Trane AC not cooling after being turned to heat mode for a couple days

[zannej]

I'm not quite sure even what the relay looks like but I watched him testing things with a voltometer and he showed me everything was working correctly. Got the fan to turn on and it made a loud noise that I usually associate with the compressor, but he said the compressor wasn't coming on. I don't really trust him that much. He keeps trying to push replacing the outside unit with some off brand. I might have to try harder to get the original installer to actually respond. Too bad he's never in his office in town bc I'd go there and meet him face to face. He's the only other option. New guy balked at the idea of me buying another Trane unit from the authorized dealer and having him install it.

If he's willing to risk setting my house on fire just to make a sale by selling me an incompatible outside unit then I don't want to deal with him, but I'll see what he says. I might have to see if I can find a Trane dealer in TX at this rate. At least the sales tax would be lower and if the unit weighs less than 5k I can carry it in the back of my truck.

 

[havasu]

Your truck has a 2 1/2 ton payload?

 

[sadavis80]

I would guess that your outside unit would not weigh more than 500 lbs. 2 guys usually install these things with no issues and ONE person can easily move it around on a pad for specific positioning. PROBABLY more like ~300 lbs.. but I haven't weighed one.
Steve

 

[zannej]

Thanks sadavis80. My truck can carry 1,559lbs in the bed. Haven't heard back from the most recent AC repair guy. I guess he probably doesn't want to do the job anymore. Either that or he's waiting until I get more info for him. I'm still going to try to contact the original installer. Maybe he might be interested if I say I want to buy something from him. Not sure if he can still get Trane brand. Know he gets Ruud or something like that.

 

[zannej]

Hi there! It's good that you've already checked the filters and poured bleach down the condensate line, but there may be something wrong with either the thermostat or the compressor.

It's the compressor. It died. Thermostat works fine and we even replaced it.

Trane gave me some contacts for places that sell their units & today I FINALLY got someone to call back. I gave him the model #s and he said the good news is that they made newer condensers compatible with my air handler and that they can get it today and install it Monday. With installation it will be over $5700 (probably not including sales tax which will be over $570 if they go by the in-town rate). Can't remember what the rate is out in the sticks, but we usually get charged in town rates. It would only be like 8% tax without the town's tax.

It's expensive but I'll be happy to get a new AC unit. The compressor would be over $4k so a whole new unit with a 10 year warranty sounds better. I'm waiting for a callback to give my address.

 

[zannej]

It started heating instead of cooling again so I shut it off for awhile and then changed both filters and poured bleach down the condensate line. It is now cooling again. But I started thinking about something. The intake vent in my brother's room-- which is in a weird alcove just behind where one of the doors to his room opens-- is hard to get to. The door to his room won't stay shut and he has an old ladder from a loft bed in there that props against the door to hold it closed. The room is full of trash and I have to pull plastic bags and bottles off of the vent because they stick to it via suction.
The AC installers from 2010 were going to make the main intake vent in the hallway larger (24"x24") until they realized there was a 2nd vent in the bedroom. They left it with two 21"x21" intake vents. My friend suggested moving the intake vent from my brother's room and putting it next to the one in the hallway (assuming there are no studs in the way).

Is this feasible? Or do the vents have to be directly underneath the air handler?

Crappy sketch of current situation: (NOT to scale)
Proposed changes:

Is this feasible?
It would make changing the vents much easier and would eliminate problems of air being sucked out of my brother's disgusting room.
Any thoughts?