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Bad A/C reversing valve?

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Bad A/C reversing valve? dpontrelli 08-31-2007
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Posted by Noon-Air on September 2, 2007, 12:03 am

> Noon-Air wrote:
>>> We completed construction on our home in Florida in 7/2006. We have
>>> 2 Bryant central air units (one 3 ton unit and one 4 ton unit). Last
>>> week I noticed the 3ton unit couldn't keep up with the cooling during
>>> the afternoon hours.
>>> I called the A/C company that put the units in during construction.
>>> Here is what happened:
>>>
>>> Visit 1: (last week): the tech tells me the system is low on freon
>>> either because it was never filled properly or there is a leak
>>> (they'll test for the leak if it gets low again and the problem
>>> resurfaces). I received a bill for $90 and was told the unit would
>>> catch up that night then should be fine. The tech noted that air was
>>> now coming out 16 degrees cooler than when going in so I should now
>>> be fine.
>>>
>>> Visit 2: after I called and advised there was no change the boss sent
>>> out his "best diagnostician" who "made some adjustments" with the air
>>> handler which is up in the attic and noted we now had 18 degrees of
>>> cooling and the unit would be fine once it catches up tonight, but
>>> again there was no change.
>>>
>>> Visit 3 (today): the boss decided to send a team to figure it out,
>>> the 2 original techs plus one more. They each seemed to have their
>>> own diagnosis of the problem based on what my wife had overheard
>>> (unfortunately I wasn't around the whole time). They had simply told
>>> me the plan was to gather info and have Bryant diagnose the system.
>>> Now I'm told the reversing valve needs to be replaced to the sum of
>>> $720 even though the unit and part is under warranty (I'm told it's a
>>> lot of labor to replace it).
>>>
>>> I called another company who will come in the morning for a free
>>> estimate/2nd opinion. They told me the problem didn't sound like
>>> something caused by a bad reversing valve but they'd come out and
>>> see.
>>> I'm looking for any advice on how to proceed with and what questions
>>> I should ask, as I'm looking at a lot of money and not confident
>>> these guys know what the real problem is.
>>>
>>
>> Gotta love it when a builder uses the lowest bidder gets used to
>> install the single most expensive appliance in a home.
>
> I like that - "the single most expensive appliance in the home!" Can I
> use that Noonie?

feel free :-)



Electric Radiant Heat 468x60
Posted by on September 3, 2007, 6:28 pm
I got a 2nd opinion and found out there was no filter drier in the air
handler and I'm told that really screwed the system. Could this be
true? Full details below.

-I spoke with the owner of the company that installed and has been
servicing the unit. He says one of his techs felt the TXV valve was
bad but they worked with Bryant over the phone who said the reversing
valve was bad based on the data given. He said it would be close to
$1000 to replace both and I should call Bryant and bitch to see what
they'd do since the unit is only 14 months old.
-I called a new hvac company for a 2nd opininon. They sent a tech
out. He measured the refrigerant psi for the lines attached to the
condenser. He noted the pressure was climbing from 200 to almost 400
psi, at which point the release valve kicked in and it would soon
start all over again. He had eventually gotten the pressure stable
and said he believed there was contamination in the line and the issue
was now fixed (although I found no change later on). This is the info
he gave me on what he did:

-found system overcharged
-found system heat pressure raising to 450psi from 210
-pumped system down, inspected piston at liquid line at condenser &
screen at condenser. Found a small chunk of possibly brazing rod
-flushed nitrogen through lineset to make sure there was good flow
-pulled system into deep vacuum
-recovered some of refrigerant to proper charge
-system working properly
-suction & liquid pressure steady
- 10 degree superheat LO 80
-12 degree subcooling Hi 200
-18 degree delta T - compressor amps 10.1

I called the company back and they sent out another guy. He energized/
de-energized the reversing valve using heat and cooling but it did not
help.
He had been looking at the air handler and says there's no filter
drier installed and now the system needs to be cleaned out, txv
replaced, filter drier installed and we mostly likely don't have a
filter drier on our other system (although that one's been functioning
ok).
I looked at the documentation for this unit and the filter drier is
listed under optional equipment but another page says it is suggested
in all field-connected split-system heat pumps. Can the absence of
this filter really cause the issue? If so, is this a major mis-step
of the installers to not put it in?


Posted by on September 3, 2007, 6:58 pm
On Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:28:01 -0700, dpontrelli@gmail.com wrote:

>I got a 2nd opinion and found out there was no filter drier in the air
>handler and I'm told that really screwed the system. Could this be
>true?

        Yep.

> Full details below.
>
>-I spoke with the owner of the company that installed and has been
>servicing the unit. He says one of his techs felt the TXV valve was
>bad but they worked with Bryant over the phone who said the reversing
>valve was bad based on the data given. He said it would be close to
>$1000 to replace both and I should call Bryant and bitch to see what
>they'd do since the unit is only 14 months old.

        Bullshit. **IF** he weren't lying to you, then HE should call
Bryant, not YOU. However, he's just blowing you off, neither he nor
his techs have a clue. BTW, I GUARANTEE that no one at Bryant
suggested the reversing valve was the casue of your problems. Why ?
Because IT CAN NOT CAUSE THOSE SYMPTOMS.

>-I called a new hvac company for a 2nd opininon. They sent a tech
>out. He measured the refrigerant psi for the lines attached to the
>condenser. He noted the pressure was climbing from 200 to almost 400
>psi, at which point the release valve kicked in and it would soon
>start all over again. He had eventually gotten the pressure stable
>and said he believed there was contamination in the line and the issue
>was now fixed (although I found no change later on). This is the info
>he gave me on what he did:

        No. Contamination in the line will NOT cause that symptom.
MASSIVE OVERCHARGE will.

>-found system overcharged
>-found system heat pressure raising to 450psi from 210
>-pumped system down, inspected piston at liquid line at condenser &
>screen at condenser. Found a small chunk of possibly brazing rod
>-flushed nitrogen through lineset to make sure there was good flow

        Bullshit - that does NOTHING to clear debris from the line.

>-pulled system into deep vacuum
>-recovered some of refrigerant to proper charge
>-system working properly
>-suction & liquid pressure steady
>- 10 degree superheat LO 80
>-12 degree subcooling Hi 200
>-18 degree delta T - compressor amps 10.1

        Not good numbers. Especially the SH, and the delta.

>I called the company back and they sent out another guy. He energized/
>de-energized the reversing valve using heat and cooling but it did not
>help.

        Duh.

>He had been looking at the air handler and says there's no filter
>drier installed and now the system needs to be cleaned out, txv
>replaced, filter drier installed and we mostly likely don't have a
>filter drier on our other system (although that one's been functioning
>ok).

        A filter / drier is MANDATORY. Whether or not you HAVE one is
another question. I am not convinced that you don't. Most units will
have them BUILT IN FROM THE FACTORY, and it's vvery possible the
asshoel tech doesn't recognise it.

>I looked at the documentation for this unit and the filter drier is
>listed under optional equipment but another page says it is suggested
>in all field-connected split-system heat pumps. Can the absence of
>this filter really cause the issue? If so, is this a major mis-step
>of the installers to not put it in?

        yes and yes.

        What you need now is a THRID company, and tell them to send
their BEST tech, becuase the last 2 company's didnt' know what they
were doing.



--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/

Posted by Zyp on September 3, 2007, 8:18 pm
.p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com wrote:
> On Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:28:01 -0700, dpontrelli@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> I got a 2nd opinion and found out there was no filter drier in the
>> air handler and I'm told that really screwed the system. Could this
>> be true?
>
> Yep.
>
>> Full details below.
>>
>> -I spoke with the owner of the company that installed and has been
>> servicing the unit. He says one of his techs felt the TXV valve was
>> bad but they worked with Bryant over the phone who said the
>> reversing valve was bad based on the data given. He said it would
>> be close to $1000 to replace both and I should call Bryant and bitch
>> to see what they'd do since the unit is only 14 months old.
>
> Bullshit. **IF** he weren't lying to you, then HE should call
> Bryant, not YOU. However, he's just blowing you off, neither he nor
> his techs have a clue. BTW, I GUARANTEE that no one at Bryant
> suggested the reversing valve was the casue of your problems. Why ?
> Because IT CAN NOT CAUSE THOSE SYMPTOMS.
>
>> -I called a new hvac company for a 2nd opininon. They sent a tech
>> out. He measured the refrigerant psi for the lines attached to the
>> condenser. He noted the pressure was climbing from 200 to almost 400
>> psi, at which point the release valve kicked in and it would soon
>> start all over again. He had eventually gotten the pressure stable
>> and said he believed there was contamination in the line and the
>> issue was now fixed (although I found no change later on). This is
>> the info he gave me on what he did:
>
> No. Contamination in the line will NOT cause that symptom.
> MASSIVE OVERCHARGE will.
>
>> -found system overcharged
>> -found system heat pressure raising to 450psi from 210
>> -pumped system down, inspected piston at liquid line at condenser &
>> screen at condenser. Found a small chunk of possibly brazing rod
>> -flushed nitrogen through lineset to make sure there was good flow
>
> Bullshit - that does NOTHING to clear debris from the line.
>
>> -pulled system into deep vacuum
>> -recovered some of refrigerant to proper charge
>> -system working properly
>> -suction & liquid pressure steady
>> - 10 degree superheat LO 80
>> -12 degree subcooling Hi 200
>> -18 degree delta T - compressor amps 10.1
>
> Not good numbers. Especially the SH, and the delta.
>
>> I called the company back and they sent out another guy. He
>> energized/ de-energized the reversing valve using heat and cooling
>> but it did not help.
>
> Duh.
>
>> He had been looking at the air handler and says there's no filter
>> drier installed and now the system needs to be cleaned out, txv
>> replaced, filter drier installed and we mostly likely don't have a
>> filter drier on our other system (although that one's been
>> functioning ok).
>
> A filter / drier is MANDATORY. Whether or not you HAVE one is
> another question. I am not convinced that you don't. Most units will
> have them BUILT IN FROM THE FACTORY, and it's vvery possible the
> asshoel tech doesn't recognise it.
>
>> I looked at the documentation for this unit and the filter drier is
>> listed under optional equipment but another page says it is suggested
>> in all field-connected split-system heat pumps. Can the absence of
>> this filter really cause the issue? If so, is this a major mis-step
>> of the installers to not put it in?
>
> yes and yes.
>
> What you need now is a THRID company, and tell them to send
> their BEST tech, becuase the last 2 company's didnt' know what they
> were doing.
>
>
>
> --
> Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
> http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/
>
> Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
> 'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
> 'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
> HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
> Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/

Why don't you call BRYANT? Have a BRYANT tech support person come out
*with* the tech and have a look. The department you want is called
*Customer Assurance*.

1. A Liquid Line Bi-Flow filter drier is important and *should* be
installed in the refrigeration system. It will prevent materials from
blocking the metering devices such as copper oxidation from brazing. It
will also remove minor amounts of moisture from the system.

2. The readings you gave seem ok, but I need the outdoor temperature and
the indoor temperature as well. A 10º superheat is good [actually a bit
low] and the suction pressure / temperature says the house indoor air
temperature should be warm. The outdoor condensing temperature seems low,
but it is dependant on the outdoor amibient. The subcooling seems ok. Most
Bryant units are from 9º to 13º. It should be on the outdoor unit label.

3. 18º temperature difference from the return to supply means you are shy
on return air.

Have Bryant send a representative [they do here in California if one is
needed.] But they won't come out on their own, they will escort the
technition from the contractor.

Good luck.
--
Zyp



Posted by on September 3, 2007, 8:40 pm

>.p.jm@see_my_sig_for_address.com wrote:
>> On Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:28:01 -0700, dpontrelli@gmail.com wrote:
>>

>
>3. 18º temperature difference from the return to supply means you are shy
>on return air.

        Ummm... you wanna try that one again, or should I mock you
now ? :-)

>
>Have Bryant send a representative [they do here in California if one is
>needed.] But they won't come out on their own, they will escort the
>technition from the contractor.
>
>Good luck.

--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
Free demo now available online http://pmilligan.net/palm/

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