Heat Pump with a directional liquid dryer

[yzarcem]

Goodman heat pump//1 year old worked great last summer.

Sometime over the winter, a leak developed inside the condensing unit...at the base of the accumulator. The heat strips likely kept us warm all winter; I found the system at atmospheric pressure. The part was covered under warranty.

As the vacuum was pulling, I realized a few things...

1) There is a filter inside the condensing unit on the liquid line...factory. Should that be removed, or can it stay? I'm sitting flat at 250 microns right now, but will insist if this poses a real issue.

Most importantly...
2) The dryer that the Tech installed for me is straight (mono-directional), EK163S. I know that you install bi-directional filters with heat pump applications. This is freshly installed with a 4-Ton heat pump system.

Realistically, should I complain, or let it ride? I know that this would do its job in the summer, however, I don't know about the winter--would it not do it's job, not do its job efficiently, or would it be detrimental to the system//all of the above?

Thanks for the advise!
Scott

[2old2rock]

Chances are it won't work for heat mode. I've seen this attempted by another company, they didn't know it was a heat pump???
Would run about 60 seconds, and trip high pressure cut-out.
Bi-flow is what's needed.

[blaster50]

i would have the one inside unit removed and have bi directional installed outside of the condenser

[mrbenz7]

I have to concur with installing a Bi-flow line drier/filter outside the condensor on this one. The only application where I saw a one way flow liquid line drier installed in a heat pump was on the liquid line side between the Compressor and the Reversing valve.

My theory here is there was enough room for it and between the Compressor and Reversing valve, the liquid is only supposed to flow one way, to the Reversing valve. Installing a one way line filter/drier anywhere else on the system would surely cause malfunctions.

[pecmsg]

Goodman heat pump//1 year old worked great last summer.

Sometime over the winter, a leak developed inside the condensing unit...at the base of the accumulator. The heat strips likely kept us warm all winter; I found the system at atmospheric pressure. The part was covered under warranty.

As the vacuum was pulling, I realized a few things...

1) There is a filter inside the condensing unit on the liquid line...factory. Should that be removed, or can it stay? I'm sitting flat at 250 microns right now, but will insist if this poses a real issue.

Most importantly...
2) The dryer that the Tech installed for me is straight (mono-directional), EK163S. I know that you install bi-directional filters with heat pump applications. This is freshly installed with a 4-Ton heat pump system.

Realistically, should I complain, or let it ride? I know that this would do its job in the summer, however, I don't know about the winter--would it not do it's job, not do its job efficiently, or would it be detrimental to the system//all of the above?

Thanks for the advise!
Scott

Are you doing this work or the contractor?

1 year and everything should be covered by warranty.

[yzarcem]

The parts are covered by warranty, but not labor.

Last year I installed the unit myself. I have christened many commercial units in my days, and am Mainstream certified. Last summer it was simple...do the work myself and keep the family cool, or burn slam up.

Money isn't (as much of) an issue this year, but my time is a major concern. I hired someone to repair the manufacturer defect. If I were doing the work myself, I would have installed a bi-directional dryer, and I would have removed the dryer inside the condensing unit. The contractor did neither.

[Anderson Air]

I have to concur with installing a Bi-flow line drier/filter outside the condensor on this one. The only application where I saw a one way flow liquid line drier installed in a heat pump was on the liquid line side between the Compressor and the Reversing valve.

My theory here is there was enough room for it and between the Compressor and Reversing valve, the liquid is only supposed to flow one way, to the Reversing valve. Installing a one way line filter/drier anywhere else on the system would surely cause malfunctions.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the only lines between the compressor and reversing valve, carry vapor, unless you have a compressor that also serves as a liquid pump :anyone:

[GT Jets]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the only lines between the compressor and reversing valve, carry vapor, unless you have a compressor that also serves as a liquid pump :anyone:


The OEM filter drier is on the leaving liquid line on the check valve coming from the outdoor coil, there is a tee that goes to the TXV for heating ops...Pretty typical, I was told by a certain manufacturer who will remain nameless, that they did this as an attempt to improve efficiency while in heating....Don't know if does though...I personally think it was a cost saving measure during manufacturing...

Another vote for a bi flow with the removal of the OEM, but the OEM will not see it that way.

GT

[Anderson Air]

The OEM filter drier is on the leaving liquid line on the check valve coming from the outdoor coil, there is a tee that goes to the TXV for heating ops...Pretty typical, I was told by a certain manufacturer who will remain nameless, that they did this as an attempt to improve efficiency while in heating....Don't know if does though...I personally think it was a cost saving measure during manufacturing...

Another vote for a bi flow with the removal of the OEM, but the OEM will not see it that way.

GT

In my eyes that is a dumb place to put it, but I see what you mean now, most likely a std drier costs $5 less than a bi-flow, so in the OEM's eyes they saved money, LOL

[pecmsg]

Chris

On your web site, expand your coverage area to include Plum Island. Not may will be able to make that claim!

[Anderson Air]

Chris

On your web site, expand your coverage area to include Plum Island. Not may will be able to make that claim!

That's a good idea, not many can say they have worked there, aside from you.

Anderson Air is : "Good enough for government work"

Not sure if that will be taken the right way :LOL:

[chuckcrj]

I have to concur with installing a Bi-flow line drier/filter outside the condensor on this one. The only application where I saw a one way flow liquid line drier installed in a heat pump was on the liquid line side between the Compressor and the Reversing valve.

My theory here is there was enough room for it and between the Compressor and Reversing valve, the liquid is only supposed to flow one way, to the Reversing valve. Installing a one way line filter/drier anywhere else on the system would surely cause malfunctions.

Liquid between compressor and rev valve only flows one way???????????????????????????

What you saw was probably a suction line drier or a discharge muffler.

[Anderson Air]

Liquid between compressor and rev valve only flows one way???????????????????????????

What you saw was probably a suction line drier or a discharge muffler.

He clarified a little bit in his second post, although it only pertains to a few units that are piped that way.

[chuckcrj]

He clarified a little bit in his second post, although it only pertains to a few units that are piped that way.

Which post are you refering to?

I only see one post from him.

The post from gt is talking about the liquid line not the suc or dis line.

[Anderson Air]

My fault,
I read Gt's post to quickly and thought that was him correcting himseslf. Let the flaming continue.........

[surenuff]

I have to concur with installing a Bi-flow line drier/filter outside the condensor on this one. The only application where I saw a one way flow liquid line drier installed in a heat pump was on the liquid line side between the Compressor and the Reversing valve.

My theory here is there was enough room for it and between the Compressor and Reversing valve, the liquid is only supposed to flow one way, to the Reversing valve. Installing a one way line filter/drier anywhere else on the system would surely cause malfunctions.

Brand new type of unit for me!!! Have never seen liquid line between compressor and reversing valve. And if not true, have never seen a liquid line drier in a dicharge line between compressor and reversing valve but have seen discharge mufflers that do have a direction of flow arrow on them

[mrbenz7]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the only lines between the compressor and reversing valve, carry vapor, unless you have a compressor that also serves as a liquid pump :anyone:

Which is why it was really wierd to see this in there because the hot gas will not become liquid until it has exhausted the heat from the Condensor coils! Goodman and Amana Tech's do strange things and hey, I didn't put it there and had no reason to remove it, but that was a first for me!?!

Unless this was a feeble attempt to make this a sort of muffler, I cannot imagine it serving any other purpose in this location! It was an Emerson liquid line drier though, arrow for flow facing the right direction! :eek2:

[ebierley]

:worthless:

[mrbenz7]

:worthless:

This was more than 1 1/2 years ago and I don't have pics if your asking me.