[JD59]

At 10 years (no remaining warranty), my Trane XB 1000 A/C unit is leaking freon. The HVAC servicer recommends replacement. In getting multiple bids on a replacement system, I surprisingly found that the original unit was installed with a 2 1/2 ton compressor and a 2 ton evaporator coil unit. Does anyone know whether this mismatch 1) could have accelerated the failure of the unit; and/or 2) what estimated efficiency loss would be associated with this mis-match?

Thanks in advance for any information.

 

[beenthere]

It could have.

No way to know without running and testing it.

 

[dac122]

Systems spring leaks all the time, often related to a brazing mistake at a line set joint during installation, and on rarer occasions at factory joints. At age 10 you still have some life left, so I would consider finding and fixing the leak. Find a pro that is willing to look hard and fix hard to reach leaks, as opposed to those that just throw up their hands and recommend new systems.

 

[sktn77a]

The HVAC servicer recommends replacement.

No sh_t, Sherlock!

Find the leak an repair it. You've got 10 years left in that system.

 

[biggles]

get a company in there and bang the system up to 400 psi nitrogen and check both ends even if they have to cut the side of the fan section out to view the evap coil.sensitive electronic leak detector will find it.they should come in recover the exsisting freon wtill it is just gas in the liquid line the intro the nitrogen....anything less your not going to solve the problem,and it is all time spent that has to be paid out.then the repair made you should pull a 250 micron vacuum to verify the system is tight....with new freon sounds like you had to many top offs and air burped into the system is possible...new liquid line dryer if the system is zero'd out for the repair....do you have any residue oil on any pipes on the system that might narrow it down.it might be time well spent to check the lines prior to the repair if you can pick up oil on the pipes.mismatch units can be adjusted with the charge and it all means the cycle time is stepped up with 2.5 tons going into the 2 ton evap...you have 24,000 btus on the air change side which is being sent out to a 30,000 btus condenser so it is getting the heat out of the house quicker during a real hot run.