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Water mist help cooling my AC condenser unit
I have done experiment on my home a/c unit.
I went to Home depot and purchase water mist system for your porch they use this thing on desert areas.
So I had bright idea that if i install this guys around my condenser unit and when compressor comes on it turns on mist. i figure it cools condenser faster help compressor work less hard.
but thats not the case, when mist turns on my supply air temp went up instead i expected temp. should go down.
Is this normal or I'm missing something here, I know theory of how a/c works.
Please someone explain. Thanks.
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Don't take this the wrong way, but thats a bad idea.
It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.
- E.E. Cummings
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Originally Posted by
chrishvacman
Don't take this the wrong way, but thats a bad idea.
Agreed
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Well it could be a good thing if the unit is too small. Once its completely trashed the op can get a properly sized unit. just sayin!
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In theory, you are correct. Misting the condenser WILL help out the unit, especially if you are in a dry climate.
Here is where the problem lies.
What ELSE is in the water? What does water do when it gets mixed up with electricity? What happens to metal that is continually exposed to water?
Just some food for thought...
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Water mist will lower the head pressure. But with some metering devices, overall freon flow will be reduced, lowering total cooling.
Besides the lime in the water will be deposited on the coil, clogging it. Then you need a new coil. Ususlly not a good idea.
Remember, Air Conditioning begins with AIR.
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Here in Texas the hard water can cause deterioration to fins of condenser coils.
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We have a company around here that swears by these things. Even goes on the radio touting how they will lower your energy bill by a large percentage. He said you can go inside feel the difference in the air temp as soon as you turn it on and then go watch your electrical meter spin less.
Always here
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Originally Posted by
energy star
We have a company around here that swears by these things. Even goes on the radio touting how they will lower your energy bill by a large percentage. He said you can go inside feel the difference in the air temp as soon as you turn it on and then go watch your electrical meter spin less.
It all depends on your water quality, your climate and your metering device. I can see how it would work with some systems in some areas. I have used it for temporary with corroded outdoor coils that needed to make it a couple more weeks before replacements would arrive.
Remember, Air Conditioning begins with AIR.
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interesting post
Originally Posted by
Kevin O'Neill
Water mist will lower the head pressure. But with some metering devices, overall freon flow will be reduced, lowering total cooling.
Besides the lime in the water will be deposited on the coil, clogging it. Then you need a new coil. Ususlly not a good idea.
hey Kevin , could you elaborate on your statement "overall freon flow will be reduced , lowering total cooling"........does misting the condenser make that large of a difference to the unit subcooling to affect its performance????? I was going to post about fouling the condenser also . at o'hare airport we found a rooftop full of units that were repainted But no one told the workers not to paint the coils , subject for a different thread.........Jack
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A piston metering device controls Freon flow with pressure difference. Spraying water on the outdoor coil lowers the head pressure. Therefore lower pressure difference, therefore lower flow through a fixed oriface. Therefore less cooling. However efficiency can go up, so compressor amps drop. If you use water spray, you will need to add Freon to get enough cooling.
If you have a TXV, you will have less trouble.
Remember, Air Conditioning begins with AIR.
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Freezer with a cap tube will do the same thing. Clean that coil with water for a few min and the system pressure will drop too low and the metering devise no longer has enough pressure behind it to cause expansion, and you nave less cooling. I.E. the evap that was frozen over will start to melt.
I r the king of the world!...or at least I get to stand on the roof and look down on the rest of yall
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Originally Posted by
RickCyin
I have done experiment on my home a/c unit.
I went to Home depot and purchase water mist system for your porch they use this thing on desert areas.
So I had bright idea that if i install this guys around my condenser unit and when compressor comes on it turns on mist. i figure it cools condenser faster help compressor work less hard.
but thats not the case, when mist turns on my supply air temp went up instead i expected temp. should go down.
Is this normal or I'm missing something here, I know theory of how a/c works.
Please someone explain. Thanks.
water fills up the condenser fins creating less heat transfer un less the water is 50* lower than the ambient temp you are pissing in the wind .......and on your unit!
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if you hooked it up to a head pressure switch and had it work between maybe 200 and 225 pounds or so it may work???
depends how much water costs
if the water was from a pond or free may be worth it??
true knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.
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Probably be better off just running a duct down to an enclosed insulated box, that just
surrounds the condenser coil and let it draw in cold air. Maybe a good idea if you have a a zoned
system and need to dump some air somewhere. 
__________________________________________________ _______________________
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards" ~ Vernon Law
"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." ~ John Wooden
"When the teachers become unteachable we're all in trouble" ~ Mr. Bill
"Remember "Pro" is only a name, it's not always a mindset determined to do everything correctly" ~ Mr. Bill
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yeah!
if you hade a vvt system?
you could dump the bypass air onto the condenser!!!
Originally Posted by
Mr Bill
Probably be better off just running a duct down to an enclosed insulated box, that just
surrounds the condenser coil and let it draw in cold air. Maybe a good idea if you have a a zoned
system and need to dump some air somewhere.
true knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing.
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It helps leave mineral deposits on your system components, up to and including the electrical connection portion of your heat rejection motor. Case in point is a customer in above design temps here locally...decided to use water mist to assist the drycooler. One day a different chap turned on the water, and happened to turn it on 100% rather than the usual (reduced) percentage.
Enter the 4 a.m. service call, complete with a scaled-over motor...just evidence, mind you...
and a 95 degree data center.
Oh, BTW, that shorted-out motor with scale everywhere and wet wire nuts's is billable...
just food for thought.
It's great to be alive and pumping oxygen!
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Aren't condensing units designed to handle reduced head pressure caused by latent cooling from water?
It does rain in many places and condensing unit gets wet, ya know.
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Originally Posted by
ICanHas
Aren't condensing units designed to handle reduced head pressure caused by latent cooling from water?
It does rain in many places and condensing unit gets wet, ya know.
When it rains, very little rain actually gets on the coil unless you have heavy winds and a driving rain. But in that case its only 1, maybe 2 sides of the condenser getting wet. also when its raining the temperature is usually lower and its cloudy, resulting in a lower load on the A/C system which masks the lower capacity of the system.
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Originally Posted by
craig1
When it rains, very little rain actually gets on the coil unless you have heavy winds and a driving rain. But in that case its only 1, maybe 2 sides of the condenser getting wet. also when its raining the temperature is usually lower and its cloudy, resulting in a lower load on the A/C system which masks the lower capacity of the system.
Hot and muggy, then sudden rain isn't unusual.
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