How To Fix a SpacePak Air Conditioner
For older homes without ductwork, SpacePak air conditioners are a great way to achieve modern cooling without compromising the home’s vintage charms. SpacePak air conditioners are a form of high-velocity air conditioning that brings cool air to buildings without the bulk and inefficiency of sheet metal ductwork. Their flexible 2-inch supply tubing ensures air moves around consistently so that you don’t experience any uneven cooling, and the lack of corners also means there’s nowhere for mold, dust, and pollen to build up.
If you have a SpacePak AC, then you’re likely already familiar with the many advantages it offers. However, even these innovative systems require the occasional fix. If something has gone wrong with your SpacePak air conditioner, this guide from American Vintage Home covers what you need to know about DIY fixes and maintenance of these systems.
Understanding SpacePak Air Conditioners
Before attempting to do anything with your SpacePak AC, you need to understand its different parts. Their main components and what they do include:
- Flexible mini ducts: Unlike standard ducts, SpacePak relies on a system of mini ducts. These flexible, narrow tubes carry conditioned air from the system to rooms.
- Mini duct outlets: These 5-inch diameter outlets in walls, ceilings, or floors connect to the ducts and deliver conditioned air at high velocity.
- Sound attenuators: These short lengths of flexible and baffled tubing help to cut down on noise during air handling.
- Kwik Connects: A system connecting ducts to attenuators and plenum to minimize leakage.
- Plenum: Located in the attic, crawl space, or basement with the fan coil unit, the plenum transports air to the various ducts for distribution.
- Fan coil unit: Coils cool the air and the unit connects to the external condenser.
- Return duct: After air is distributed in a room, it will move toward the return duct’s lower pressure and be reconditioned.
- Return air box: This is the metal box connected to the return air grill.
There is also an optional patented air cleaner that can capture contaminants of 0.3 microns or larger at an effectiveness of 97%.
Common SpacePak Air Conditioner Issues
While these systems are effective and dependable overall, you may find yourself dealing with these common issues:
- Overheating
- Condensation outflow problems
- Leaking
- Ineffective fault codes
- Noise
- Lack of power supply
- Internal freezing
DIY Steps To Fix SpacePak Air Conditioner Issues
In some cases, you can perform simple fixes for your SpacePak air conditioner — although they are often temporary and meant to help hold out until you can get professional attention for the system. Here are some of the DIY steps you can take if you are having any of these problems:
- Overheating: Clean the evaporator coil and the air ducts and filters to remove any dirt that could be clogging the system.
- Condensation outflow: Check valves and insulation. Find any leakages present at outlets to curb condensation.
- Leaking: Clean dirty or clogged aluminum ends. Try to find out why the leak is being redirected and redistributed.
- Ineffective fault codes: Recalibrate manually and adjust the temperature.
- Noise: Check the pressure of outflow and inflow and see if there is a clog in the supply system. You can also install additional mufflers if necessary.
- Lack of power supply: Check the thermostat for burnt spots, and turn off the power supply immediately if you notice any flickers or unexpected shutdowns.
Preventive Maintenance for SpacePak Air Conditioners
The best way to reduce your odds of a SpacePak breakdown is to ensure your system gets regular maintenance. With professional maintenance, you can expect steps such as:
- Cleaning filters
- Draining and cleaning the condensate pan
- Lubricating moving parts like motor and blower bearing
- Straightening coils
- Inspecting wiring
- Checking bypass valve
- Checking motor belt and pulley
When To Seek Professional Help
Unless you’re well-versed in HVAC systems, it’s best to leave SpacePak repair and maintenance to professionals like the technicians at American Vintage Home. These procedures involve working in tight spaces with components that can harm the average homeowner. Additionally, unless you’re familiar with your system, it’s most likely that you won’t be able to identify the root cause of the issues or know whether maintenance is being performed to standards. Instead, you can leave it to our experts, and we will provide you with effective and long-lasting repairs.
If you need SpacePak air conditioner repair or maintenance, call American Vintage Home at (847) 999-4595 to schedule an appointment today.
