I have a Bard 48F001 (it's old) outside AC condensing unit.
When I replaced the fan motor I installed it so that air is drawn thru the coils and blows out the back toward the house.
When I did it that way, the ac didn't cool well.
So I called an outfit who came out and ultimately and changed motor direction so the fan blew THROUGH the coils into the yard....and everything has been fine for 2 1/2 years.
Here's the question....
does anyone know WHICH WAY the blades should push air?
Has anyone EVER SEEN a condensing unit that blow air through the coils rather than suck the air through?
You can tell which way a fan is supposed to rotate by looking at it. Yes those older units with the condenser on one side usually blew out through the condenser. It is very important to mount the fan so the blades are in the proper position to the fan shroud! I always marked the the fan blade or wrote on it for a reference. You might be able to get that information somewhere. udarrell
Air can be drawn through ( induced draft ) or blown through ( forced draft ) a finned coil. However the Unit case can also form an Air Plenum and condenser air can also be used to cool the hermetic compressor.
I installed a new Bard unit for a customer last year and that unit drew air in from the sides and blew it through the condenser coil away from the AC. If you think about it, that's the only way that makes sense. The other AC units that blow through the condenser coil are the roof top camper/RV air conditioners that have the white sloped front covers. With sensitive enough instrumentation one could possibly measure the added thrust to the Winnebago. An afterburner would be a nice touch for passing those 18 wheelers.
Had a reply from Bill at Bard who confirmed that indeed, it's a "blow through coil" system, taking air from the back, cross the motor and pushing out through the coils.
I spent all afternoon telling my HVAC "expert" that -- who was obviously annoyed everytime I brought it up. They wanted to install a new unit for
1877.00 (which hopefully I won't have to do).
Fact remains though, I cool for about 5 minutes and that's it. Everything checks out -- freon is good.
Question --
Can a compressor be borderline and show these symptoms?
I thought today I would put the motor back to CCW where it belongs and run a water hose over the compressor to see if it helps? good - bad idea?
Heat exchanger is fine the pressure is where it supposed to be. ??
Do Not run water over your compressor while there is power to the compressor. You can easily short out the compressor and if anyone is close to the unit, they can be hurt.
If you have to run water over the compressor you have a major problem.
When you say heat exchange are you talking condensing unit?
Some of the older condensing units used R-12 or R-22, do you know which refrigerant it is using?
It really sounds that your HVAC people are right in wanting to replace the unit.
"Cools for 5 minutes"... what's that mean? The complete system shuts down? Just the condensing unit stops running? Just the compressor stops running? System continues to run with no cooling?
"Refrigerant is good"? How do you/they know? Has anything ever been done to the refrigerant circuit?
This unit had a new motor installed (running backwards), then you called a company and they corrected that issue. It's been running fine for 2 1/2 years.
Now what's going on with the unit, that made you question it's operation? You never said in your original post that you were having problems with it. Just that you wanted to know which way the airflow was supposed to flow.
Paul Harvey, TELL US "THE REST OF THE STORY"!!!!! Cause, if everything checks out, you wouldn't be here.
What symptoms, you haven't give enough information about your problem to even make a wild ass guess.
The airflow needs to be corrected!!!!!! Then and ONLY then, will ANYONE be able to further diagnose your unit. The compressor doesn't require water or airflow for cooling purposes. It's cooled by the returning refrigerant.
Pressures? Refrigerant pressures? If so, how do you/they know? What's the superheat? What's the subcooling? How many amps is the compressor pulling? What's the RLA for the compressor?
These are just some of the items that your servicing dealer should be obtaining to correctly diagnose your unit.
But first, we need to know the complete story, Clyde.
Don't know, ask them. Or better yet, ask his boss! And then ask to have a competent tech come back and diagnose the real problem. For free, as you have already paid for it!
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