[mattdavis11]

I'm just beginning to learn some of this stuff, but I hear that some techs are putting in a device to manage flow. I think he said they are leaving the existing expansion device in place. The concern was that some units are chugging too much oil causing problems. I forget what he called it, but it's similar to an expansion valve, orifice tube, capillary tube, what ever it was.

Hijack, the a/c system at my brothers place was low on freon, somebody here said they are all sealed up, soldier, no unions nuts, yada, yada. I guess an a/c tech made the system serviceable because you can remove the cooling coil (evaporator). I thought it was brilliant. All I have to do is close the discharge valve for a few minutes with the system on, shut the valve, turn the system off, loosen and separate the lines to the evaporator, then take the coil and clean it in the yard.

I might loose a bit of refrigerant, and will have to replace 2 orings, but that's to be expected. There will be service ports added at the coil so I can read those pressures. I can't believe this isn't done everywhere. A/C isn't rocket science but they are making things less serviceable with all the electronics and braised connections.

If you have to have a new system installed, I'd demand that they do it with the aforementioned features. If they won't, tell them to do everything short of vacuuming and opening the valves, then cut the lines, install some unions, flare the copper and make that sob serviceable. Installing service ports is optional, but if you can vacuum from inside and read the pressures, why not?