AC Coolant Line Loops

[Mike Lamb]

The far AC unit in the photos (6 ton, I believe) makes 5 coolant line u-turns under this deck before it heads up the wall to the 3rd floor. What's the reason?

[cmajerus]

Now that's different. I guess they had some extra copper laying around. Maybe thought that they needed a minimum line length. no idea.

[gonekuku]

Bonus loop for copper thieves. Pipe sweating exercise at your expense.

Certainly doesn't add to flow performance.

[beenthere]

Maybe its a secondary condener loop to make up for the poor air flow the steps create.

[gonekuku]

Anti-SEER Reactor Cell

[RyanHughes]

Maybe their idea of an oil trap?

[oldheathen]

Is there any conceivable reason to install the units under the STAIRS (lowest overhead, least airflow?) instead of under the deck (i.e. 4' to the right of the chosen location)?

Was this a builder install, or "after market"?

[diverdan]

Looks like the Rube Goldberg to an overcharged system fix. Just make a giant suction line with a bunch of turbulence and you've got a not so cheap accumulator!

[Tiger93rsl]

Huh thats weird sure don't look like a precharged lineset. looks like someone to a lot of time to sweat 90's in there. Looks like a waist of time and money, I wonder what their reasoning behind that is.

[desertdweller]

Maybe their intent was to cool off the deck kind of like using Wirsbo Pex for heating underneath a floor.

Maybe they weren't sure where the home owner would want the unit so they were giving them options and finally settled on the corner behind the stairs.

Maybe a journeyman left his overzealious apprentice to do the hook up outside while he did the lines inside.

Maybe they read in the directions that the unit was charged for a 50 ft line and the only went in to the house 10 ft.

Maybe the installer got paid by the ft.

Just a few ideas

[Mike Lamb]

Thanks.
The original coolant line had been cut and replaced with this set up. I'm a home inspector and I told my client that this was puzzling.

[flange]

I have seen this many times. It is usually done to allow the suction line to pick up some heat from the ambinet air to give the deck dwellers some relief. The little cooling effect actually will cause the temp of the air rising through the boards to provide some cooling during high deck occupancy loads. In addition, this allows the installer to grossly oversize the systems. The compressor will not experience problems usually associated with gross oversizing, due to the added load of the outdoor air. As far as installing the condensers under the stairs.....where else would you put them so that you didnt take yup valuable square footage of patio space?

[beenthere]

Usually works better if the lines aren't insulated.

[Mike Lamb]

Could this have been done because the AC was grossly oversized to begin with and they are trying to compensate without replacing the system? Hence, the cut line and new configuration?

[flange]

I was actually rethinking this, and I bet it was installed by a novice. They probably saw one of those screen savers where the piping continually wraps around the screen in different configurations, saved a snapshot of the screen, and piped it as such. Maybe a smart ass supply house guy gave them something like that as a drawing.

[AccurateHT]

Thanks.
The original coolant line had been cut and replaced with this set up. I'm a home inspector and I told my client that this was puzzling.

No offense but as a home inspector it would serve your image to refer to them as "refrigerant lines".

[cnpro18]

Either the people who had this installed had more money than sense or they got ripped off.

[Balystic]

Thanks.
The original coolant line had been cut and replaced with this set up. I'm a home inspector and I told my client that this was puzzling.

He's a HOME INSPECTOR, inspecting HVAC units anmd he call them "coolant" lines?

This is enough to make the lord cuss "damn"!

[Mike Lamb]

No offense but as a home inspector it would serve your image to refer to them as "refrigerant lines".

None taken. Thank you for the correction.

[machery]

I'm sure the units don't work very well in the summer under that deck with all the heat recirculating.