Bad A/C reversing valve?

We completed construction on our home in Florida in 7/2006. We have 2 Bryant central air units (one 3 ton unit and one 4 ton unit). Last week I noticed the 3ton unit couldn't keep up with the cooling during the afternoon hours. I called the A/C company that put the units in during construction. Here is what happened:

Visit 1: (last week): the tech tells me the system is low on freon either because it was never filled properly or there is a leak (they'll test for the leak if it gets low again and the problem resurfaces). I received a bill for $90 and was told the unit would catch up that night then should be fine. The tech noted that air was now coming out 16 degrees cooler than when going in so I should now be fine.

Visit 2: after I called and advised there was no change the boss sent out his "best diagnostician" who "made some adjustments" with the air handler which is up in the attic and noted we now had 18 degrees of cooling and the unit would be fine once it catches up tonight, but again there was no change.

Visit 3 (today): the boss decided to send a team to figure it out, the

2 original techs plus one more. They each seemed to have their own diagnosis of the problem based on what my wife had overheard (unfortunately I wasn't around the whole time). They had simply told me the plan was to gather info and have Bryant diagnose the system. Now I'm told the reversing valve needs to be replaced to the sum of $720 even though the unit and part is under warranty (I'm told it's a lot of labor to replace it).

I called another company who will come in the morning for a free estimate/2nd opinion. They told me the problem didn't sound like something caused by a bad reversing valve but they'd come out and see. I'm looking for any advice on how to proceed with and what questions I should ask, as I'm looking at a lot of money and not confident these guys know what the real problem is.

Reply to
dpontrelli
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Gotta love it when a builder uses the lowest bidder gets used to install the single most expensive appliance in a home.

Reply to
Noon-Air

You better find a competent HVAC company!

Reply to
<kjpro

I like that - "the single most expensive appliance in the home!" Can I use that Noonie?

Reply to
Zyp

feel free :-)

Reply to
Noon-Air

I got a 2nd opinion and found out there was no filter drier in the air handler and I&#39;m told that really screwed the system. Could this be true? Full details below.

-I spoke with the owner of the company that installed and has been servicing the unit. He says one of his techs felt the TXV valve was bad but they worked with Bryant over the phone who said the reversing valve was bad based on the data given. He said it would be close to $1000 to replace both and I should call Bryant and bitch to see what they&#39;d do since the unit is only 14 months old.

-I called a new hvac company for a 2nd opininon. They sent a tech out. He measured the refrigerant psi for the lines attached to the condenser. He noted the pressure was climbing from 200 to almost 400 psi, at which point the release valve kicked in and it would soon start all over again. He had eventually gotten the pressure stable and said he believed there was contamination in the line and the issue was now fixed (although I found no change later on). This is the info he gave me on what he did:

-found system overcharged

-found system heat pressure raising to 450psi from 210

-pumped system down, inspected piston at liquid line at condenser & screen at condenser. Found a small chunk of possibly brazing rod

-flushed nitrogen through lineset to make sure there was good flow

-pulled system into deep vacuum

-recovered some of refrigerant to proper charge

-system working properly

-suction & liquid pressure steady

- 10 degree superheat LO 80

-12 degree subcooling Hi 200

-18 degree delta T - compressor amps 10.1

I called the company back and they sent out another guy. He energized/ de-energized the reversing valve using heat and cooling but it did not help. He had been looking at the air handler and says there&#39;s no filter drier installed and now the system needs to be cleaned out, txv replaced, filter drier installed and we mostly likely don&#39;t have a filter drier on our other system (although that one&#39;s been functioning ok). I looked at the documentation for this unit and the filter drier is listed under optional equipment but another page says it is suggested in all field-connected split-system heat pumps. Can the absence of this filter really cause the issue? If so, is this a major mis-step of the installers to not put it in?

Reply to
dpontrelli

Could be, be many systems out in the field have no filter/drier and they operate just fine. I&#39;m not agreeing that one shouldn&#39;t be installed, but not having one isn&#39;t the root cause of your problems.

Call Bryant????? Why????? The parts are still under the 5 yr manufacture&#39;s warranty! If the installing HVAC company won&#39;t work with you on the installation of the warranted parts (on a 14 month old system), they&#39;d never get another dime from me!

Most competent, honest contractors would be happy to work with you, as problems like this is very unusual and don&#39;t happen all that often. If it does, they need training!

There was contamination, yet he didn&#39;t charge the unit with new refrigerant? I smell more incompetence and bullshit!

Means little without complete details. AT CT IWB RLA

Wow, another genius...

Which proves my point of it&#39;s not really required for proper operation. However, it&#39;s there for protection!

Cause the issue, No. Should it be installed, Yes.

Reply to
<kjpro

Hey dumbass, you need to get someone that really knows what the hell they are doing because you are STILL getting jerked around and lied to. Your first clue should be that your stuff still does not work properly!

Reply to
TXVALVE

I called Bryant yesterday morning. They told me to contact a Bryant dealer in my area and have them conduct the following:

-load calculation

-installation check

-duct check

-system diagnostic

Bryant wants the report and will work with the dealer. A few hours later, the owner of the company I called came out and straight away said there&#39;s nothing wrong with the system after quickly checking it. We went up to the attic and he showed me that the duct work was just run wherever and not according to my original blueprints and 2/3 of the house was on the 3ton system and 1/3 on the 4 ton system. I agreed to pay him to do a load calc and we&#39;ll take it from there.

Reply to
Dan

So let me see if I understand, they should have done a load calculation in the first place and also hooked your ductwork up correctly and you agreed to pay him for something he should have done in the first place? Dumbass. I guess you must really like taking it in the shorts.

Reply to
TXVALVE

I&#39;m guessing he&#39;s dealing with a new company.

Reply to
<kjpro

I&#39;m guessing that either way he is a dumbass if he pays anyone a dime for work that should have been done in the first place.

Reply to
TXVALVE

I am thinking he did the duct work himself???

Reply to
Joseph

So if a new company comes in and solves/repairs the mess the first company made do you think the new company should not get paid? C&#39;mon man.........get with the program. :-) Bubba

Reply to
Bubba

So a new company should eat the time for doing a load calc? That&#39;s just ignorant!

Reply to
<kjpro

Can you say "Lowest Bidder"???

Reply to
Noon-Air

.

.....say&#39;s the non-tradesman.

-zero

Reply to
-zero

Never said the new company should not get paid. He shouldpay them then send their bill to the first company and insist it get paid or he goes to the local tv station. That will get someones attention pdq.

Reply to
TXVALVE

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