Minisplit Not Producing Condensate
We turned on our Fujitsu mini-split in cool mode last week after a couple months of it being off, and on heating mode over the winter. We are in SW New Mexico and it has been so dry the last few months. The unit has been in service since July 2017.
With the high temperatures in the 80s and low 90s during the hottest part of the day I’m finding that the mini-split is struggling. What has me really concerned is that we are seeing no condensate drip from the drain outside. During the past few summers we’d collect the drip in a 5 gallon bucket and pour it on plants once or twice a day.
No error codes to speak of and there is cool air blowing. But it doesn’t seem to be putting out the same cold air flows in previous summers. Any ideas or suggestions before calling on a technician?
Aaron
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Replies
Getting condensate is not always indicative of a problem in dry conditions. If the air is really dry, there might not be enough water in the air to wet the coils enough to create condensate.
If your unit doesn't seem to be producing cold the way it used to, it might be low on refrigerant charge. I'd first check any air filters, and make sure the coils are clear of lint and stuff like tree fuzzies, and then call for service to have the charge checked. If you're low on charge, it's worth having the service tech look for leaks. Ask the tech to "wand" the unit, which uses a probe that basically sniffs for leaks. If you are low on charge, but the wand doesn't find anything, you might have a very slow leak somewhere. In the case of slow leaks, I request that dye be added when the system is charged, then have the tech come back in a few weeks to look for leaks. The dye shows up under UV light and can help to find even very small leaks.
Bill
Thanks Bill. The outdoor unit does need a good clean, so I’ll start with that.