Measuring A/C Temp Solved, sort of...

[J Burns]

Spraying refrigerant cools the evaporator. That would also cool the attached pressure line. It would be warmer a couple of feet from the evaporator, closer to the condenser.

[J Burns]

Hot refrigerant coming back from the evaporator? You're an impostor! What have you done with Stormy?

[J Burns]

Looking through records years ago, I saw that my unit had been professionally repaired only once. It was about 8 years old. It needed a drier and refrigerant.

I don't know how a technician diagnoses a restriction in a drier. I imagine he would feel a temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet.

[J Burns]

I replaced mine in 2011. There were so many wires connected that I drew a diagram.

I was lucky. I kept the probe of an indoor/outdoor thermometer in a register because the air temperature gave me a rough idea of the dew point. (It's not the heat, it's the humidity.) I happened to see that the air temperature didn't rise after the thermostat shut off. I ran to the window and saw the compressor still going, so I shut it off at the breaker box.

I believe contactor contacts are coated with silver. Over the years, it can disappear. Then they can stick. If the compressor keeps running without the indoor blower warming the evaporator, the compressor can be wrecked.

I wonder how often a stuck contactor is the cause of a wrecked compressor.

[Stormin Mormon]

I have him tied up, under the bed. Burried him in a pile of leaky flash light batteries. I'm feeding him caffeine free diet coke and green jello with carrot shavings until he converts to Catholic.

- . Christopher A. Young learn more about Jesus .

. .

[Stormin Mormon]

I noticed you didn't ask any questions.

- . Christopher A. Young learn more about Jesus .

. .

[J Burns]

With you charging $350 an hour, I couldn't afford to delay you with questions. Besides, I was afraid I'd slip and call the refrigerant "Freon," and then you'd tell all your smart friends.

[Boris]

J Burns wrote in news:mkq0g7$m9i$ [e-mail]:

No thought of trolling at all. Never crossed my mind. Keep the ideas coming.

[Boris]

Tony Hwang wrote in news:o2%bx.72233$ [e-mail]:

big snip

Will do.

[Boris]

Tony Hwang wrote in news:0B%bx.202244$ [e-mail]:

I believe the contactor was checked. BTW, what is "ODU"?

[Boris]

J Burns wrote in news:mkqc2p$6d1$ [e-mail]:

What's a 'drier'?

[Boris]

Stormin Mormon wrote in news:EZ0cx.102453$ [e-mail]:

I will try and keep good notes when I go up Sunday, for myself, for a second opinion by perhaps another professional, and most of all, I owe it to all of those that have replied.

[trader_4]

It's the device on the pressure side, about the size of a couple of apples. It's there to filter out any debris, absorb any moisture....

[Boris]

trader_4 wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Is the plenum the sheet metal box on top of the up-flow funace? The box where the a/c evaporator is located, which cools the up-flow of the home's return air?

So, without the a/c or furnace running, the temp inside the plenum shoud be ambient (inside house temp). My understanding is that if the attic ductwork is working properly (sealed, routed, etc.), and the attic has decent insulation, I should expect about a 20 degree drop at the vents when the a/c is running.

[Boris]

trader_4 wrote in news:418397a0-ef55-4f89-a48c- [e-mail]:

To me, the pressure side is anywhere between the compressor out to the evaporator in. Is this drier thing in the a/c unit, or in the furnace? I'll look for it.

[J Burns]

My fan sucks air in through the condenser and blows it upward, so I rinsed from the outside.

[J Burns]

I googled for a picture.

In case water gets into the refrigerant, the drier is supposed to collect it.

[J Burns]

Mine is inside the access panel on the outdoor unit. Darn, next time I ran it, I wanted to see if I felt a temperature difference, but the fan won't pull much air through the condenser with the panel open.

If you're lucky, yours will be more accessible.

This link says that when ice forms in a thermostatic expansion valve, the system will quit cooling. The ice will melt and it will resume cooling as the ice slowly accumulates again.

[Boris]

J Burns wrote in news:mksr8q$l5n$ [e-mail]:

So you rinsed in the direction of the suction. Doesn't that just wedge particles in more?

Mine may be the same. I think mine sucks air (and dirt) in through the top mounted fan.

[Boris]

J Burns wrote in news:mksrno$ncd$ [e-mail]:

Thanks.