a slightly better job at cooling than it did when it was in the sun all day. (Maybe 1-2 degrees cooler in the house) When it's 100 outside, my AC handles it fine, but at 110...it struggles to keep the house at 80. (Gray stucco house with dark charcoal tile roof...BIG heat mass)