The Wall
Forum / A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration / Clear Plastic in Liquid line
  • Post a Reply to this Thread

    Clear Plastic in Liquid line (7 Posts)

  • TexasServiceTech TexasServiceTech September 6, 2011 @ 12:42 PM
    Contact this user

    Clear Plastic in Liquid line

    Straight cool system.

    Installed 12 years ago, serviced every spring, no major issues.

    Complaint was unit freezing up.

    Ambient 107

    Suction pressure 19

    Head pressure 325

    Condenser coils clean. Evaporator coil clean. Filter Clean.


    Recovered 6 pounds 4 oz R22

    Removed liquid line from evaporator coil to check orifice.

    Found piece of clear cellophane style plastic lodged against orifice.

    Purged system with nitrogen and removed two smaller pieces of the same material.

    Ran vacuum cycle and repurged system.

    Pulled final vacuum and weighed in correct charge.

    Called back today for same complaint.

    Recovered refrigerant and opened liquid line found even larger piece of same material.

    After vacuum and recharge system pressures are horrible.

    Ambient 78

    Suction pressure 56

    Liquid pressure 208


    Anyone ever had this issue before?
    This post was edited by an admin on September 6, 2011 12:44 PM.
    Reply
  • Techman Techman September 6, 2011 @ 12:50 PM
    Contact this user

    Plastic

    For now I would install an oversized (303) liquid line filter/drier right at the inlet to the metering device and clean it up.What could it be?
    Reply
  • Ironman Ironman September 6, 2011 @ 12:52 PM
    Contact this user

    Most Likely...

    It came from the bag that originally contained the piston. You might want to put a drier or an inlet tube with a strainer right before the piston to catch any further debris.
    Bob


    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    Reply
  • Eugene Silberstein Eugene Silberstein September 6, 2011 @ 1:41 PM
    Contact this user

    Sounds Right

    I would add a large suction line drier as well.....

    What a crazy industry we work in!
    Eugene
    Reply
  • Ironman Ironman September 7, 2011 @ 12:04 AM
    Contact this user

    One Other Thing...

    I noticed that you said your pressures still aren't right. You might try checking the distributor with the orifice removed to see if there's any debris in it. Also, back flush the coil by feeding nitrogen in at the suction service valve with it closed. Leave the liquid line disconnected from the coil while doing this and see if anything comes out.
    Bob


    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
    Reply
  • MrDucks MrDucks October 12, 2011 @ 6:35 PM
    Contact this user

    Is it a Rheem AC

    ???????
    Reply
  • Empire Empire October 14, 2011 @ 5:49 PM
    Contact this user

    Yup.......

    Sounds like part of the plastic bag that the restrictor came in.  Definitely back purge the evap coil and like stated above,.....See what comes out.  Bits and pieces could be anywhere.  If I'm not mistaken, oil and the heat generated by the compressor will degrade the plastic and may be quite difficult to get out. 

    Mike T.
    Reply
  •  
Post a Reply to this Thread