Dealing with heat, my central air went out

[UrbanHillbilly]

On Monday, six days ago, we started having trouble with our central air. I'm not sure whether it's the evap coil freezing up, low freon, or what, but unfortunately my grow tents are on the second floor of the house and today I measure them both at ~93F. Four plants in the flower tent are nearly ready to chop, they officially reach week ten in just a couple days. Ordinarily I'd want to let them grow a little longer to get some amber to help with sleep, but my primary goal is to use it to fight my cancer.

Right now I just put some frozen meat, in a tray and a plastic bag, inside each tent to thaw. Hopefully that will drop it below 90F, we'll see. But what would you do? I don't have anywhere to put them on the first floor, so all I can do with the plants in veg is do what I can to give them a little better environment. As for the plants in flower, would you just chop them now?

 

[LoboGrow]

Wish I could give you better advice, but I would make sure the light driver is outside the tent if possible. AC problems are never good, even if you aren't growing, so I feel your pain there. If they are 12 week plants, you may need to gut it out, but if they are 10 week plants you can chop them and cure them a little longer to maybe get an increase in CBN...

 

[UrbanHillbilly]

Wish I could give you better advice, but I would make sure the light driver is outside the tent if possible. AC problems are never good, even if you aren't growing, so I feel your pain there. If they are 12 week plants, you may need to gut it out, but if they are 10 week plants you can chop them and cure them a little longer to maybe get an increase in CBN...

I think they're supposedly 10 week plants, but the seeds are from a small breeder and there is limited info on them. Blue Jello from Banana Peel Genetics. I just checked on them again and it appear the flower tent (3x3) is at 89. I just now put a second thermometer in the veg tent (2x2). I also turned the lights down a little. The lights are quantum board LED and the driver is mounted directly on the board. I really need these plants, my bloodwork wasn't so great at the oncologists office a couple weeks ago. Really hoping I can get this AC sorted out fast. Problem is, I'm living on disability and money is tight, like it is for lots of folks. The day before the AC quit we had a storm come through that resulted in some damaged shingles on the house. Tomorrow somebody is coming to tarp that section, then I'll focus more on the AC. BTW, I'm in the Missouri Ozarks.

 

[Mr Jay]

This late in their life cycle, they are maturing, rather than growing.

You could drop down to one of those household 60 watt equivalent LEDs (13W)
You don't need to blast them, you just need to wake them up and put them to bed.
You can stagger a light cycle 4 hours on, four hours off, then another four hours on.
They need 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness. But, you can mess around with the day.

 

[BH]

Are u running ur room at night ? if u aren’t I would , adjusting their time won’t mess them up or gradually every 1-2 days move a hr or two (or more ) intill ur at night 10-11/14 cycle or w/e you do for flower stage.

When I didn’t have hvac and was using LEC/hps/de’s and it worked but it’s def dependent where u live and temps but what I would do is have a inline fan + temp controller + ducting and bring in fresh cooler air when the grow room hit above 80f. @Mr Jay suggestion for led swap was very good one also and also if u even have the light cycle 10-11 hours vs 12/12 that will reduce its heat/cost. if you have a dehumidifier in ur room if u have its exhaust of it hooked to a ducting and have that deh air go elsewhere taht will greatly reduce ur heat load ( prolly more than lights ). I know for summer even for my large deh if I cna move my air from them and not have it flow its air into the room that btu heat deh is very high. for me deh heat is 30-50% of my heat btu needs to cool off. the bonus is the ducted dehydrate air won’t be mold prone if u put it aka like in attic or inside ur house .

10/14 off cycle is np and like jay said if u can use a cheap 8-10 watt led and have it run, super low heat


Example 10 watt
HANNAHONG 10W LED Flood Light with Plug,1000lm Super Bright Security Lights, IP66 Waterproof Outdoor Work Light, 6000K Daylight White Spotlight for Eave, Porch, Garage, Patio, Yard, Garden, Lawn Amazon.com

 

[DemonTrich]

Score a portable AC. Im the king of portable acts. Been modding and using them since 2008.

A 5 gal bucket, will with ice, lid, some 3" pvc piping and elbows, and a fan, razor to cut holes in lid. And you can diy a makeshift cooling center.

 

[UrbanHillbilly]

Follow-up question. It's time for me to flip the plants in veg to flower. Should I wait? Should I go ahead and do 12/12? Or should I go right off the bat with 10/14?

 

[DemonTrich]

Ive always done 12/12, never 10/14. Iirc, you only alter the light (like 10/14), of you have a plant (photoperiod) that won't switch to flower mode after 2 weeks of 12/12.

The 5gal bucket trick i found on YouTube 10yrs or so ago. Lots of cameras use this trick for a portable a/c usage.

 

[UrbanHillbilly]

We spent several hours today thawing out the evap coil on our AC, then thoroughly cleaning both it and the condenser coil, and the house is cooling better and has more airflow than it has in awhile. A guy is still coming Wed to make sure there's no other problems, but hopefully my little misadventure with the heat has come to an end.

 

[Mr Jay]

Good call.
As much as I hate spending money, a skilled and honest Tradesman has value beyond measure.

 

[UrbanHillbilly]

Good call.
As much as I hate spending money, a skilled and honest Tradesman has value beyond measure.

Yeah, and I was referred by a trusted friend to an HVAC guy who only charges for his time, no travel charge, and if he's only here 30 minutes then I only pay for 30 minutes. I'd say it's worth it to have a professional seal of approval.

 

[UrbanHillbilly]

BTW, I also popped 4 beans today. Actually I put them in water yesterday and today when I saw they all sank to the bottom, I carefully put them on a paper towel and fir the first time in my limited experience, they had all already started to split and had a tiny tail showing. These are high-CBD strains from a friend here on the forum. They'll be good for the FECO mix I'm making for my cancer.

 

[BH]

 

[HydroRed]

I know you got it all straightened out now, but a diy swamp cooler made from a styrofoam cooler, a fan, and some ice can do wonders in a pinch.