8 replies to this topic

[Judoka]

OK...I know very little about central air systems.

Symptom - I set thermostat to cool, fan to auto. I can hear the air intakes operating and the a/c unit (York) is operating outside the house....BUT, there is very little to no air circulating through the house.

Suggestions?

[Crouching Tiger]

have you checked to see if the filter in the furnace unit is clean?  Is the blower fan coming on as well?

[Judoka]

I have not checked the filter in the furnace...not even sure where to look for it....(the filter, that is). The furnace is in the attic, so I was planning to go up there and make sure that all the ventilating tubing is connected. I never have cleaned the furnace filter, so that sounds like it might be a stopping point for the air flow.

Not sure if there is only one fan or two. I thought there is only one blower, and it controls the air intake and circulation of air out as well. but not certain.

Will poke around to find filter and go from there. thks

 

 

[Judoka]

Oh...another point. I have 2 air intake points (1 on first floor, and 1 on second floor). I put filters in those once every month or so....is there going to be another filter in the furnace as well?

[Crouching Tiger]

The two intakes that you describe are the cold air return ducts.  This is where your

furnace gets its circulation air from.  There is no real need to install filters in the cold

air return because that is the job of the filter in the furnace.  Generally, the filter is

located inside the service panel either in the front or on the side of the cabinet, on

the intake side of the blower.  If you follow the cold air return duct as it connects to

the plenum and leads into the furnace, this is where your filter is located.  You may

have a model the you can clean and reuse or they might be disposable.  Pay

attention as to the way it is installed - there is usually a sign or arrow indicating air

flow direction. 

 

[Jonathan329]

As it happens, I have the exact same problem (or, my mom does).

She cleans her filter pretty regularly. What else should I look for?

jonathan

[Crouching Tiger]

Is the problem restricted air flow at the vent openings?  Make sure your filter is clean and the cold air return ducts are clear.  Also check the vents to see if there are any dampers that are closed - they should be open.  There may also be a possibilty that the evaporator in the furnace is plugged with dirt, but check the others first.  Depending on your model of furnace and thermostat when cooling is selected the blower should run on high speed.  There are blower motors that have variable speeds - if yours is running on low speed you will have less air flow.

[Dan Webster]

their is also a possibilty that the ducting it self has pulled loose partially from the registers

[AccApp]

Could be any number of things. Is the blower wheel dirty? Can you feel air circulating with fan switch set to "ON" and System switch set to "Off"? Does it circulate air at first with A/C on but stop after a while? The A/C coil could be freezing up due to low refrigerant levels or restrictions/bad metering device.