Air Conditioning - newbie with AC question
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varan
06-10-07, 10:16 AM
I have an Amana RCB30 central air unit that was installed in July of 2004.
The service tech was here in early April of this year for one of the two yearly check-ups as per my maintenance agreement. He charged me for 3 lbs. of refrigerant installed. I asked him where the leak was and he said there was no leak and that it was normal for the unit just to loose some refrigerant in normal operation. Is that correct? My owners manual says it is a sealed system that allows no refrigerant to escape. What is the correct answer?
This past week the unit stopped cooling and would start cooling again after being turned off for about 45 minutes only to stop cooling again in about 30 minutes. The outside temperture was 90. The same service tech came out again and said the compressor had overheated and he just cooled it down with water from the garden hose and it was now working. I asked him why it overheated and he said he didn't know, those things just happen. It worked fine all day yesterday, one day after he left. Should I be concerned?
Thanks for your help.
The service tech was here in early April of this year for one of the two yearly check-ups as per my maintenance agreement. He charged me for 3 lbs. of refrigerant installed. I asked him where the leak was and he said there was no leak and that it was normal for the unit just to loose some refrigerant in normal operation. Is that correct? My owners manual says it is a sealed system that allows no refrigerant to escape. What is the correct answer?
This past week the unit stopped cooling and would start cooling again after being turned off for about 45 minutes only to stop cooling again in about 30 minutes. The outside temperture was 90. The same service tech came out again and said the compressor had overheated and he just cooled it down with water from the garden hose and it was now working. I asked him why it overheated and he said he didn't know, those things just happen. It worked fine all day yesterday, one day after he left. Should I be concerned?
Thanks for your help.
Ed Imeduc
06-10-07, 11:08 AM
OH yes . Get a new tech for sure. 3 lb freon boy he should have looked for the leak for sure. A unit should not leak at all. The cool gas comeing back to the compressor is what keeps it cool. So if the compressor got hot. Id say you can be low on freon again or some other troubles. Like contaminate's in the system.
Jay11J
06-10-07, 11:34 AM
I am with Ed on this.
A sealed system should not have to add a charge, or should find where a leak is at and make the repairs.
A sealed system should not have to add a charge, or should find where a leak is at and make the repairs.
CiiTech
06-10-07, 05:18 PM
Ed and Jay are right. You have a leak. Joe service tech should have looked for one after adding 3# of gas. Even with the EPA "allowable" leak rate you won't loose that much in 10 years.
Compressor is probably going out on internal overload due to insuffient cool suction gas to keep it cool.
I'd call the service manager for the company you have and read the riot act. Your paying for service and get patches but no cures. Get them to fix it and make sure you get some reduced cost, then get a new service company.
Be concerned, be very concerned, and hold your wallet a bit tighter.
Compressor is probably going out on internal overload due to insuffient cool suction gas to keep it cool.
I'd call the service manager for the company you have and read the riot act. Your paying for service and get patches but no cures. Get them to fix it and make sure you get some reduced cost, then get a new service company.
Be concerned, be very concerned, and hold your wallet a bit tighter.