Do it Yourself: Re: [DIY] Re: Central AC

16 June 2012

Re: [DIY] Re: Central AC - Resolution; sidenotes

We've been married 36 yrs., been in our house 35 yrs. (moved in new), & we're on our 3rd AC unit!! We obviously needed DIY at least 35 yrs. ago! :-&lt sigh

I appreciate all the sidenotes & am trying to be wiser going into the next 35 (or so yrs.)! Hey, by the time we get to 100, DIYer's may have totally transformed us!! ;;) batting eyelashes

Love this group!!

From: Dale S <dalu@hbcomm.net>
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2012 3:35 PM
Subject: Re: [DIY] Re: Central AC - Resolution; sidenotes

Most systems come pre-charged in the condenser unit. However it is not uncommon to need to add some to make up for line length and evaporator volume differences. Since I am old, I revert to the old way of charging a system and add refrigerant until the suction line sweats back to with in a few inches of the compressor. This is a sure indication of a full charge plus the returning vapor helps cool the compressor itself. One word of caution however though, just because a little extra does good does not mean more is better, as too much vapor return can take the valves out of the compressor. There is just no substitute for experience. I still use the pressures as an indication of system operation, but I also never charged a system on a cool day even if it meant my need to return when the weather was warmer. My present system by the way is nearly 30 years old and is still doing the job. A new system would be more efficient but the pay out while the old one is still working would the longer than the life of the newer system. New systems get much of their efficiency from thinner tubing and by using aluminum rather than copper. This means shorter system life and leaks which are more likely and that cannot be easily repaired. There is just no free lunch no matter where you turn, you can only get so much into or out of a two pound bag.

Dale in the Flat Lands:-----         Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.      ~Ronald Reagan

Bill Chmelik wrote:

That is a possibility, and $45 a pound for the Freon is cheap now, the going rate for it will soon be over 100 dollars a pound thanks to the EPA…

ck

From: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Donna Brantley
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 11:00 PM
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [DIY] Re: Central AC - Resolution; sidenotes

What does it mean that "it could have been low charged since installed"? Does it mean that the installers didn't sufficiently do their job?

From: "THenne1713@aol.com" <THenne1713@aol.com>
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 10:18 PM
Subject: [DIY] Re: Central AC - Resolution; sidenotes

The bad capacitor probably started it all; high current for compressor/ fan starting, which burned contactor contacts causing them to weld closed, but probably also overheated (either/ both) compressor/ fan motor, may shorten life, but don't lose sleep; ALSO, if tech was right on low freon, and if not leaking much, you should see a big improvement in performance with less run time. (IT COULD HAVE BEEN LOW CHARGED SINCE INSTALLED);

Side note: $340 cheap; my $600 heater circuit board was worse from lightning damage. ($600 + $150 labor); ($2-trips + several days to find part)

<<Found bad contactor ($55) & capacitor ($45); low
freon, added 2 pounds R-22 ($90) & replaced breaker (that
we supplied), labor for 1.5 hrs.- $135", plus tax for a
total of $340.20!! Ouch!!>>