Apartment HVAC minimum cooling temp.?
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Apartment HVAC minimum cooling temp.?
Hello,
Does anyone know if there are codes/requirements for a home A/C system? More specifically, is there a minimum coolness it must reach to meet any codes or requirements? I live in an apartment in CA with Central Air, and it just takes forever to cool the apartment. I put a needle thermometer in the vent and the coolest I have ever read said 68. So it gets cool, but not THAT cool. Anybody know much about this? Thanks.
Does anyone know if there are codes/requirements for a home A/C system? More specifically, is there a minimum coolness it must reach to meet any codes or requirements? I live in an apartment in CA with Central Air, and it just takes forever to cool the apartment. I put a needle thermometer in the vent and the coolest I have ever read said 68. So it gets cool, but not THAT cool. Anybody know much about this? Thanks.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
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You should get between an 18 to 22 degree split on your AC unit. IE, if the air is going in at 78 degrees it should come out at 58 degrees, give or take two degrees. The lower the humidity the higher the split you should have.
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hmmmm, now that helps a little. It's been over 100 the past few days so I guess 70's not all that bad. It just seems to take forever to cool a 700sq. ft. apartment. Oh well. Thanks for your help.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: All over Texas
Originally Posted by ejpreston
hmmmm, now that helps a little. It's been over 100 the past few days so I guess 70's not all that bad. It just seems to take forever to cool a 700sq. ft. apartment. Oh well. Thanks for your help.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Brea CA
In my renting days, it seemed that the ac units were barely sized right for the sq. footage.
700 sq. ft. isn't that big, check your filter(s).
700 sq. ft. isn't that big, check your filter(s).
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Originally Posted by buzzard
What aftrmidnite means is the spilt between the return and the temp coming out the vents, not the split between outside temp and vents.
The A/C units are very small, so I'm guessing they're just not capable of that much cooling, especially when spreadinng through 5 vents. Oh well, not much I can do about that. Thanks again.
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Fleet Mechanic
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Aw, now I see the problem. You need to keep you Apt. closed up and the AC running. If you are trying to save money on the bills set your thermostat 80 to 85 degrees, and keep the windows closed. When you let all that humidity in the AC has to deal with the humidity, before it can bring the temperature down
Posting Guru
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From: Hamilton, ohio
i am an apartment maintenance tech for a property here in ohio but HVAC things are pretty much the same. it could be low on refridgerant but most systems in an apartment are pretty much designed to cool at on degree per hour. so pretty much after you start running the AC for the season you should keep it running for a couple reasons. one it will be alot easier on you wallet. if it takes on degree per hour to cool thats that more money you will spend. two it is alot easier on the equipment. it is also even a good idea to turn the AC on in the off season a couple times pre month. you got to think of the compressor in the AC something like a car engin. it needs lubrication as well and what happens if you just let it sit for a long period of time is just like if a car sits a long time without being drove. it could also be an elctrical part on the outisde unit going bad. just because the fan on the inside is running does not meant the outside unit is running all the time.
all this info is based on me assuming you have a 1.5 ton unit.
also as mentioned by buzzard you might have a dirty air filter or the evap coils might be dirty.
all this info is based on me assuming you have a 1.5 ton unit.
also as mentioned by buzzard you might have a dirty air filter or the evap coils might be dirty.
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Update...maintenance came and had their contracted HVAC company comem and look at it. Said it needed two punds of refrigerant, and now it works great. My question, wouldn't that mean there is a leak somewhere?
Fleet Mechanic
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Yes, is it a Singer, Remington , or an old Mcquay? The are notorius for leaking at the AEV (Automatic Expansion Valve) The valve is about the size of a shot glass and is bell shaped, a lot of them were chrome plated. They have a little nipple at the top of the bell and thats where they leak from. They are not repairable , must remove refrigerant, and torch replace the valve, leak check, evacuate and weight the charge back in.