Bent Refrigerant Line

[diyeraz]

I was replacing the insulation on the refrigerant lines on my 2 Trane XE 1200 condensing units and notice that one of the refrigerant lines was bent. The units are 11 years old. I have had fairly regular maintenance done on them and none of the technicians detected this, not sure if they should have been able to.

We also have had issues with a lack of cooling in the master bedroom which is the room furthest from this unit.

My concern is that since this restriction in the refrigerant line, my estimate is that it is restricted by 2/3rds, (see photo) may have damaged the compressor and/or other components.

A couple questions:

1) Would this restriction cause damage to the compressor or any other components?

2) Would this restriction affect the efficiency of this unit and therfore result in more energy usage?

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

Paul

[Sam-the-man]

that's a pretty bad kink in the line, something should be done about that. A restriction like that will affect performance and efficiency, and could cause compressor damage. I would think that kink would throw off the readings enough that a good tech would have at least questioned it.

[sir fix alot]

wow that is a pretty good kink you have there . i am kinda surprised your hvac contractor did not check for a kink i would think a kink like that would give you a low suction pressure it is possible at one time they could have put to much r-22 in the ac to compensate for the low pressure. to answer your 2 questions yes it can effect compressor need to have hvac contractor come out and cut old suction line some where inside of house and replace.that section only . good luck

[foggman]

was insulation covering section of suction line? if so they would have missed
the kink.

[manganga]

just a question for the experienced, wouldnt that act similarly to a pump down therefore exposing more liquid to the compressor? * or wait, i think i have it backwards with a kinked liquid line..

but even with it covered, it should have showed in the pressure readings unless it happened after the last tech was there

[AtticAce]

Problem here is we don't know when this kink happened, looks like new paint job. Any case the painter could have moved unit a bit?

Just did a 410a call, high pressure switch tripped, case of 2 year old Lennox we installed kinda bent up. Customer said " now to mention it the siding guy had a latter on one side with boards resting on it and the top of the unit, could this have caused the problem?" Duh!

[Rookie2dafield]

I call that a sub metering device or a subcontracted metering device.

our sub contractors like to leave surprises like this for us on start ups.

with a kink that bad it seems like that suction line would freeze and I am suprised you are getting any cooling at all

[smokin68]

Had one kinked worse than that and it still ran.....was hit with a lawnmower. Yes it will decrease effeciency. As far as damaging compressor, only if not enough refrigerant was getting back to it to cool it. Get it taken care of.

[acmech13]

did someone try to push this condensor closer to the house? i would think a kink like that would starve the compressor of gas. Im sure the pressures would be low and there is no way the superheat could be accurate. get someone ther fast before that does any damage.

[diyeraz]

I am sure this kink was left by the install crew.

Other than HVAC techs, no one has been near those units, they are located behind a locked pool gate and I have been out there with the techs.

Anyone forsee any issues with me going after the builder for the repair?

[smokin68]

Anyone forsee any issues with me going after the builder for the repair?

Here's the issue..."The units are 11 years old."

You'll get nothing from the builder, who could say you stepped on it or whatever. Get it fixed ASAP though.

[coolguysfl]

That unit would have had to have been severely overcharged to compensate for the pressure drop -

Get it fixed right away.

[AtticAce]

Wait a minute, did anyone maybe step on that pipe?