Seeing a suction line drier on your new system would not be a good thing...

 

A suction line drier would normally be installed to help cleanup a system that has had a compressor burnout.

 

Sorry, I don’t mean to be anal (but I am), but if a suction line drier would normally be installed to help clean up a compressor burnout, why would it not be good for a new system. Wouldn’t this just provide additional filtration? Please elaborate…remember I am anal : ).

 

Sorry, I don’t mean to be anal (but I am), but if a suction line drier would normally be installed to help clean up a compressor burnout, why would it not be good for a new system. Wouldn’t this just provide additional filtration? Please elaborate…remember I am anal : ).

There is actually nothing wrong with installing a suction filter-drier on a new installation. It is not generally done for two reasons.

1. It is not necessary. The liquid line filter drier is more effective at removing and holding moisture than a suction filter-drier since it has liquid going thru it. A suction-filter drier is great at picking up materials created from a burnout.

2. It just adds to the cost of the installation. No manufacturer requires or even requests that a suction drier be installed on a new system.

Norm

 

Cash, are you a service tech, installer or homeowner?

 

Here is more on filter-driers for your reading pleasure

http://www.bacharach-training.com/norm/desiccants.htm

Norm

 

Just a homeowner, but one who likes to do research and just curious why (yes I ask a lot of questions, just ask my boss, he, he)…basically I joined this forum from getting the run-a-round from a number of service guys when I was researching a new unit install. It’s unfortunate that even though there are a number of reputable HVAC people, there are equal amount of hacks, and it’s sad that homeowner have to do there own due diligence just to see whether or not a professional is REALLY a profession! Heck, just read the enormous amount posting form this forum. Needless to say, the Trane service guy who serviced my unit knew his stuff. The guy was smart as a whip!

PS: This forum has help guide me in the direction to find that awesome service guy, and this wouldn’t been possible without the membership guidance…Thank you all!

 

Just a homeowner, but one who likes to do research and just curious why (yes I ask a lot of questions, just ask my boss, he, he)…basically I joined this forum from getting the run-a-round from a number of service guys when I was researching a new unit install. It’s unfortunate that even though there are a number of reputable HVAC people, there are equal amount of hacks, and it’s sad that homeowner have to do there own due diligence just to see whether or not a professional is REALLY a profession! Heck, just read the enormous amount posting form this forum. Needless to say, the Trane service guy who serviced my unit knew his stuff. The guy was smart as a whip!

PS: This forum has help guide me in the direction to find that awesome service guy, and this wouldn’t been possible without the membership guidance…Thank you all!

One of the purposes of this site is to provide accurate and high quality information to homeowners so they can make sound decisions.

You are correct in that there is a lack of quality HVAC contractors and technicians in our business. Many of those who have a desire to improve are here at HVAC Talk. You came to the right place for advice. Even then, you need to be careful.

Glad you were able to find a contractor you are happy with. And, I don't think you are being anal. You are an interested homeowner and you want things done properly.

Norm

 

with suction driers being made of steel and suction lines having a tendency to be cold and sweaty, i would say suction filters would do more harm than good if installed on every new system.

 

Sorry, I don’t mean to be anal (but I am), but if a suction line drier would normally be installed to help clean up a compressor burnout, why would it not be good for a new system. Wouldn’t this just provide additional filtration? Please elaborate…remember I am anal : ).

There is actually nothing wrong with installing a suction filter-drier on a new installation. It is not generally done for two reasons.

1. It is not necessary. The liquid line filter drier is more effective at removing and holding moisture than a suction filter-drier since it has liquid going thru it. A suction-filter drier is great at picking up materials created from a burnout.

2. It just adds to the cost of the installation. No manufacturer requires or even requests that a suction drier be installed on a new system.

Norm

 

And sometimes (in car AC) with a built in receiver, so that you'll have full liquid supply to the TXV. Thus the need to put it on liquid line.

 

how would a drier have any effect as a reciever????????

 

Many MVAC systems have a part called a "reciever dryer" which is both a filter dryer *and* a reciever bundled as a single part. I'm not sure why they're combined, just that they often are.

 

Another point, suction driers add a measurable ammount of pressure drop and add to a systems compresion ratio in other words they do lower effieciency to a degree which is why makers of suction driers recommend removing them once the system is cleaned of the products of the burnout.

I do reaiize most techs leave them installed in small systems as the additional cost to the customer to remove it might seem unnecessary.

On large systems I've left the shell installed and just removed the cores. It was cheaper for the customer.

 

how would a drier have any effect as a reciever????????

So that it will be able to supply full liquid refrigerant to the TXV. It is vital in MVAC due to small (or no) height difference between the condenser and evaporator.

Expansion valves in window air conditioners are oriented vertically for this purpose (due to small space).

 

According to the Copland compressor class that I took last fall, another reason that you would not want a suction line filter dryer in the system is pressure drop. The pressure drop of a suction filter can get rather high if it is picking up particulates. As the pressure drop rises so does the compression ratio of your compressor. The higher the compression ratio is the harder it is on your compressor. They also said that the dryers that are made for clean up of a burn out should NOT STAY in the system for ever. They tend to scrub the lubricity from your oil and will wear your new compressor bearings prematurely. So guys... get those suction line filter/dryers out of those cleaned up systems!

 

onecountry,

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