This one is on me - My AC / My Install / My Problem

[cxagent]

So this AC is on one of my rent properties. I installed this coil about 15 years ago. I can't blame any one else. This one is 100% on me. The past year or two it has developed a leak - R22 leak. When I would get a call that it was not cooling, it was always peak summer heat or late at night. I just gassed it up and said "next time I will replace that coil but it's too hot or too late right now". When I would gas it up I noticed the SH and SC were not where I expected but I chalked it up to the coil getting dirty. I started wondering if the 'fix a flat' I tried was causing trouble. ( I have never used that stuff on a customer's AC but since this one is mine I tried it. It did not help but I don't find that it cause problems either.)

Well I finally got a break so I went to fix or replace the coil before it quit cooling again. I hoped to find and fix the leak. Or worst case to put a new coil back in the old case so I didn't have to cut the old case out and put a new case in the ducting. I got a break but I still have more calls to run today.

As soon as I got the cover off - this is what I see. Yes that is my nut driver thru what is supposed to be the sheet metal end of the A. All four lower corners were rusted away. There was a lot of air bypassing the coil. No wonder my SH and SC were off. The tube sheets are rusted away to nothing. So even though I found the leak and could have brazed it closed, I got to cut the old case out and fit the new one in. It took a lot more time that I had hoped. But the new coil is aluminum and will probably last longer than the condenser will.

I replaced four AC's on this building that same year. Makes me think the other three will be similar.

[CircusEnvy]

Wow. Is your rental property a chlorine plant? That’s one sad looking coil for being 15 years old.

[SuperTech2010]

15 yr is pretty good if ya ask me. Don’t see how it’s your fault tho. Hind sight and all. But other than looking at it years earlier what more could you have done. ?


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[pecmsg]

Blame the Helper!

[cxagent]

I could have paid more attention to what the symptoms were telling me. I saw what I thought was a dirty coil (SH & SC wrong). And I could have jumped on fixing the refrigerant leak when it first showed up.

I could blame my helper - but that is me!

[SuperTech2010]

I could have paid more attention to what the symptoms were telling me. I saw what I thought was a dirty coil (SH & SC wrong). And I could have jumped on fixing the refrigerant leak when it first showed up.

I could blame my helper - but that is me!

We are all guilty of this at some point, especially when it’s late at night, long hours and very busy. And our own equipment. Don’t be so hard on your helper.


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[HCStymie]

It seems to be that stuff in ones professional field is either perfect because people are anal about it being that way in their field or hanging on by a limb since after working on things all day the last thing they want to do is more of it for on their own time. Ever see a mechanics own car? Often hanging on by a thread or the IT professional still trying to keep is dinosaur computer running? Or the HVAC guy...

[Poodle Head Mikey]

There's more to this story. Why is everything so wet? Why isn't all that water draining off the coil and into the pan? And then of course draining away quickly?

PHM
--------

So this AC is on one of my rent properties. I installed this coil about 15 years ago. I can't blame any one else. This one is 100% on me. The past year or two it has developed a leak - R22 leak. When I would get a call that it was not cooling, it was always peak summer heat or late at night. I just gassed it up and said "next time I will replace that coil but it's too hot or too late right now". When I would gas it up I noticed the SH and SC were not where I expected but I chalked it up to the coil getting dirty. I started wondering if the 'fix a flat' I tried was causing trouble. ( I have never used that stuff on a customer's AC but since this one is mine I tried it. It did not help but I don't find that it cause problems either.)

Well I finally got a break so I went to fix or replace the coil before it quit cooling again. I hoped to find and fix the leak. Or worst case to put a new coil back in the old case so I didn't have to cut the old case out and put a new case in the ducting. I got a break but I still have more calls to run today.

As soon as I got the cover off - this is what I see. Yes that is my nut driver thru what is supposed to be the sheet metal end of the A. All four lower corners were rusted away. There was a lot of air bypassing the coil. No wonder my SH and SC were off. The tube sheets are rusted away to nothing. So even though I found the leak and could have brazed it closed, I got to cut the old case out and fit the new one in. It took a lot more time that I had hoped. But the new coil is aluminum and will probably last longer than the condenser will.

I replaced four AC's on this building that same year. Makes me think the other three will be similar.

[Adlerberts-Protege]

Looks like low airflow.

[dieseldude]

Tilt the new a little, to help drainage...

[jacob-k]

Those cracks big enough to put a nut driver in would change your numbers IF you where to test the system with the cracks and then block them and recheck gauges.

I dont know if thats enough to tell if there is a problem with the system if you didn't know it was like that.

Aside from maybe having 0* superheat and bad delta t....

So I must ask, what where your SC and SH numbers that indicated this issue?

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