Is Placement of HVAC Refrigerant Lines ok?

[Refer-Madness]

It says " T4A324 central A/C fully installed wiith permits and lineset exposed
reconnect to existing Thermostat and Electrical"

I guess I should have read that about 'lineset exposed' but I didn't see it until just now. The word 'exposed was on the next line with Parts and Labour Warranty. However, the lineset running under the duct in the furnace room isn't kosher IMHO because it leaves it exposed for people to damage where it is.

They also charged me for a "pleanum" their spelling not mine, that they didn't end up needing because they couldn't get the original off the furnace so they did something else instead...they told me.
They also said they would refund the cost of the plenum ..I'm waiting to see that on my credit card.

On the bottom of the proposal is printed that "All work to be completed in a workmanlike manner according to standard practices"

is this installation "standard practice"?

Looking at the photos and what you're now saying about the contract, you got exactly what you paid for. As long as you're refunded for the parts you say the didn't use and the unit functions, I'm inclined to back the contractor.

[Refer-Madness]

Even though they said linesets exposed and the OP said he did not see that until after the fact due to the way the contract was written.... none the less I still feel they took advantage of his situation, and yes he probably should have questioned them, besides what does it take to knock a few holes into the drywall to run the lineset inside the soffit and have the customer do the repair work or hire someone either way I don't think he was given the option due to his disadvantage's

How many line sets have you run?

[beenthere]

I don't think its buyers remorse.
A case of not reading the contract close enough, and maybe not asking enough questions while the salesman was there.

But if you look at the hole in the drywall, they didn't use a hole saw. Looks more like a hammer was used.

The customer should be informed where the line set will be run, and how it will look when your going to leave it exposed in a finnished basement, and given options of paying to have it ran in different locations. Or the condenser relocated, and pay for running the electric different.

[dash]

If the old line set is the correct size,reuse it!!

[KB Cool]

If the old line set is the correct size,reuse it!!

Exactly,
I don't care how many plugged up TXV's i would have to replace. I'd much rather do that than have a line set running across my living space.

[I_bend_metal]

Another option we have used in the past (for replacing lines that are too small and cannot be re-used).......


A few (2 maybe 3) holes in that soffit to gain enough access to get a new line in there can easily be covered up with a few, white plumbing access doors. They don't look bad and will continue to give you access in the future.

With that being said, how does a salesman and a few installers fail to mention to the HO that the line is being run this way? Would they do that to their own home? If the HO says "knock out what you need to, I will have it fixed" then so be it....but since he is the HO it should be his choice as to how it gets run. Thats freaking nothing but being a lazy hack IMHO.

[dbg305]

Starting to sound like buyers remorse. The contractor fulfilled his end of the contract. End of story.

I thank you for all your comments but its not buyer remorse. I expected a workmanlike job and I don't believe I got one. My concern about the refrigerant lines being heated by its location next to the duct is obviously not an issue but the following are:

The line may be exposed in the living room and the contract said it would be but the lines location prevents the vent cover from being replaced in the hole in the duct. So besides the lines there is a gaping hole in the duct and probably no room to build a box around them.

They have left the soft copper lines exposed in the furnace room so that anyone who has to work under this duct or get to the other side to access: the water lines to shut off or turn on the water to the humidifier, get to the items on the shelves on the right in the picture, access the hot water heater which is due to be replaced as it is 14 years old, or clean the air cleaner which is directly below the duct and refrigerant lines is likely to hit their head on the duct and refrigerant lines because the distance to the floor was less than 5 ft under the duct before they installed those refrigerant lines.

The electrical box outside that they installed for the service shutoff is not locked and the inner plate falls to the ground when the lid is lifted. There is no screw or lock of any kind to hold this inner plate in place. There is nothing to keep a child or my 3 year grandchild from touching the wire connections. The cover plate that is supposed to be over the wires falls to the ground when the lid is lifted. There is a swimming pool within 10 feet of this box as well and children swim in the pool.

Personally I think this is shoddy work and it was done with this lack of care because I am disabled and was not able to inspect their work or watch what they were doing and they knew it.

[dbg305]

If the line set is in contact with the metal ducting it can transmit noise throughout the house.

I had the A/C on during the night and it is noisier than the one I had replaced that was 21 years old. The vibration of the vents is audible but fortunately not too distracting

[dbg305]

I don't think its buyers remorse.
A case of not reading the contract close enough, and maybe not asking enough questions while the salesman was there.

But if you look at the hole in the drywall, they didn't use a hole saw. Looks more like a hammer was used.

The customer should be informed where the line set will be run, and how it will look when your going to leave it exposed in a finnished basement, and given options of paying to have it ran in different locations. Or the condenser relocated, and pay for running the electric different.

It was a case of not reading the proposal carefully enough. The salesman did tell me that he would run the lines exposed and I told him I didn't want that because it would lower the value of my house. He said he's done it a number of times without a problem so I finally said OK. I had no idea that it would end up looking the way it does because I expected them to attach it neatly like the original lines were. They ran straight across without the 'waves' and were installed by the same company as did this work.

I have hired very few people to do work on the house and when I hire someone with a good rep I expect a good job that is not going to cause problems in the future. Maybe when my husband was alive I would have been more forceful about what I wanted but I treat people who I hire as though they are professionals and will take care with their work. It's more my naivety than anything else.

I knew about the lines running exposed but did not expect them to cover the vent hole in the duct so the cover couldn't be replaced, nor did I expect them to run the lines the way they did in the furnace room due to the fact it creates an obstruction for maintenance of everything else in there. I look at the duct and think they could have run the lines over the duct rather than under it but I may be wrong. However, the plenum where the new A/C is above the duct in the picture.

Yes it was my fault for not pursuing the issue of what they were doing, but it is very difficult when I can't see what they are doing while they did it. I used to spot check any people doing work on the house but unfortunately unless they are working upstairs I no longer can.

Thanks for all the info and help I appreciate it.

[dbg305]

Exactly,
I don't care how many plugged up TXV's i would have to replace. I'd much rather do that than have a line set running across my living space.

I was told that the reason they had to use new lines was the difference in refrigerant from R22 to R410A.

[dbg305]

Thanks everyone for your help and comments. I chose this company to do the work because they installed the original A/C for the previous owner and they also installed our furnace 10 years ago for us. Both were neat, clean jobs without any problems. I had no idea they would be less than careful and respectful of my property.

The electric box outside is a small thing but to me it says they were sloppy with the work they did not doing the finishing touches that others might have done. I am amazed that it passed inspection.

Maybe my attitude to treat people who are professionals with respect and expect them to treat the inside of a person's house as they would their own. That's what I expect from a professional. Maybe I should have had more quotes from different companies, but the temperature was in the 90's and my health suffers in the heat. I had past experience with this company and expected the same kind of treatment I received in the past when my husband was alive.

Thanks everyone for your comments, I appreciate all the opinions.

[hangfirew8]

Personally I think this is shoddy work and it was done with this lack of care because I am disabled and was not able to inspect their work or watch what they were doing and they knew it.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. I am able-bodied and I've had shoddy work done right while I was watching it.

-HF

[dbg305]

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. I am able-bodied and I've had shoddy work done right while I was watching it.

-HF

no matter what it is still shoddy work

[beenthere]

Exactly,
I don't care how many plugged up TXV's i would have to replace. I'd much rather do that than have a line set running across my living space.

Generally run a new line set when ever possible, but.
Got a fair amount of R410A swap outs that are using the old R22 line set.
Explain why they aren't causing any problems.

If your really worried about it, install the filter drier at the TXV where its suppose to be.

Not all manufacturers tell you to run new line sets.

[the dangling wrangler]

My take on this is ,a contract is only good if it covers the home owner. We're only hearing 1/2 the story here. If the job isn't to your liking ,call them back. I won't call these guys hacks. I don't know the whole story,so I'll side with the contractor on this one.

[KB Cool]

explain why they aren't causing any problem

Uhh...Because you blew the crap out of it with nitro, maybe even used rx11 flush and ran a nitro purge while brazing.

[Freezeking2000]

Looking at the photos and what you're now saying about the contract, you got exactly what you paid for. As long as you're refunded for the parts you say the didn't use and the unit functions, I'm inclined to back the contractor.

I agree, not a bad job at all.

[Freezeking2000]

Thanks everyone for your help and comments. I chose this company to do the work because they installed the original A/C for the previous owner and they also installed our furnace 10 years ago for us. Both were neat, clean jobs without any problems. I had no idea they would be less than careful and respectful of my property.

The electric box outside is a small thing but to me it says they were sloppy with the work they did not doing the finishing touches that others might have done. I am amazed that it passed inspection.

Maybe my attitude to treat people who are professionals with respect and expect them to treat the inside of a person's house as they would their own. That's what I expect from a professional. Maybe I should have had more quotes from different companies, but the temperature was in the 90's and my health suffers in the heat. I had past experience with this company and expected the same kind of treatment I received in the past when my husband was alive.

Thanks everyone for your comments, I appreciate all the opinions.

I do not think you got taken......look at the wall of shame to see bad workmanship.

[beenthere]

Uhh...Because you blew the crap out of it with nitro, maybe even used rx11 flush and ran a nitro purge while brazing.

When I blow out a line set with nitro, I blow it from the indoor unit to the outside with a rag around the line to catch any crap that comes out.
So there isn't going to be a bunch of crap in the lines.
Flowing nitro while brazing prevents oxidation, it doesn't create it.

I also flush from the inside when using RX11.
Still don't have these clogged TXVs you talked about.

[the dangling wrangler]

Let's deal with the facts we have ,and not our emotions. #1 your contract says the lines would be exposed,#2 they didn't cover them,#3 I can't see anything that would cause this install to fail an inspection. Let me ask you this 305. What exactly do you want your contractor to do to make you a happy camper??