Heating Help

It depends

@ May 22, 2012 7:04 AM in Two stages for two AC units?

Depending on his shr,.lots of time contractor will installed two zone bc it the way it has always been done and we all have different opinion why we do it.
I find often times you can get by with one system with a zone damper system which should get you very close to meeting your sensible heat load with one system verse two,With two system it hard keep from being oversize and.lets not forget adding 20% to upstairs unit bc hot air rises and cool air falls. Now you have a unit upstairs that run time all the time in the summer while the down stairs unit run in short cycle mode..
So being that may be the case having longer run time that you will get with two stage equipment will help with the oversizing with two units.Longer run time will help with temp swing and also help dehumidify alittle better over a single stage unit.


 

drier

@ May 20, 2012 7:40 AM in Need help pulling a vacuum...

If it has one you might be getting beatup bc of it.Replace the drier every time you open them up.
How your vacuum system setup?.I have found that my gauge connected to one service valve and my copper line from my vacuum pump to the other service valve with a shutoff valve helps with keeping the problems down you are experiencing
Got away from using refrigerant hoses along time ago when pulling a system down.Usually if there is a leak she going to have a very hard time pulling down at all.

some question?

@ May 20, 2012 7:22 AM in Lennox XC13 shutting off when thermostat still calling for AC / Unico fan blowing

When the condenser turn off do you mean nothing runs at all? No fan or compressor?
If the unit shut off completely you would have to look into any safety that could be taking it out and, even a voltage problem.I have seen a many of slow drains with safety float switches that will take out the condenser before the call for ac was over.Then once she drained the float would drop back down and the unit would come back on.
I know at one time lennox used a non-bleed txv and the compressor was starting under a load and would need the help of a hard start kit to kick in the butt if i may used that terminology.The outdoor unit would be calling and the fan running but the compressor would not get going without the kit.
We would check all that applies here...voltage,safeties,tstat to see if it is setup correctly.The refrigerant circuit along with airflow across the system.Heck sometimes one just have to sit around for hours and monitor the system over time to catch what  is assume to be an intermittent problem
I hope your contractor finds it soon sound like he is in the red with this one
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Back down the charge

@ May 7, 2012 3:56 PM in bad txv?

Did you try backing down the charge into the condenser? And are there any unloader on that compressor?
Sure does sound like you are on the right track.usually will see low amps and very high compressor temps.it sure sound like the capacity is lost.

delta t

@ May 7, 2012 5:27 AM in bad txv?

Zep.A quick check would be to check your delta t between return air and suction line temps.Suction line temps should be any where from 18 to 22 degrees below entering air temps.
Good thing with this is that the suction line temps will not change with any change in indoor humidity.
As for never seeing suction line pressure that high.I have been to gas station where the load was design for the envelope.Then they add drink dispenser and ice-makers,soda cooler  that put out lots of heat, the pressure high and low would be so high that it would trip on hps after 15 minutes of run time.
The inside load changes most everything and the evaporator is always the boss.unless she low on refrigerant.
Hope this helps and good luck with your search.

Alarm clock.

@ May 6, 2012 6:56 AM in bad txv?

Glad to see i am not the only one that is used to getting up without  the alarm clock.You can always tell who old school when they are the first to leave for work.lol
Forget the bbq, strap that tool belt back on and come help us out.

Va

@ May 6, 2012 4:51 AM in bad txv?

Hi Eugene.all is well now that we got that little heat wave that came thru.How are you and yours?

You like?

@ May 5, 2012 1:50 PM in bad txv?

I am just going on my experience over the years.Remember when we went from txv to fixed metering system? I went to many of system with fixed metering that read high superheat and normal subcooling.And always had to determine is it cause by a big load on the system or under charge?
And in his case he has a txv and very little subcooling.I am pretty sure he is sending some gas bubble to that metering device.A site glass would be nice only to get a guage as to what is going to the indoor coil.Ten ton system should have one.
As for the wetbulb temps it lets one know the total heat in the air which helps with the other numbers involved when dealing with capacity.

Airflow

@ May 5, 2012 1:05 PM in bad txv?

If airflow was the issue the suction pressure would be far lower then what he has and even the superheat would be lower as well.
Hi techman to me the low subcool temps are saving she low on refrigerant are the condenser is dirty but then his head pressure would be alot higher then it is.Then again maybe not being he is low on refrigerant.Assume of course.
Personally I think closer to 12 degree subcool assure a colum of liquid headed to the evaporator coil.Two degree subcool indicate not enough refrigerant or their some poor transfer of heat going on.
Yes teacher i know one should not assume without all the fact, however it great to throw darts now and again to see if we hit the bullseye with our eyes closed.lol

Not bad number

@ May 5, 2012 6:50 AM in bad txv?

Not bad number if there is a heavy load on the system.Wonder what the indoor  ambient and wet bulb temp are.
With a heavy load you could see high superheat and high suction numbers.And with a txv you could  even be undercharge and that high load and the txv will have you assuming something wrong other then being undercharge.
The low subcool temps drew my attention.I am going with heavy load and low on refrigerant..

you know it

@ May 3, 2012 6:40 AM in Is it too cold outside to run my AC?

I have been ready for it.Always am this time of year.ask me again come august and i will have another opinion about it.lol.Get out the sun block and lets get to work.Stay safe out there mike.

Charging ac

@ May 3, 2012 5:27 AM in Is it too cold outside to run my AC?

Well to be fair to my hvac brother,personally I like to see more of a load when dailing in an ac unit.What I mean by load is higher outdoor and indoor ambient temps.
The reason why one does not like to charge with low loads are the refrigerant does not have enough heat to boil off the liquid to a gas and the coil become flooded sending liquid back to the compressor that could damage the compressor over time.and the possibility of the unit freezing up.Also alot of time you will find that on the charging chart with low ambient temps that the manufacturer does not list what the superheat and sub-cool temps should be.
The bottom line most unit now come with txv that maintain evaporator superheat and one could also weigh in the charge for the customer that has to have it now.
Again I prefer to wait when there is a greater load place on the ac bc, I would like to see all the numbers with a wet coil verse a dry coil.I also like how much easier it is to dail one in with a load verses no load.

Duct work in attic

@ April 28, 2012 6:27 AM in one mini split for entire floor....

The duct work being in the attic although not the best place for it you still could seal all joints with mastic and wrap it in r8 foil insulation and reduce the conduction.
We have test the temp at the airhandler in then to end of the duct and found when using insulation with a r valve at or better then r8 that the heat gain from the attic to the duct is not too bad at all.Sure it would be better to be in the condition area and even a condition attic for that matter but you have to work with the house you have.
The bad thing about using ductless split on old homes is the exterior can look like a storage shed for down spouts.Unless you are willing to open up some inside walls.
Good luck with the upgrade on the hvac and if high seer is what you are looking for nordyne has a 23 seer iq drive split system.
 

Age of airhandler

@ April 23, 2012 10:12 AM in Heat Pump Swap Out

I would be worry if the airhandler would create a refrigerant imbalance when going from heat to cool.Which is often what we see with a mis-match system.
The heat transfer surfaces are greater now then they were with the lower seer units.

I am agreement with the plumber.A match system that is rated and comes with a warranty is a much better appoach.

Shorts

@ April 14, 2012 12:14 PM in 3 amp fuse blowing

I have pulled my hair out many times chasing the phatom short.And many times it was not the low voltage wires..I have had loose 120 volt wire at the burner switch to burntout coils on the contactor and coils on the reversing valve to wires on equipment going across a hot discharge line.
How about service disconnect breaker tripping due to a bad crankcase heater..
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Hi Mike T

@ April 14, 2012 11:51 AM in Hi Mike T

How are you and yours? I could not post a reply to the warranty comp thread.it seem like once i start a thread i can no longer reply to it.
I understand that money is tight for all, it that i find it very sad to watch people throw hard earn money to a quick fix and never give any consideration to the money they could save in the future.
I always convert back to when my wife and i got together over 32 years ago and she kept going out and buying that cheap dish detergent that would only give us at best three time at the sink to wash dishes.When she could have gotten some dawn and we could have gotten many more dishes done BC it was better products..
I see the same in the restaurant business many places that made excellent food are closing down BC many people no longer want to pay the money for a good quality meal.They choose sonic instead.
Hope all is well take care..

warranty compressor replacement

@ April 10, 2012 9:00 AM in warranty compressor replacement

I have been running into a few bad compressor as of late.grounded comp and also one where they ran out of freon with no safety to take out the compressor.
I find it so funny to quote a price to replace a warranty compressor and hear that they have someone that can do it at half the cost.well not really, I seem to get it all the time.lol
Does anyone use a micron guage anymore? And if you do-do you know what you are looking for? Does anyone flush out and clean the system? Are dier replace and then recheck weeks later to see if there is a temp or pressure drop across them?Does anyone do a nitrogen purge when brazing anymore? Does one check superheat,subcooling or airflow to find the reason for why the compressor went bad? Oh where, oh where have the real refrigerant guys gone?
Why is it that people are always willing to pay twice to have something done wrong then they are to pay once to have it done correctly the first time?It a sad state of affairs to see that many people never learn even with being educated on the do and dont's.Rant over i need to find a new line of work.lol

Outdoor stat

@ April 8, 2012 10:23 AM in I need help finding a thermostat.

Hi Harvey.I assuming you are going for three different balance points here.The only thing i could come up with is converting back to the old ways with the remote bulb outdoor stat.Then your only worry would be the sunshine.lol

save your money

@ March 20, 2012 7:24 AM in Question for Eugene and others

Save your money Tim.I would find me a cheap heatpump or used for that matter and disconnect the air coil and add a water coil to it.Also they have software out now called the simulator that you can do a bunch of what ifs with it.The professor could fill you in on it.
Just wait summer on it way and you will have plenty units to troubleshoot and test.lol.

Power issue

@ March 18, 2012 7:13 AM in GSHP power issues

I would doubt that you have a power issue.I would be looking more for a liquid flood back issue at your compressor.When ever I come to a grounded or locked up compressor 9 out of 10 times the reason for the compressor demise was something to do with airflow or problem with the water distribution system.
Being in colorado and i could only assume that your ground temps can get lower then design and if that the case then i would be checking safety, starting with the low pressure switch.

Returns

@ March 10, 2012 6:59 AM in Old Home-Bad Duct Design

Well at least his intention were good with a return in every room.To be fair often time back in the old day many of Joice spaces were used for return path.not the best way to do it but some home old and new do not allow a for a proper distribution system.
I would do away with what you have and go with wet heat.not bc i think wetheat is better then force air,it bc your home will not lend itself to a low pressure distribution system.
Sound like a home where ductless ac would be a better match.After all if you have the funds to separate the heat from the ac even better for comfort all year long.

txv

@ March 10, 2012 6:39 AM in oil logged evaporator or bad txv?

You don't say.I tell ya back in the old day it was very rare to have a bad txv, but now days it is a given.
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