Need HVAC AC advice please.
CH46E
Posts: 3,591
I have a 5 ton Goodman system. No heat pump. We lve in stupid hot FL. The people we got the house from in 2014 had replaced the system 1 month before closing as the old system crashed. They went the cheap route and did not change the line set. So they went from an older type refrigerant to 410a. I'm on my 3rd compressor in 6 years now. System is not cooling again. Both lines right outside the air handler in the garage are cold and sweating. The filter drier is also sweating. The last time the compressor was changed I had them do a acid wash in the lines and all new refrigerant.
From what I've read it seems like either the filter drier (now 3 years old) is clogged and or the expansion valve is not working right. There is no ice on the coils in the handler. The system was checked 2 months ago and they added 1 lbs of 410.
Can anyone help with finding a quality high capacity filter drier? 3/8 welded line i think. I would like a very large capacity as I'm sure the acid wash did not get ALL the junk out.
If I found a single flow 30 cubic inch filter would that due? I was looking at the Emmerson EK30.
HVAC guy is comming Tuesday to talk about and quote for possibly doing a new expansion valve, acid wash, and filter drier.
The system runs all day and will not maintain our night time 72 degrees. If I leave it on 72 all day by 2pm its 77 to 78 in the house. 2260 sq ft house btw.
Thanks!
Yours truly "Warm FL Chris"
From what I've read it seems like either the filter drier (now 3 years old) is clogged and or the expansion valve is not working right. There is no ice on the coils in the handler. The system was checked 2 months ago and they added 1 lbs of 410.
Can anyone help with finding a quality high capacity filter drier? 3/8 welded line i think. I would like a very large capacity as I'm sure the acid wash did not get ALL the junk out.
If I found a single flow 30 cubic inch filter would that due? I was looking at the Emmerson EK30.
HVAC guy is comming Tuesday to talk about and quote for possibly doing a new expansion valve, acid wash, and filter drier.
The system runs all day and will not maintain our night time 72 degrees. If I leave it on 72 all day by 2pm its 77 to 78 in the house. 2260 sq ft house btw.
Thanks!
Yours truly "Warm FL Chris"
Comments
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Are you still under warranty? The lineset should have either been replaced, or cleaned out, the two freons don't mix, I believe it's the oil from the R22 that doesn't play nice with the 410.
Short story.....Good thing I was home for my install 3 years ago. They tried to sweat the fittings before they cleaned the old lineset....WTH?
I told them (reputable company) they need to be flushed. At that point I should have told them to pack up and leave but they were far along already so they used a quick shot of nitrogen.
I figured ok I'll just document this. Less than a year later when the owner came out to check for a noise, I told him his crew said they didn't need to clean the lines. Then after I mentioned it to his crew, they blew some nitrogen for about 10 seconds without any cleaning agents.
I ended up with a new outside unit, so far so good but my energy use has gone back up a little so I need to monitor that.
If you are icing up, my guess is either you have a clogged air filter/dirty coil, or a low charge. Also check the outside unit for a "rug" of grass or debris around the coil.
The fact you are also having issues with the valves, I would try (if poss) to contact your home warranty dept and get with the installers. -
Warranty ran out last year. Coil in the handler is 3 years old and clean as a whistle. No icing, condenser out side is clean and free of debri.
I'm not sure whats wrong. But from what I've learned is that it sounds like the filter drier is clogged and or the expansion valve is not working right. -
Chech to see if the filter drier isn't installed backwards.
It happens and the FD will start to clog at the screen mesh relatively quickly.
Sal Palooza -
What line goes into the handler? Small or large? Direction wise?
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Actually. I just looked and they used a bi directional filter.
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After discussing it with the my AC guy we decided to do the following.
Acid wash and flush the condensor (not the compressor, he will isolate that first), the line set and the indoor coil. Put in brand new R410A ( I was able to purchase new 25lb factory sealed bottle), a new EK Emmerson 303s filter drier (this thing is huge) and a new exspanssion valve will be installed.
I'm sure hoping this will give us a more efficient system.
Our electricity bill for July was over $400.00 and we were even gone for a week and the ac was set to 79. -
so.... so far (4 days later) the AC is working better than ever. I had the metering valve replaced with a expansion valve and the system acid washed, then a new huge 303 filter drier installed and all new 410A in. Its blowing 59 degrees and only seems to be running for about 15 to 20 min and hour rather than 20 hours a day and maintaining 72 degrees in this FL heat.
Just praying it holds!!!! -
Our electricity bill for July was over $400.00 and we were even gone for a week and the ac was set to 79.
Hopefully it was just the A/C, but also check the water heater, especially the lower element. That will sneak up on you and work that meter.
