air con issues

[Brad93]

Again another airconditioning unit seems to be slowly failing. had this one two years i suppose. Pulled it out and it's cooling but struggling to get a small unoccupied bedroom below 20 degrees. Once we are in there it struggles to maintain 21°C, even though set at 17°C.

What seems to happen is it will be rumbling away blowing cold then you hear the compressor switch off, next thing it's just circulating warm air. This happens every 5 minutes or so on, off, on, off and so on.

It is vented via a duct through the wall. No windows are open. Bedroom door shut.

The compressor obviously is working, it seems it's the control side.

Any ideas?

This is the unit. paid about £350 for it.

Portable AC Units, Portable Air Conditioning Units, Portables

Portable AC Units, Portable Air Conditioning Units, Portables from Pump House are the best in the market! Suitable for offices, computer rooms and light commercial use. The cooling only model is ideal for cooling flats, conservatories or loft conversions during hot summer months.

www.pumph.co.uk

 

[Rkweld]

Is the evaporator freezing up?

 

[Trevorleach]

Split type all the way
One of mine is over ten years old and still cool/heats just fine

 

[Brad93]

Split type all the way
One of mine is over ten years old and still cool/heats just fine

TBH i'm seriously tempted if not for the high cost. Don't really want to stay where we are (bit rough)

 

[Ubique]

As above, check the evap isn't a block of ice, it may help to set it to the room temp you want rather than below it, that way it will cycle as it approaches the setpoint. Also check the air filter and fan impellers for dust, it may be that the compressor is overheating due to insufficient airflow.

 

[knighty]

It nothings blocked, good airflow and the condenser isn't iced up then 99% chance it's low on gas

 

[mtt.tr]

is the condenser dust free? could be over heating the gas and switching off on over pressure

 

[Brad93]

As above, check the evap isn't a block of ice, it may help to set it to the room temp you want rather than below it, that way it will cycle as it approaches the setpoint. Also check the air filter and fan impellers for dust, it may be that the compressor is overheating due to insufficient airflow.

i did clean it all thoroughly with the proper coil cleaner last year but i will whip the covers off tonight and check

 

[Trevorleach]

TBH i'm seriously tempted if not for the high cost. Don't really want to stay where we are (bit rough)

last one I bought was 500 quid, cheapest inverter 12k btu machine from ebay, just looked and they are still between 5/600 quid.
Just need a 3 inch hole drilled through the wall for the pipes/power, mount inside machine on outside wall then you will not need a condensate pump.

They come pre gassed, meant to vac system down, but as i had no vac pump I opened outside unit tap which then filled the pipe and inside machine with gas, and as soon as I heard the gas from the other loose fitting on the outside unit I tightened it up and voila shes still going many years later.
Next time I will buy a vac pump.
Might need a flare tool as the supplied pipes are quite long.

 

[Trevorleach]

We have a free standing one at work, and tbh honest it is just dogpoo.
Move more than 12 inches form said machine and you get hot again.

 

[Brad93]

Every portable we have had starts great then just turns crap

 

[premmington]

I feel abit of poor relative here - all I got is noisey fan in my bedroom - I got from Nans house when I cleared it out after she died.

 

[Ubique]

If you want a quick fix and it's only for a single room ,take a leaf out of those that live in truly hot countries but don't want to spend a lot - get a 'window rattler', something like these
https://www.orionairsales.co.uk/fujitsu-air-conditioning-amy-window-unit-69-c.asp Fujitsu were the unit of choice when I was in the middle East.

 

[mtt.tr]

I feel abit of poor relative here - all I got is noisey fan in my bedroom - I got from Nans house when I cleared it out after she died.

I've upped mine with a couple of cool packs Infront of it. Enough to get cool enough to atleast sleep

 

[Brad93]

I feel abit of poor relative here - all I got is noisey fan in my bedroom - I got from Nans house when I cleared it out after she died.

I've only ever bought one, then constantly swapped them under warranty (beauty of amazon)