2nd floor air handler

[edwardh1]

For an air handler of a split sysytem, where the air handler/coil is on the 2nd floor in a close

can the freon lines go to it directly from below

or do they have to loop higher than the unit and then go down to the unit?

[dkpd1581]

The lines can come from below.  Generally speaking, your machine could care less from which direction the line set comes to it - so long as there is no artifical restrictions, adequate oil return/refrigerant flow, and no obstruction posed by the lines that inhibit your tech from changing the filter or servicing the unit adequately.

[edwardh1]

Understand- there was an internet rumor thing a few years ago about having to have an upward loop for some reason. my (old) unit has that and the piping is in the attic (real real hot) for 20 ft , it can be easily fed from below when i change out the unit

[dkpd1581]

Perhaps the general idea behind that one is to have proper oil return to the compressor in the off cycle to avoid slugging from the evaporator to the compressor on start up.  However, if your unit is that far above the condensor, a small trap before the service valves at the compressor will help.  Good luck.

[hvacdrd]

The idea of running the suction line piping above the top of the evaporator when the condensing unit is located below is to prevent "free draining" of oil and refrigerant durning the off cycle. Typically this applies in commercial applications where the suction line outlet may be located at the lower portion of the coil. Most residential system coils feed refrigerant to the bottom and the suction line header is at the top. This "trap" eliminates the need to run the suction line piping above the coil.