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Found crack in cylindrical part inside A/C condenser unit

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Found crack in cylindrical part inside A/C condenser unit JayN 06-27-2008
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Posted by Zyp on June 27, 2008, 10:03 pm
JayN wrote:
>> Can't see or test it through my computer screen... and my crystal
>> ball is in for repair.- Hide quoted text -
>
> We would not be having this conversation if I had not noticed what is
> shown in the photos. Do the photos reveal that something is seriously
> wrong with the part or is it just a crack in the paint as someone else
> had suggested?
>
> Thanks,
>
> J.

JayN;

The part is a suction line accumulator which was / is prevalent in Carrier's
product line during the 1980's 38TH------301 comes to mind. Aluminum coil,
MD Carlyle compressor....

The accumulator has sweated so much [from being overcharge with refrigerant]
that the paint, has let go and rust is setting in. [Steel vessel]. Soon,
it will start leaking refrigerant.

Your best bet? Call your local HVAC contractor [licensed and insured] and
get a bid for replacement of the complete system. Upgrading will cut your
electrical use [when the air conditioning is on] comparatively in half. The
EER of those earlier units was in the 9.5's - the newer stuff to day is much
more efficient.


--
Zyp



Posted by Stormin Mormon on June 27, 2008, 10:26 pm
Cumulator? Neat! I guess that would make sense. After all, receiver needs a
high torque comp. And the comp we see has a round shape to it, suggesting
it's a piston model.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.




JayN;

The part is a suction line accumulator which was / is prevalent in Carrier's
product line during the 1980's 38TH------301 comes to mind. Aluminum coil,
MD Carlyle compressor....

The accumulator has sweated so much [from being overcharge with refrigerant]
that the paint, has let go and rust is setting in. [Steel vessel]. Soon,
it will start leaking refrigerant.

Your best bet? Call your local HVAC contractor [licensed and insured] and
get a bid for replacement of the complete system. Upgrading will cut your
electrical use [when the air conditioning is on] comparatively in half. The
EER of those earlier units was in the 9.5's - the newer stuff to day is much
more efficient.


--
Zyp




Posted by Stormin Mormon on June 27, 2008, 10:22 pm
I don't think it's a crack in the paint. To me, it looks like enamel, or
possibly plastic. More likely plastic. Call your AC guy if you want, but I
am not going to worry any about it.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.


> Can't see or test it through my computer screen... and my crystal ball is
> in
> for repair.- Hide quoted text -

We would not be having this conversation if I had not noticed what is
shown in the photos. Do the photos reveal that something is seriously
wrong with the part or is it just a crack in the paint as someone else
had suggested?

Thanks,

J.



Posted by Oztech on June 30, 2008, 9:11 am

>I don't think it's a crack in the paint. To me, it looks like enamel, or
> possibly plastic. More likely plastic. Call your AC guy if you want, but I
> am not going to worry any about it.
>
> --
> Christopher A. Young
> Learn more about Jesus
> www.lds.org
> .
>
>
>> Can't see or test it through my computer screen... and my crystal ball is
>> in
>> for repair.- Hide quoted text -
>
> We would not be having this conversation if I had not noticed what is
> shown in the photos. Do the photos reveal that something is seriously
> wrong with the part or is it just a crack in the paint as someone else
> had suggested?
>
> Thanks,
>
> J.
>
Are you really only with us "part time"?
Seriously!

Paul



Posted by Smarty on June 27, 2008, 10:00 pm

>I had my Central A/C tuned up at the beginning of June. It has been
> working nicely, I still am getting cooling. My unit is a 4 ton
> Carrier system. It is an older system that uses R22.
>
> Today, I happened to take a peak through the top of the condenser
> unit, and noticed that there is a crack in the metal case of light
> grey colored cylindrical part.
>
> Here are links to 2 photos:
>
> http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeofpch/cracked_ac.jpg
>
> and
>
> http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeofpch/cracked_ac2.jpg
>
> What part is this? Does the crack in the metal case mean failure will
> soon happen...if so how soon? What is the brown stuff I see on the
> side of this part below the crack...is this oil? Do I have a freon
> leak?
>
> Nobody mentioned this during my tune-up. From the looks of it, it's
> hard to believe the crack didn't exist at the beginning of the month
> at all, and they didn't need to add any freon because pressure was
> fine, and I'm still getting adequate cooling as far as I can tell.
>
> Does anything need to be done?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jay

Jay,

I am guessing that the light-colored cylindrical part you have photographed
is a large electrolytic capacitor, typically used to start the outdoor
condensing unit. It is very difficult to tell from the photo you provided.
It could be a receiver/drier, a low ambient kit, or other refrigerant part,
but I doubt it.

It is very unlikely that you are leaking freon based on your comment that
cooling is adequate. My advice would also be to not worry about this item.
If and when it does fail, you will need to deal with it then, most likely
with a complaint that your outdoor condensing unit does not appear to be
operating.

Maybe some of the "experts" on this newsgroup can offer better advice. Based
on my participation on Usenet and Arpanet dating back to the 1980's, I must
say that I have never seen a more pathetic collection of people than I have
encountered here. Many questions are answered with snide, sarcastic remarks
by people have sniffed far too many chlorinated and fluorinated
hydrocarbons. Some questions are ignored altogether. You might consider
posing your question at alt.home.repair or one of the HVAC forums on the
Internet. This newsgroup is about as dysfunctional as any I have every seen.

Smarty



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