23 replies to this topic

[Patricio]

Our heat pump is not cooling so hot, A-coil is clean, feels cold, filters are new, changed regularly, condensor is cleaned regularly, condensor fan is running, exhaust is warm not hot. Unit is not cooling like before. Question: Does it need a freon fix? Or something else.
13 year Lenox in South Texas. Our summer is coming fast, already in the daytime 90's. Momma likes it cool.

[RegUS_PatOff]

model number ?

[jumptrout]

At that age most likely a refrigerant leak.
Pressure gauges should read 69psi on the low side.
Charge it up to get you by while shopping for a replacement unit.
WARNING: R-22 refrigerant quadrupled in price in January. A refrigerant top off will not be inexpensive.

[Bullstok]

Pressure gauges should read 69psi on the low side.

Say huh?

[jumptrout]

Say huh?

Unless it is a R-410a system,then low side would be about 125 psi.

[RegUS_PatOff]

model number ?

[jumptrout]

This temperature pressure chart will help explain.
Look for a 40 degree evaporator temperature then reference the psi for R22 or R410a.
Exact pressures are 68.6 and 118.9 respectively.  refrigerant temps w shading.jpg   347.94KB   17 downloads

Edited by jumptrout, 06 May 2012 - 01:19 PM.
spell

[Bullstok]

Ok, that is a refrigeration saturation chart... So is this a txv or a piston? r22? And no checking evaporator air flow (cfm), evaporator temp drop (delta t), evaporator inlet wet bulb, condenser inlet dry bulb temp, super heat (if piston), sub cool (if txv)? At least a few of these are necessary for proper charging. Also on a heat pump there is a reversing valve that needs to be changing over correctly and not half stuck.

then there is this:

model number ?

Edited by Bullstok, 06 May 2012 - 02:06 PM.

[jumptrout]

I would have suggested those checks to him if he were a technician and not a home owner and probably without gauges as well.
But then,if he was a technician he probably would not be seeking help on a DIY forum.

[jumptrout]

P.S. Carrier introduced R410a equipment in 1996. No other company used it until 2000.

[Bullstok]

No offense - just suggesting it's complicated. I get people that suggest all sorts of ways to "charge" systems when I'm at work. The only way a homeowner is going to do anything is by temps anyhow. If the evap is freezing up or such. FWIW: I would guess if it is running correctly on a 90 deg ambient temp day, it would be around 95 to 105 low side and 215 to 225 high side.

Anyhow, if it is not very humid, most any air source split a/c should be giving a 20 degree drop to the air temperature in the house. The more humid it is, the less temp difference you will see. If it snot in that range it might be leaking refrigerant. If the indoor coil is freezing or you see ice on the large line outside the house, you got trouble. Start looking for oil residue on the service ports and such- mainly any fittings on the lines that are threaded together (indoor next to the coil there is usually a fitting or two as well). These are your first bet if you are gonna fix anything without proper equipment. Usually if there is a refrigerant leak there is a oil leak. Get out your dawn dishsoap (or buy some big blu - i'm not getting into that discussion again ) and start smearing it on and looking for bubbles.

Edited by Bullstok, 06 May 2012 - 05:06 PM.

[jumptrout]

No offense taken Bullstok ikko ikki. It is that since I have been in this business 15 years before you were born grasshopper,I was trying to give Patricio something he might work with.
I will humbly bow out now from this inquiry.

[Patricio]

Thanks for everybody's help. No I am not an Heat Pump Tech, just a lowly appliance repairman. I don't have the gauges, but I understand cooling & heating theory Unit is not freezing up & is cooling, just not like it did last fall. I have helped AC techs in the past. I figured I had a leak in the system. I have a oil section between to sweat-ed joints one & half foot apart just outside the unit on the uninsulated small line. Did not think to soap the line, but that makes since, that's how I check LP & Natural gas lines for gas appliances. Have a tech coming on Monday. Just wanted to be up on his service call. Will post a model Number on next post.

Unit is well maintained and is comfortable now, but temps are not falling below 78 inside. Probably needs to be topped off. I do Have a capacitor on the blowing Unit that is rusted beyond recognition (South Texas Coastal Bend humidity everything tries to rust) but it is energizing the fan just fine.

[Bullstok]

I have been in this business 15 years before you were born

Sweet, how were the systems with R1a? Hand crank air conditioning would be a pain in the ass.

Edited by Bullstok, 06 May 2012 - 06:46 PM.

[Patricio]

Lenox model # HP26-036-7P serial # 5801C 46984 HCFC - 22 Factory charge 9 pds - 8 ozs Design Pressure 278 psig - High ... 144 psig - Low

All lines to outside unit solder connections Evaporator & insulated line cool not cold. No icing. Unit cycles fine Just not cold only cool.

[kdog]

Hand crank air conditioning would be a pain in the ass.

We had Gilligan back then ...........

[Bullstok]

I figured I had a leak in the system. I have a oil section between to sweat-ed joints one & half foot apart just outside the unit on the uninsulated small line.

Make sure the condenser has not settled recently for some reason. Or been knocked around by someones riding lawn mower If it is sinking (being washed out from underneath or some such thing) you could end up doing this all over again later. You don't want the pipes holding up one side of the unit. Eees bad for them.

Edited by Bullstok, 06 May 2012 - 09:01 PM.

[RegUS_PatOff]

We had Gilligan back then ...........

if she would have played her cards right,
it could have been "Mary Ann's Island"

[Patricio]

OK I was correct, Freon leak at soldered joint. To Weld over leak & replace 3 pounds of freon $800 does that sound reasonable? This is an established company, they installed the system 13 years ago. Input please.

[Bullstok]

My input: thirteen years ago they did some sh@&?y brazing (unless it really is regular solder, I ran into that once. Not very smart.) Other than that, I don't get involved in price wars.

Edited by Bullstok, 07 May 2012 - 07:00 PM.