Liquid line frosting up for first 3-feet inside house...l

[BFORD1119]

I had a new split 410 system installed in the late summer early fall of 2010, which has about 35' of 3/8 - 3/4 lineset. The 3/4" is insulated. The 3/8 (liquid?) is not.

I just noticed that about the first 3- to 4-feet of the liquid line is frosted up like a freezer that needs defrosting. Of course, the condenser has not run for 2 or 3 months, since it is now winter in Minnesota. Current outside temp is about 5.

I cannot say for sure, but I am 95% confident that this was not the case last winter (the first winter for the new system). I am 100% confident that this did not happen with my 20-year old R22 system.

When the system was installed in early Oct 2010, it was warm enough to commission the A/C, but it did not run for long: a half hour to an hour and then was not needed again until this past summer. Therefore, it went through the first winter (last winter) having run very little. Of course, this last summer, the A/C got it first real workout.

Could it be frosting because of some change that happened from running it all this summer, where the winter before (presumably no frosting) it really had not run much at all? I can see why it might frost up, because it is good at transmitting cold temps, but why this winter and not last?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[beenthere]

Where is it frosting/freezing up at. The first 3 foot at the condense,the first 3 foot at the furnace/air handler, or the first 3 foot at the inside wall?

[BFORD1119]

It is the first 3-feet on the inside of the house closest to the outside compressor unit. I just looked at it again and the frost, as you might expect is thickest near the outside wall penetration and tapers to nothing about 3-feet from the wall as it heads towards the furnace/coil.

[beenthere]

Your seeing migration of the liquid refrigerant. Happens on some installations. Could be the CCH is not working.

[beenthere]

CE-TECH

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[BFORD1119]

I am assuming that CCH is crank case heater. This is a pure a/c condenser, not a heat pump. It also, to the best of my knowledge, does not have a CCH and, since the only time I ever think about running it is when it is over 80-degrees, I should not need one. No problem with cold starts at 80-degrees ;-) My old system did not have a CCH either.

[beenthere]

Doesn't mean the new one doesn't have a CCH.

[BFORD1119]

It does not have a CCH. It is an accessory for my condenser (Bryant 165A) and I did not get it, for the reasons I stated previously.

Does a typical homeowner in a cold weather climate have frosting on their liquid line where it enters the house? If not, why is it happening to me and why might it be happening this year and not last?

[beenthere]

Mine doesn't frost. Unless its below 10 outside.

[motoguy128]

Any chance its' not sealed up around the penetration that the lineset comes in through? Cold air comming in from outside with the already cold copper will draw warm moist surrounding inside air and create frost. Feel for a draft with you hand.