Air Conditioning in Houston

[red-beard]

Downstairs unit (yes, we have 2) started creating puddles in the attic. I thought it was a clog. Nope, drain pan is plastic and cracked after 15 years...Not replaceable. Only fix is replace the entire evaporator on a 15 year old R-22 unit...

I pulled the extra drain plugs and I'm letting go to the outside tell-tale.

Then the upstairs unit decided it should have attention too! Capacitor went out. Fortunately, I keep spares for both units ($17 each for OEM!). 45 minutes, some swearing and minor back discomfort the upstairs unit is back online.

I want to sell my house...

[Tobra]

You can almost certainly have someone fab up a pan out of tin for you, any outfit that does ductwork should be able to handle it

[red-beard]

The issue: The Evaporator unit was installed by a "low cost" builder. The plenum doesn't come apart...

Upstair AC had a bad coil and the entire plenum was replaced, about 10 years ago. The AC is 15 years old and probably needs replacing with something more efficient.

I have already replaced the condensers on both units, around 2011.

I really really want true VSD units. OTOH I do not want to pay $25K+ for both units...

[LakeCleElum]

Is air conditioning even necessary in Houston????

[masraum]

Problem solved!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Is air conditioning even necessary in Houston????

Absolutely not! (in Dec, Jan, Feb)

[Deschodt]

hey that $hit works (flexseal).. I used on my leaking shower pebble floor for 4 months before the contractor finally had time to redo it... It's a great product, no joke ;-) had to reapply after 2 months but we're talking hot water here...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

hey that $hit works.. I used on my leaking shower pebble floor for 4 months before the contractor finally had time to redo it... It's a great product, no joke ;-)

I think there was a recent thread discussing that it is actually good stuff.

[red-beard]

The issue is getting into the Evaporator. It is not designed to be disassembled...

[David]

Until you've lived in Houston or nearby, you don't realize how unbearable it is without A/C in the summer. Especially when you've had it for over 50 years. I only have one unit on my little house so if it goes out, it's out til the tech gets there. Good thing the garage has the mini-split so I can break out the cots if I have to.

I should get more informed though so if it is just a capacitor I can be ready like James.

I remember going to Galveston as a kid and staying in beach houses with just the Gulf breeze for cooling. It was fun back then!

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by red-beard

The issue is getting into the Evaporator. It is not designed to be disassembled...

Flexseal the attic.

[Tobra]

put a big pan under the whole thing

[masraum]

Originally Posted by David

Until you've lived in Houston or nearby, you don't realize how unbearable it is without A/C in the summer. Especially when you've had it for over 50 years. I only have one unit on my little house so if it goes out, it's out til the tech gets there. Good thing the garage has the mini-split so I can break out the cots if I have to.

I should get more informed though so if it is just a capacitor I can be ready like James.

I remember going to Galveston as a kid and staying in beach houses with just the Gulf breeze for cooling. It was fun back then!

I managed to source a capacitor for ours and replace it several years ago. I think it was in the $15-25 range. I think the place that we ended up getting the part was off of Hwy3 somewhere between Ellington and Nasa 1. It does sound like a plan to keep one on hand since they are so cheap.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Flexseal the attic.

Genius!

Originally Posted by Tobra

put a big pan under the whole thing

That's what he said!

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by masraum

I managed to source a capacitor for ours and replace it several years ago. I think it was in the $15-25 range. I think the place that we ended up getting the part was off of Hwy3 somewhere between Ellington and Nasa 1. It does sound like a plan to keep one on hand since they are so cheap.

I need to pre-source one as well; McMaster-Carr has a good selection as well.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by widebody911

I need to pre-source one as well; McMaster-Carr has a good selection as well.

They are available on Amazon. Get the model number for your A/C unit and you can look up the capacitor data. You do not have to buy the OEM part, just need the mF numbers to match.

I was able to get my OEM parts on Amazon for ~17 each

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by red-beard

The issue is getting into the Evaporator. It is not designed to be disassembled...

Our old house was that way. We had "the guy" that was willing to do a job on the side for us. He had to suck down the refrigerant, cut the evaporator from it's position, and build a new pan from a pan of galvanized metal. Then silver solder the evaporator back into place, and pull a vacuum, and recharge. He did a great job, and it was working great when we sold the house.

[BK911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I pulled the extra drain plugs and I'm letting go to the outside tell-tale.

May want to add a float switch just in case.
Tie it in to shut down the unit if the overflow pan gets stopped up and you're away for the weekend.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by BK911

May want to add a float switch just in case.
Tie it in to shut down the unit if the overflow pan gets stopped up and you're away for the weekend.

I have leak frogs

[cabmandone]

Never saw an evaporator that couldn't be removed from the cabinet. Can you post a pic?