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

[TheCrashMaster]

I have seen some people in very hot climates rig water sprayers around the outside condenser to lower the temperature. They had little sprayers shoot upon 3 sides spraying water on the condenser. This caused a much more dramatic temperature difference spraying cool water than shading the unit. Is this safe spraying water on the condenser while it is running? Of course it is, as you run your A/C during the rain. Ever notice how much colder the air is inside during a rainstorm? This is why.

 

[iGas]

Shade your outside unit is not going to do much different because the volume of air drawn is greater than any shaded area that you can ever provide, unless you live in a forest but that is a moot point.

It would be help full if you spray down/clean the outside heat exchanger to promote air flow.

 

[iGas]

Originally posted by: 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.

It could be a poorly insulated ductwork or air handler in the attic. Try packing more insulation on the attic ductwork & air handler. Also add insulation in the attic to see if it make any different.

Turn off all electronic devices that not in use, and pull down window blinds curtains when you are not home to prevent infrared light from entering your home.

 

[iGas]

Originally posted by: 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?

Supply and return air registers in dry bulb test should be around 20 F different, but it can be as low as 15-16 F different if the humidity is high.

76 F - 61 F = 15 F mean that it is well with in the tolerant level.

 

[iGas]

Originally posted by: TheCrashMaster
I have seen some people in very hot climates rig water sprayers around the outside condenser to lower the temperature. They had little sprayers shoot upon 3 sides spraying water on the condenser. This caused a much more dramatic temperature difference spraying cool water than shading the unit. Is this safe spraying water on the condenser while it is running? Of course it is, as you run your A/C during the rain. Ever notice how much colder the air is inside during a rainstorm? This is why.

It is completely safe to spray water on the outside unit because it is design to be in all weather conditions. Water help cool down the coils thus ease the work on compressor.

 

[Jeff7]

I too would expect that shading it would help.
The heat exchanging system is simply a way of moving heat from one place to another. Normally, there's a fan in place to remove heat from the condenser coils outside. Energy that's not removed from the system here will of course remain within the lines, which means that there's that much less energy that it can removed from the inside of your house, and of course if sunlight is adding energy to the coils, that'll only further impair the air conditioner's functionality.

Of course, if those coils get too cold, then the temperature of the evaporator coils inside can get cold enough to produce frost.
That right there shows the basic principle rather nicely - reduce the energy trying to enter the condenser coils, and you can lower the temperature at the evaporator heat exchanger.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: iGas
Supply and return air registers in dry bulb test should be around 20 F different, but it can be as low as 15-16 F different if the humidity is high.

76 F - 61 F = 15 F mean that it is well with in the tolerant level.

that's what I've been told as well.
Given that it's not a high end unit, that sounds like it's doing what it's designed to, no one knows for how long though.
Anything to mitigate the heat load will help the unit.
I would also suggest checking the connection at the register to make sure you're not leaking at or along the duct. Also make sure all insulation is over the duct itself.

 

[Sea Moose]

Op, you shouldnt have to hook up water sprayers or anything if the unit was correctly sized for the house.
If ducting has come loose, again its a warranty issue, but as Igas is saying you should have a temperature difference of around 20deg from your supply and return air temps. So if your return air is 24degC then your supply should be at least 5 to 8DegC

I am putting my money on that your short on refrigerant.

 

[BoomerD]

How well is your house insulated? If the insulation is even just a bit lacking...in 100+ temps, it'll really add to the work of your AC unit.

 

[skyking]

I've sen a short length of cedar fence used and that looks better as well as provides shade. Keep it at least a couple of feet away to allow good airflow.

 

[lxskllr]

I'd plant a tree. That doesn't help you right now, but it'll be good in the coming years. It'll also shade the house which will help keep temps down.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Outside highs lately: 100F / 38C <-- This is very warm

Ya think?

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: iGas

Shade your outside unit is not going to do much different because the volume of air drawn is greater than any shaded area that you can ever provide, unless you live in a forest but that is a moot point.

It would be help full if you spray down/clean the outside heat exchanger to promote air flow.

Central AC does not draw outside air Bob, it recirculates interior air.

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Outside highs lately: 100F / 38C <-- This is very warm

Ya think?

High ambient means that if the unit is short on refrigerant, it will very much show obvious symptoms

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: iGas

Shade your outside unit is not going to do much different because the volume of air drawn is greater than any shaded area that you can ever provide, unless you live in a forest but that is a moot point.

It would be help full if you spray down/clean the outside heat exchanger to promote air flow.

Central AC does not draw outside air Bob, it recirculates interior air.

this, plus using permenant water sprays down the coil reduces the head pressure

 

[iGas]

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: iGas

Shade your outside unit is not going to do much different because the volume of air drawn is greater than any shaded area that you can ever provide, unless you live in a forest but that is a moot point.

It would be help full if you spray down/clean the outside heat exchanger to promote air flow.

Central AC does not draw outside air Bob, it recirculates interior air.

this, plus using permenant water sprays down the coil reduces the head pressure

Blower passes air over outside condenser, and I'm not suggesting permanent water spray.

<---- Plumbing/Gas/HVAC

 

[Gothgar]

dont cover it with a solid roof, some sort of lattice would be best for airflow purposes

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Gothgar
dont cover it with a solid roof, some sort of lattice would be best for airflow purposes

If we had it to do over, instead of building a solid-roofed patio from end to end, the part over the AC unit would be slatted to better vent the hot air. As it is, the heat that comes off the unit just adds to the heat under the patio cover.

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Gothgar
dont cover it with a solid roof, some sort of lattice would be best for airflow purposes

If we had it to do over, instead of building a solid-roofed patio from end to end, the part over the AC unit would be slatted to better vent the hot air. As it is, the heat that comes off the unit just adds to the heat under the patio cover.

yeah.... I've seen this many times, so many people fail to realize that you basically can't even use your patio if the AC is on if you do something like that

 

[Sea Moose]

Originally posted by: iGas

Originally posted by: Sea Moose

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: iGas

Shade your outside unit is not going to do much different because the volume of air drawn is greater than any shaded area that you can ever provide, unless you live in a forest but that is a moot point.

It would be help full if you spray down/clean the outside heat exchanger to promote air flow.

Central AC does not draw outside air Bob, it recirculates interior air.

this, plus using permenant water sprays down the coil reduces the head pressure

Blower passes air over outside condenser, and I'm not suggesting permanent water spray.

<---- Plumbing/Gas/HVAC

Soz my mistake, you mean to give the coil a good chem clean?

 

[Chaotic42]

Well, I've been talking to people at work and online in the area and apparently a lot of people are having this problem. One woman called the AC guy and was told that given the oppresive temperatures, 75-80 inside is not too bad. I'm at 73 right now after spraying the compressor down. We're at a 113F / 45C heat index.

So setting up some kind of water spray system is a bad idea?

 

[Chaotic42]

The HVAC guy just left. He said that an 18F (10C) temperature difference between the intake and output is ideal. Apparently he's going to install a "kickstart" because the compressor isn't starting properly. The refigerant pressure is fine and the coil temperature is apparently 44F (6.7C).

My system has been off for a couple of days and it appears to be cooling properly now. 60F (16C) is about as low as the air is going to go here in Mississippi in the summer.

I appreciate all of the comments and help from everyone. When I left this morning, the heat index in my room was 95F(35C). Bad times.