HVAC service problem?

5 years ago

HVAC installed (replaced) in 2001. (Oil heater and conventional AC). Everything except for duct work and flue/chimney replaced. Since then Ive had a lot of questionable service and tune up service calls and now I'm doing what I can myself. I'm also in a very bad financial situation. So, any advice would be appreciated, but I don't want to hear how I need to hire a pro. I can't afford that now and have had too much bad luck in the past.

I've been reading and learning what I can. I just bought Frost King AC foaming cleaner and followed directions, except for wash down. Instructions say no need to wash after spraying. However, all videos I've watched they hosed it out, so I did the same after 1 hour. Some left in can, so I foamed and washed it again. This time looking inside condenser while spraying. It did not spray thru. Water washing with hose nozzle sprayer and little water came thru. Maybe fins still clogged? The fins on my condenser are very close together and I can't see thru them at all. If I shine light thru I don't see that either unless it's very dark outside. I'm not sure if I should clean it again a few times or not.

Most cans I see for sale say no need to wash afterwards. So, how does it get clean?

Note that this unit was installed 19 years ago and on none of the tune up service calls did they clean the condenser. I always watch ppl doing work for me.

Two years ago I studied a lot, bought a few tools and I'm now able to fully tune up the oil heater better then any service call....ever. None of those turn ups did they check the flue draft or even look at the barometric damper. The weight was missing and there was no opening for the draft meter. This unit was actually installed incorrectly by a qualified, licensed, authorized installer.

Sorry for the rant, since I'm here for advice on the AC.

The temperature difference between AC vent and return is 12°F. The temperature of the refrigerant line where it connectors to the condenser is 64°F. I might be low on refrigerant. Maybe i will have to call someone for that, but for now i want advice on cleaning my condenser and what else I could check.

I have checked condenser:

is level

no leaks

refrigerant line Insulation

mtr spins free

ck connections

hot voltages before and after the contacts and to gnd.

Inspect and tighten screws and plugs

capacitor visual.

I have not checked the Evaporator yet. It's metal taped shut. I will open this later.

condenser is carrier 38ckc

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Comments (3)

BT
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
What are you doing with cleaning AC and coils now? Clean these in the spring. To check the DeltaT, subcooling you need some warm outside temperatures. Not sure if it is make sense to state temperatures w/o pressures.

If your system is 19 years old - it is leaking, and you should see the leaks. You probably do not know what to look at.

To clean ac coil, I spray a soil cleaner and hose it from the inside out, quickly look at runcap for bulging [it can still fail], verify level, look at the contactor = 30 minutes. I do not check pressures every year because some refrigerant stays inside of the hoses.

I do check visually evap coil for leaks and the drain operations. Foaming cleaner if needed, no need to wash.

The furnace: clean blower shop vac, burners, overall dust, check cap, look at flame - total 5 minutes. I do not have a combustion analyzer to set the furnace. You can always time combustion [time consuming] or set it by looking at the flames....
Elmer J Fudd
5 years ago
I think you'd be best served by finding and using the services of a competent HVAC contractor. Most especially, one who's experienced with oil burning equipment.
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Marc Well
5 years ago
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