Unsolved HVAC Issue

SG17 · 12:02PM

I have an Amana dual zone HVAC that is roughly 6 years old, the age of the house. Just recently it began taking several hours to drop 3-4 degrees. It runs almost non stop and it periodically seems to glich the power for just a second or two. Just enough to make it restart and make the lights blink. Coupled with that, between 3 and 5 a.m. the hardwired smoke detectors will beep one or two times. New batteries so thats not the issue there. The air coming from the vents is steady and cool. I wouldn't say cold but definitely cool. I had a technician from the company that installed the unit out 2 days ago. He was here less than 20 minutes. He went in the attic for 3-5 minutes and then outside. He then came to the door and said the freon was just a little low and topped it off. Soon after he left it began to short cycle. On/off immediately, and constant. I called them back and they sent another texh out. He did not go in the attic. He cleaned the coils on the outside unit. Said they were clogged. That did stop the short cycling. However, the gliching resumed the next day. When it would restart it would short cycle a few times then go to continuous run. I understand that may be normal after power gliching but how is this tied to the smoke detectors and why is it running for hours. We have never had power issues and most of the time only the HVAC blinks and nothing else. It still randomly short cycles a few times throughout the day. They never checked any of the electrical components even though I had suggested that when I called both times. Is it the capacitor??? How do I get them to check the right stuff? Is there a danger because of the smoke alarm beeps? It is very hot and I have to have cooling. The unit has always ran super efficiently before. I could cool it down 8 degrees at night for sleeping and it would take maybe 30 minutes. Can't even turn it down that low now. Its running nearly continuously to keep it at a 4 degrees higher temp than I normally would at night. It just short cycled again while typing this but then came on and stayed on. Please help.

pecmsg · 12:12PM

Not enough information to even guess.

As far as lights dimming when the unit starts up that's a feeder issue to the panel but common.

Short power hits should activate the 5-minute time delay in the t-Stat if that was set up properly.

3-5 mins in the attic, how hot is your attic?

Saying the Freon was low is only a guess so he could get on to his next call.

Contact the service manager and request a more senior tech to properly evaluate the system and find the cause.

Be advised residential new construction uses the cheapest labor and materials possible and cuts any and all corners. All there interested in is getting past the warranty period.

EBEBRATT-Ed · 5:54PM

@pecmsg said

"Contact the service manager and request a more senior tech to properly evaluate the system and find the cause."

And I would call him. Tell him you have paid for two service calls and the second tech cleaned the coils which the first tech ignored. That is very basic stuff. not rocket science

They need to stay on the job long enough to fix the issue.

If it hasn't been serviced in 6 years it needs service and the problem fixed.

EdTheHeaterMan · 6:32PM

Annual maintenance is the key to trouble-free operation. And the "new construction" idea of less expensive equipment is 90% true. Unless you specified the upgrade of equipment at the time of construction, you probably got the entry-level grade of equipment that is often installed in new housing.

When I was in business, my contract for new equipment included the first year's maintenance in the price of the new equipment. That is how important I feel annual maintenance. When I call a customer a year after the new equipment was installed for maintenance, and they say, "It's brand new. Why do I need service so soon?" I tell them, "There is no charge because it was included in the price of the job when you purchased it." and I find…

The equipment is usually in great shape.
There is only one year of dust, dirt, or debris in the heat exchangers and filters.
That makes the maintenance go smoothly and easily.
If I find a loose wire or improper adjustment, I can correct the error with minimal effort.
I then cover anything not maintenance-related under the warranty, so the customer has no cost for the service performed that day.

Once I'm in the door and show them the different things I check and how thorough the maintenance is, they are offered a service agreement so that the same tune-up is free next year. About 80% of customers get the maintenance agreement.

That said, In you situation… the installing company needs to have a problem solver (not a rookie tech) show up, listen to you, and then diagnose the real problem. There is something that the first two are missing. You need the service manager to take control of the situation and honor a warranty on the service provided that did not solve the problem. I doubt the smoke alarm is related. Probably just a coincidence, but mention it to the senior technician, just in case a relay, resistor or other component on a circuit board burned up and that smoke triggered the alarm that one time.

You never know, you might get lucky, when the technician is there and you are talking to him, that short cycle event might happen and you can say "There it goes" and point out the event.

Unsolved HVAC Issue

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