R22tech - need your advice!

[Lucky]

I know this isn't 911 related... but I do own a 911, and if my home A/C makes me broke, then I won't have a 911 any more !!

R22,

My home A/C is acting up, so I had a tech come check it out and he concluded that there is a blockage in the liquid line, probably at some device (don't know the name) which "meters freon into the coil". Major symptoms are: line pressure on liquid side climbs to over 400, gas side pulls down to a vacuum after a few minutes, and eventually the compressor overheats and shuts itself off.

The service tech wants to open the system up (recovering the freon, of course), clean out this fitting/valve, and then add a filter/dryer, button things back up, and recharge.

Two simple questions. 1) does the cure he proposes sound right? and 2) what is a reasonable fee for this (he's asking $350)?

Thanks in advance!

[Lucky]

R22tech,

The AC tech has completed the rest of his diagnostics and has found the blockage to be in the coil. Quoted price to replace the coil, add filter/dryer, and recharge the system is just over $1500.

Does this price sound right? It's a pretty big unit (outside unit is a Carrier 38TKB048310 & 8 years old).

Also, the compressor was apparently hitting thermal overload last fall (I can't say how many times)... how much of this can the thing take before damage is done or its service life is seriously reduced.

Thanks, man! You don't know who the heck I am... hopefully you can help me out and I will be able to return the favor some day!

[rfw 911]

Lucky,

$1500.. plus sounds a little on the high side.
Tell me more, is this an "A" coil that is mounted on
top of your furnace or is it a seperate piece that is
in your attic? I dont have any Carrier information available
but it apears to be a 4 ton system.

E-mail me off list so I dont have to bore the listers.

Regards,
Rich
info@cool-n-heat.com

[stormcrow]

John,

The first question I would ask is how old is the unit? If it is pretty old, then it probably needs to be replaced. On the other hand, did he try to blow out the blockage?

It is possible sometimes to do that. Did he show you that the blockage is in the coil? Usually when you have a blockage, on the high side, the point at where the blockage is is dry and just downstream of the blockage the line is sweating unless it is really blocked.

It's possible you may just have a filter/dryer blockage. I would look into that if you have one on your system before I would go and replace the coil.

Steve

[jtdig64]

I am in the same business as r22 tech. I would say the drier is plugged. Nothing wrong with the A coil...nothing to go wrong..be sure it is clean... If your comp was going out on head pressure, check to be sure the cond coil is clean..If your comp is shot, that could be why your pressures are messed up. Usually on a res unit the pressures will equal out if the valves are shot. Put a amp meter on the comp, one leg and see what it is drawing??? Let me know... There is a metering device on larger A coils that can have some garbage in it.....Don't by a new coil.

Hope that helps..