A few questions from a first time install

Ethereal · 11-16-2012, 08:18 PM

I'm installing a 2-stage heat pump/air handler and ran into a few uncertainties today... they are probably basic but I thought I would just dump them in one thread to get it all over with:

1) When unbrazing, my oxy-acetyl torch has a hard time getting the fittings hot enough. I am using a #0 tip and I assume that's the problem. What tip would you guys use on 3/4" copper?

2) My old ducting doesn't quite match up with the new air handler. Can I just make some block off plates out of sheet metal to mate the duct to the handler? The sizes are close but not exactly there.

3) The aluminum fins on the coil in my air handler were delivered with some smashed spots. Is that normal? ie, should I ask Goodman to send me a new coil? There are a few spots about the size of a half dollar and I straightened them out the best I could but they are still not spot on.

4) My old air handler was growing quite a bit of mold on the inside. It is in a crawlspace that gets humid sometimes. Is there way to prevent mold from growing? I read a trane bulletin stating that UV lights don't do much.

Thanks!

Ethereal · 11-18-2012, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethereal

I'm installing a 2-stage heat pump/air handler and ran into a few uncertainties today... they are probably basic but I thought I would just dump them in one thread to get it all over with:

1) When unbrazing, my oxy-acetyl torch has a hard time getting the fittings hot enough. I am using a #0 tip and I assume that's the problem. What tip would you guys use on 3/4" copper?

2) My old ducting doesn't quite match up with the new air handler. Can I just make some block off plates out of sheet metal to mate the duct to the handler? The sizes are close but not exactly there.

3) The aluminum fins on the coil in my air handler were delivered with some smashed spots. Is that normal? ie, should I ask Goodman to send me a new coil? There are a few spots about the size of a half dollar and I straightened them out the best I could but they are still not spot on.

4) My old air handler was growing quite a bit of mold on the inside. It is in a crawlspace that gets humid sometimes. Is there way to prevent mold from growing? I read a trane bulletin stating that UV lights don't do much.

Thanks!

2) Fabbed up some adapter plates, I think it went well.
3) not about to unbraze the indoor coil!
4) Still interested in thoughts on this. I suspect the old air handler was not pitched correctly to drain condensation.

hvac5646 · 11-18-2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethereal

2) Fabbed up some adapter plates, I think it went well.
3) not about to unbraze the indoor coil!
4) Still interested in thoughts on this. I suspect the old air handler was not pitched correctly to drain condensation.

#1 or #2 tip...acc press 8 to 9 psi.

Oxy press 9 to 11 psi. (Get it done fast! you could blow a hole in the copper at those press).

I was using a "0" size tip cause my bigger tips were bad. Had to crank the oxy up to almost 21 psi and the acc close to 11 psi. Had to move fast to avoid burning copper.

Ethereal · 11-19-2012, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvac5646

#1 or #2 tip...acc press 8 to 9 psi.

Oxy press 9 to 11 psi. (Get it done fast! you could blow a hole in the copper at those press).

I was using a "0" size tip cause my bigger tips were bad. Had to crank the oxy up to almost 21 psi and the acc close to 11 psi. Had to move fast to avoid burning copper.

Hmmm, I had both oxy and acetyl at 5 CFH, not sure how that corresponds to pressure. I think that was more than adequate though because I could turn the gas up high enough at my torch to blow the flame out. It worked really well on the 3/8 line but 3/4 was a bear to get hot enough. I had to work it in sections. I didn't end up with any leaks, but I doubt that the filler got drawn very far into the joint.

hvac5646 · 11-19-2012, 09:13 AM

it's a pain, I agree. But it was what I did 'til my replacement tips came in.

but it does work.

HVACTECH96 · 11-19-2012, 07:23 PM

Why not just cut with a tubing cutter instead of taking chance of oil catching on fire.

Ethereal · 11-19-2012, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HVACTECH96

Why not just cut with a tubing cutter instead of taking chance of oil catching on fire.

I did for the most part, but I wanted to practice unbrazing so I removed the tubing coming off the suction and LL on my old compressor. I also bought some copper fittings to practice brazing with and attempted to unbraze those; they were 1" ID and were having none of that!

There was one street 90 that I wanted to re-use, so I did end up re-brazing that fitting to the air handler. I would have replaced it if I had a new fitting on hand but I did this on a saturday and hardware stores don't carry those fittings.