Air Conditioning - Superheat

When servicing my a/c this spring, the tech inserted his (inexpensive) thermometer spike through the armaflex at the condenser while reading pressure on his guage. Is this sufficiently accurate to determine superheat, or is a more sophisticated piece of equipment necessary? delta

Armaflex is not installed at the condenser...........Perhaps you mean evaporator?
A pocket thermometer is accurate enough for that job.

Is there as problem with your a/c?

Armaflex is not installed at the condenser...........Perhaps you mean evaporator? A pocket thermometer is accurate enough for that job. Is there as problem with your a/c? Not to rain on your parade, but every a/c that I have owned (3) has had an insulated suction line from the evaporator to the service valve (condenser). I realize that SH is also checked at the evaporator, but there is no port to read pressure. The unit works just fine. I just thought a more-sophisticated piece of equipment (clamp-on) should be used. delta

I'm afraid I have to agree with delta. Using a stem thermometer for SH/SC is not accurrate. I use clamp ons. Before I bought the clamp ons, I used thermocouple leads, I taped them right to the tubing. I had a Thermal Engineering temp meter for years, bought it in 1974.

To clarify, the condenser is a high side component within a condensing unit.
You must mean the suction line to the condensing unit which indeed should be insulated.
You also asked if a thermometer more sophisticated than a pocket thermometer was necessary and no it is not.
It will work just as well as a dedicated superheat thermometer if affixed to the line properly.
The tech should have attached his probe firmly to the line.

Regardless, does the a/c seem to be working alright or is his work just being picked apart?

Regardless, does the a/c seem to be working alright or is his work just being picked apart?

It's working just fine. Any problems (comfort-wise) are due to shortcomings in my duct system.

I'm not picking his work apart; just that I've become less confident in the company (they installed it).

During installation, did not check subcooling (coil has TXV), claimed to pull extremely high vacuum, but don't own a micron guage, didn't 'flow' nitrogen during brazing, but merely charged the tubing then shut off tank. The PM seemed quite 'perfunctory' to me.

There's more, but I think you get the idea.

delta

Ok, I think I now understand.
From reading your previous posts it sounds as if you have done some in-depth research on the details of refrigeration installation.
You are correct in that the lack of attention to the fine details of refrigeration installation and follow up service of your installer are less than stellar.

You say in a previous post:
Before I had my new a/c installed in June, I had interviewed 11 contractors.


This thread is very interesting in that in spite of your research you are unhappy with the performance of the contractor.
I don't in any way want to sound critical of anything you are doing because you obviously have a grasp of the details.
I just am just curious as to how this went.

Many people come here to arm themselves with info to help deal with trades and wonder how you came up with this company.
Of the eleven was it that perhaps there was a company that appeared more competent but was possibly too expensive?

Not to endorse a tradesman that does not go by the book I will say that in all likelihood your system will lead a long and happy life.
The theory of proper installation should always be used but I can assure you from my experience it is not used as frequently as it should be, especially in the residential market.
Having said this I also do not see an epidemic of failing a/c systems.

Ok, I think I now understand.
From reading your previous posts it sounds as if you have done some in-depth research on the details of refrigeration installation.

You are correct in that the lack of attention to the fine details of refrigeration installation and follow up service of your installer are less than stellar.

You say in a previous post:


This thread is very interesting in that in spite of your research you are unhappy with the performance of the contractor.
I don't in any way want to sound critical of anything you are doing because you obviously have a grasp of the details.
I just am just curious as to how this went.

Many people come here to arm themselves with info to help deal with trades and wonder how you came up with this company.
Of the eleven was it that perhaps there was a company that appeared more competent but was possibly too expensive?

Not to endorse a tradesman that does not go by the book I will say that in all likelihood your system will lead a long and happy life.
The theory of proper installation should always be used but I can assure you from my experience it is not used as frequently as it should be, especially in the residential market.
Having said this I also do not see an epidemic of failing a/c systems.

Yes Greg, being retired, I had (and still am) 'doing research'.

All of the contractors were ruled out for various reasons. Let's just say that this guy sounded great and had all the right buzz-words.

Interestingly, he did not respond to my call for a few days and I was virtually 5 minutes away from calling another contractor, who in retrospect, would have been a better choice.

I'm still considering transferring over to him when my current contract expires.

delta