HVAC What kills an air conditioner before its time?

[js0009]

My Ruud A/C unit is 20 years old this year and still going strong as ever. My aunt that lives next door to me her janitrol gas pack before it was 10 years old cracked the heat exchanger and that summer and until last summer it had to be charged every year, a coil leak In August of last year when she had some furnature delivered it was not cooling well anyway there was only a 5* drop it was charged and went down the next week so she decided to replace the unit she now has an american standard

[DrZarkloff]

@js0009 Sounds very cool.

[cdub61208]

Another good one. Id love see more about troubleshooting the refrigerant side. Keep em coming doc!

[DrZarkloff]

@cdub61208 Thanks for watching.

[Reaperofwind]

Wow That is a Lot of Copper were is it located again... he he ROFL

[stechkin]

What happens if you hook up red to hermetic on a run cap by accident. Will it damage the compressor?

[DrZarkloff]

@stechkin Probably nothing.

[marshalljimduncan]

Where can I get a dearest becky t-shirt?

[DrZarkloff]

@marshalljimduncan The price of the tee shirt is $20.00 for under a size 3X and that includes postage if you live in the US. Just send her a pm and letting her know the color, size, and address to mail it to. You can send a money order or use my pay pal. Let her know what you want to do. I think she will be doing an order the end of this month or beginning of next month.

[jmichel70]

Thanks,

[myHemicoupe]

all that scrap metal, would buy me lots of beers.

[DrZarkloff]

@myHemicoupe I think that scrapping is the coolest occupation next to HVAC.

[3Mudbone1]

Dudley was telling you to remember to mention that an undersized A.C. unit will die early also.

[DrZarkloff]

@3Mudbone1 lol. So will an oversized unit.

[3Mudbone1]

@DrZarkloff Not many people think about that being possible. I sure wish that my 2004 GMC 1 ton Duramax 4X4 extended had a larger A.C. system some times!

[Dinkkink]

Dr. z,

You need to pick up the pace a bit, it took half the video for you to even start to get to the point. Folks are going to rename you Dr. zzzzzzzz

[cyberlight22]

it's sad but most HVAC systems are still working when thay get tacken out of homes and replaced with new ones more energy savings thay say but it is sad

:'(

[kingdarron1]

DR Z, please keep up with these awesome videos. I am learning so much from you.

[adelsamhan]

how deep vcuum 500 microns will make the system fail? i didnt get that.

[DrZarkloff]

@adelsamhan You do want to put the system into a deep vacuum before charging the system.

[crownvvc4]

i have a 25 yr old sears package unit and the only thing that has ever been done to it is new capacitors and a new contactor 10 yrs ago and thats it, still runs like a charm

[DrZarkloff]

@crownvvc4 The duct must have be installed properly. I think that it's great to hear about some really old equipment that's still ticking.

[danielcastro3669]

very dramatic dr. z i love your work..

[DrZarkloff]

@danielcastro3669 Thanks

[memomota]

there must be some rats or opossums in this yard isnt it mr zrarklov???

[DrZarkloff]

@memomota Probably

[ibunregistered]

#1 WITHOUT A DOUBT cause of DEATH is ......Not changing air filters. Period.

That is the first thing Harry Homeowner does when things go wrong. By the time you get there, it has been changed and you have no idea what it looked like.

I have worked in Apt. maint. and seen what happens to a filter that I personally changed 30 days ago. I shudder to think what would happen if a month or 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 were skipped. Especially the cigarette and pot smokers. A dirty air filter blocks airflow.

[DrZarkloff]

@ibunregistered It's tough to get some people to replace the air filter. Never mind getting them to get a pm done.

[ibunregistered]

#1 WITHOUT A DOUBT cause of DEATH is ......Not changing air filters. Period.

That is the first thing Harry Homeowner does when things go wrong. By the time you get there, it has been changed and you have no idea what it looked like.

I have worked in Apt. maint. and seen what happens to a filter that I personally changed 30 days ago. I shudder to think what would happen if a month or 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 were skipped. Especially the cigarette and pot smokers. A dirty air filter blocks airflow.

[MrSiskabob]

im going in to HVAC as a career any advice for first timmers

[DrZarkloff]

@MrSiskabob Knowledge is power. You can't learn too much in this field.

[darkwinter76]

@MrSiskabob learn as much about commercial refrigeration as possible (walk in freezers/coolers, ice machines, rack systems) because the work in hvac can get slow but the refrigeration end is always booming (usually). working for an HVAC/R company i have learned so much more than when i worked at just HVAC and i am never under 45 hours a week. Good luck friend!

[MrSiskabob]

@darkwinter76 thanks for the advice

[co2x3]

ac tune ups are a must. every year wash down the condenser change the filters check the superheat charge if needed psi temp differance,amps on the compressor blower an fan motor oil condenser fan motor an take the pooch to the doc for his check up. dudley looks like he wants to do a clip Doc Z

[SlackJones1]

Are there certain premium brands of HVAC that are better built/engineered than others? I've always wondered this. If you listen to their advertising, EVERY brand it the toughest and best built available.

[DrZarkloff]

@bfagay1 Thanks. I figured it was fitting.

[rbu2m]

Properties by the beach (salt moisture from the ocean) and irrigation systems by the condenser unit with ground water that is high in sulfur. Rust... Rust…Rust. I have seen them last only 5 or 6 years.

[DrZarkloff]

@rbu2m I worked 11 years at a condominium on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. All of the condensing units were on the roof. The salt killed the fins on the coil before they ever needed to be cleaned.

[TheMaintenanceEar]

Good choice of music. Very Funny!

[DrZarkloff]

@TheMaintenanceEar lol Thanks.

[combatvetlawstudent]

how funny how you have sttaw strewn across each one. How dramatic! :P

[DrZarkloff]

@combatvetlawstudent Thanks. I like dramatic.

[ccraig2008]

nice

[DrZarkloff]

@ccraig2008 Thanks.

[salbal777]

Bone yard LOL.

That's a good one.

[DrZarkloff]

@salbal777 Thanks. It was fun.

[V8Jagnut]

good vid. i find the NO1 thing around hear that kills a/c units is .... DIRTY COILS..

[DrZarkloff]

@V8Jagnut That is up there on my list.

[sircoarz3]

Wow How Funny Was the First 10 Seconds, I feel like Crying LOL! Love The Posting Dr. Keep Up the Good Work

[DrZarkloff]

@sircoarz3 Thanks. I like to make it fun too.

[d1incharge]

Long story short, I totally agree improper installation is #1. Our HVAC company never does a btu load, they are too "experienced" for that, they just size the system 25% or more larger, install duct systems you cant even test because they are too leaky, get paid and call it good. They are so stupid they think that leaks into interstitial cavities don't matter because it is still in the house.....They use the floor joist as return duct,and just staple a piece of metallic cardbard at the register

[DrZarkloff]

@d1incharge It is amazing how some companies will even allow the installers to just fudge the duct sizing. Then, I know that even if the tech tells the customer that they need to update their duct that the customer will nix the attempt to install the system right because of the added expense.

[d1incharge]

Hey DR.z, you are the man! Just thought I would throw my two cents in, I am not an HVAC tech, but I have been in new const for over 14 years. Now I am an energy auditor and I have to dabble with static pressures and duct design because as an insulator I feel obligated to make sure everything I cover up is up to standard. Seeing what I did in new const. was the reason I got into retofit, the HVAC industry is NASTY, new home inspections are only as good as the x-plumber that is doing them.

[hvacpro1]

Lol, thanks Dr. Z, nice to see a new clip. Seems like they are getting farther between which is a shame. They are always helpful!

[DrZarkloff]

@hvacpro1 Thanks. I try to put one video out each week. Sometimes, it doesn't work out that way.

[airconguy1]

I need to get some coil cleaner and do our unit. I know the evaporators AND condensers on the old Tranes on ALL the houses (all the US ones anyway) have filthy evaps. Pity there are rooftop package!

[DrZarkloff]

@airconguy1 I think that someone could actually base their entire business on coil cleaning.

[TheMightyPump]

I vote dirty coils as # 1 killer.

[DrZarkloff]

@TheMightyPump I've seen coils that were so bad that stuff was growing on stuff.

[TheMightyPump]

Bet I can fix them all.

[Nutintoitbut2doit]

Thats alot of units in that bone yard, we took in a load this week and got $600. BBQ time lol.

[DrZarkloff]

@Nutintoitbut2doit Yummy. 

[MinTrinidad]

I worked for a company, every 2-6 months compressor change out.

[Charles2337]

@MinTrinidad

Bad sensors? Compressor running all the time?

[MinTrinidad]

@Charles2337 heat exchanger icing up, short cycle, power supply.

[DrZarkloff]

@MinTrinidad Yikes! Was that on one system or all together?

[MinTrinidad]

@DrZarkloff ammm Yeah, when it ices up the sensors cause it to short cycle, Power supply is another unit

[tstatech]

Another great video Dr Z.

I commonly work on 30 -40 year old A/C's

Just changed out an old Williamson that was still working and was built 1967.

I will be changing out an even older unit in a few weeks, oh yeh still working. I may shoot a little video when I do that one. It's been a few month since I looked at it last but I think it was @ 45 yrs old. It serves a family estate museum which the deceased owner, owned a heating and cooling company.

[DrZarkloff]

@tstatech That old system might be a museum piece.

[tstatech]

@DrZarkloff It's headed for my bone yard. To be replaced with York equipment.

[PutSome5tankOnIt]

I agree. Poor installation probably kills the majority of systems (compressors) within the first 3-5 years. After 10 years, end-user neglect and abuse (dirty filters and coils) contribute to most failures. I've told more than a few homeowners that if they had just turned the system OFF when they realized it wasn't working properly, the repair could've been only a few hundred dollars. Now that the compressor is dead, it'll be over a thousand.

[DrZarkloff]

@PutSome5tankOnIt A friend of mine asked me to look at his air conditioner a few weeks ago. The air filter was so plugged that no air could get though the supplies.

[crxshed]

short cycling, dirty condenser... kill compressor too,

[DrZarkloff]

@crxshed Especially short cycling.

[Bocist]

Interesting like always.. big boneyard by the way

[DrZarkloff]

@Bocist I was going to go to a bone yard that had five acres of old systems that were stacked to the sky. Unfortunately, it was closed.

[RogueWOLFsnipeR]

From my 24 years in the biz, I would say low airflow is number one. Sadly way to many techs. walk up to an A/C throw there gauges on see low pressure and assume its low on charge, so they add refrigerant, and end up overcharging the unit, often leading to liquid floodback.. If they had only busted out a magnahelic and measured static pressure, and maybe done a quick psychometric workup they would have found the real root of the problem...low airflow.

Poor maintenance is also a biggy.

[DrZarkloff]

@RogueWOLFsnipeR I think that's a training issue. There's really a lot to learn in this trade. a lot of techs don't know about static pressure or wouldn't know a magnahelic if it fell on their head.

[fixinggrace]

Not to mention a customer trying to "engineer" a cover for the condensing unit, and runs with it on. Another is brazing the service valves without wrapping them with wet rags. I've seen more die this way.

[DrZarkloff]

@fixinggrace A properly installed and maintained contractor grade system will out live a poorly installed top of the line system any day.

[fixinggrace]

@DrZarkloff Yes sir it will. My hat's off to you.

[Kingratass]

havent lived till youve heard amazing grace on an accordian

[DrZarkloff]

@Kingratass Amen.

[fyescas777]

Very emotional intro.

[DrZarkloff]

@fyescas777 Thanks. lol

[67tr876]

That bone yead is gold to me ! i would take all the fans and blowers

[mazzmari]

@67tr876 yeah, well give me those coils and copper.

[DrZarkloff]

@67tr876 You'd be surprise what could sell on ebay.