Opinions of install

[Homeowner]

We had an authorized dealer install an ac unit. He claims the work his company did is typical for all companies, and we are being too picky. We're concerned there is not enough air flow around the heat exchanger and our lifetime warranty on that part will be voided. What do you think?

You will find the pictures here:

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/000_00008.JPG

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/000_0004.JPG

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/000_0005.JPG

Thanks!

[Hube]

Need more info
Is this a new furnace? gas or oil? What make? How many btu's (output)
Is the "A" coil mounted in the plenum? What size is the Return air trunk at the units entrance? What size is the supply main off the plenum?

[Homeowner]

quote:Originally posted by Hube

Need more info
Is this a new furnace? gas or oil? What make? How many btu's (output)
Is the "A" coil mounted in the plenum? What size is the Return air trunk at the units entrance? What size is the supply main off the plenum?

The furnace is a Payne Plus 90, about 10 years old. I didn't see the output number on the tag inside, but found where it says the input is 66,000. The cased coil is sitting directly on top of the furnace, placed to one side, with the left side blocked off. No transition work was done. They put in a 3 ton unit. I will have to get the other measurements to you later. BTW, the estimator didn't measure a thing. He said he could tell just by looking.

Our other concern is the quality of the job. I can't imagine that all hvac work looks like this. We have a crushed refrigerant line that the installer tried to straighten out, and he hotwired the EAC so that it is continually zapping particles. We noticed the EAC was getting quite warm, so we turned it off since we're not using either ac or heat right now.

[Homeowner]

Sorry about the link to the first picture. I had one to many zeros in it. This should work:

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/000_0008.JPG

[Hube]

I think you descrption of the problem "not enough air around heat exchanger" is very misleading.
First of all ,the heat exchanger is located down lower just after the fan blower compartment and has nothing to do with your cooling concerns.
If this "A" type coil is situated within the supply plenum it should have unobstructed air movement all around it, and should NEVER be blocked off on one side.
BTW, what approx size is the house you are cooling with this 3 ton/??? and a 60,000 (90 % of 66K =60 K) OUTPUT unit?

[imeduc]

Like Hube, You cant just look at a home and say what it needs in AC or heat. That 60K btu furnace and 3 ton AC? Do you live down here in FLorida. The coil should have been centered over the furnace out let Id say. That EAC filter should be wired with the blower when it comes on. But as I have found in the past. I Have taken out more of them than I have sold and put in . Down the line you wont keep it clean so it wont work right and let dirt in the unit and home. We pull the core out of them and put in a good pleated filtered You can get them up to 4" thick , purolator,Air Bear

ED

My mistakes dont define me they inform me.

[Homeowner]

quote:Originally posted by Hube

I think you descrption of the problem "not enough air around heat exchanger" is very misleading.
First of all ,the heat exchanger is located down lower just after the fan blower compartment and has nothing to do with your cooling concerns.
If this "A" type coil is situated within the supply plenum it should have unobstructed air movement all around it, and should NEVER be blocked off on one side.
BTW, what approx size is the house you are cooling with this 3 ton/??? and a 60,000 (90 % of 66K =60 K) OUTPUT unit?

Thanks Hube and imeduc. Our home has 1750 sq ft and is a modified split - kind of a cross between a true split level and a tri-level. We were even younger and foolisher when we switched from electric heat to gas 10 years ago, so I have no idea what the capacity of the original furnace was. We used the local utility company for the switch. We're in western Washington. We had 4 bids on this job, and not one suggested a load calc.

I'm sorry I didn't explain our concerns fully enough. The furnace is an upflow unit. The primary heat exchanger sits directly underneath the coil case. Is that case called a plenum even though it came as an assembled unit with the ac coils? When we start using heat, we're afraid that the heat exchanger will be damaged because the air doesn't flow up freely to the ac case. The installer covered up about 3 1/2" on the left side of the furnace opening, which blocks the air trying to go past the left heat exchanger coil. It just hits a dead end.

The ac case overhangs the right hand side of the air opening by about 1-1 1/2 inches.

I've looked in a number of books for more specific info about installs, but can't seem to find one that addresses this in enough detail.

imeduc, I hear you about the EAC. It's great in theory, but we haven't found it to be as good as claimed. The coils are a bear to clean and dry. I'd much rather use a throwaway filter.

Your thoughts? Thanks.