Air conditioning your home -- like buying frozen foods in my mother's time -- are things most people take for granted nowadays. To be without is pretty much unthinkable. You expect to find a package of frozen peas in the freezer just like you expect the AC to turn on when it gets hot. In fact, most refrigerators make ice cubes. And you don't have to defrost them.
Let me tell you, growing up in Minnesota's summer humidity, I didn't mind defrosting the refrigerator as a kid. I once punctured the freon system in a refrigerator by chipping away at the ice with a screwdriver instead of letting it melt via pans of hot water. My mother was livid. Our home AC was comprised of a small desk fan blowing over a tray of ice cubes -- the kind of tray with a metal handle you had to pull back to break up the ice. And I walked 20 miles to school barefoot in the snow.
It's been hot in Sacramento, really hot, over 100 degrees. Yesterday, as I headed out to list another Sacramento short sale, I realized that water was dripping overhead from my attic onto the back deck. There is an overflow pipe sticking out of the ceiling of my covered deck. It has never before dripped. During the time I was gone, it filled up a bucket that I had placed under it.
My husband crawled up in the hot attic to investigate. He says not to worry. There is a pan under the AC, which is doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing. And what would that be? It would be holding water and allowing it drip outside through a pipe, he says. I do not believe we should have a pan of water under our AC unit in the attic. It has never before dripped on the back deck. We have a relief valve on the other side of the house. I believe it is malfunctioning.
This is why we have a home protection plan. I renew it every year. Thank goodness for American Home Shield. Not only do I suggest to my clients that they get a home warranty, but I refer AHS to them. Because stuff goes wrong.
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
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I will take the heat all day every day after the winter we had.. snow up near the roof tops.. bring on the sunshine please. It seems like all the moisture is staying north and the sunshine to the south, cant we get some balance?
Elizabeth we have those in the attic pans under the water heaters for leaking. Have not heard that with air conditioners. We have had consecutive 100 degree or higher days here too in North Texas prior to some storms so I know where you are coming from.
People down here in SoFlo don't ask that anymore. Their faces have melted off, so they can't talk.
In Georgia it's not typical to put an A/C unit in the attic for that reason. Mine does drip, but it is on a concrete slab outside. We've had the same HOT and yes I hate when people say those stupid stupid words. I remember those ice treys too. Although my Grandmother's house did have two window A/C units she still had those ice treys. I cut myself on them once a week or so getting the ice out.
We're getting into our typical hazy, hot and humid Northern Virginia summer days. It was so humid last night that it felt like a sauna.
Elizabeth, it certainly sounds like the system is doing what it is designed to do ... flow the water outside of the home. However, I agree with you ... it should not be dripping like that and needs attention. Glad you have the home warranty!
Summer has certianly arrived here in the valley Elizabeth. And yes it is hot enough for me, well actually too hot. You think I would be used to it by now since I have lived here my whole life. We had a couple of those ice trays too as a kid.
Hi Scott: Our winters aren't cold enough to make up for the heat of our summers.
Hey Gary: At least you get some rain. We get no stinkin' rain. Although, I'm kinda sick of rain right now.
Hi Terri: I take it that wearing make up is a problem in your neck of the woods.
Hi Tammy: Yah, you had to run hot water on those trays and bang them around before you could pull that danged lever. I've cut myself on them, too.
Hi Chris Ann: No humidity here or if there is any in Sacramento, it's very very low. I prefer dry heat to wet heat.
Hi Kathleen: Well, try getting somebody at the home warranty to act is like pulling teeth because they're so busy. One HVAC guy told me flat out he was not gonna go up in my attic this afternoon because it's too danged hot. What's he talking about? It's only 99 in the shade.
Hi Jim: I don't think Rubbermaid came out until we were out of high school. I probably still have some of those ice trays around somewhere, but I am happy that my frig automatically makes ice cubes for me. The only thing I don't like about it is I have to remember to turn it off. There is no automatic turn off. It just keeps on making ice and overflowing, and this is a GE Profile. Sounds like it would make a good Sci-Fi story.
Ummmm, I don't know beans about air conditioning - never had one Elizabeth, but I'm with you, I'm thinking it should not be dripping into a pan over your heads. With those temps I hope you get it repaired and stay cool!
Good way to plug home warranties! And, wow, we have something in common, I ALSO walked 20 miles barefoot in the snow to school!