So it's that time of year to start using the AC. Unfortunately my AC is putting out 6-7F temperature difference between the return and supply. I moved into the house in December and don't know the history of the HVAC system. The house was a foreclosure and according to the neighbors was a rental, so the owners probably didn't take very good care of it.
AC guy came out for a diagnosis. Return temp about 76, 60% humidity. Supply temp about 70. Outside temperature 84, 30-40% humidity. Suction line was showing 100 psi, 60F, high pressure line was reading about 170 psi. This is a 3 Ton Payne unit. There is no nameplate on the condenser, service guy said it was installed in 97 from the serial number on the evaporator coil housing.
The service tech said the system was overcharged and proceeded to bleed out the refrigerant into the atmosphere for what seemed like several minutes (isn't R22 not that great for the environment?). The suction line pressure didn't drop a bit. The high pressure line didn't seem to drop either but I don't remember exactly what it read in the beginning. He diagnosed a bad compressor. Does this sound right? Could it be anything else?
If it is indeed a bad compressor, I don't think it's worth replacing, and will probably get a whole new system. Unfortunately the house could also use a new roof and I can't do both right now. Homeownership sucks.
AC guy came out for a diagnosis. Return temp about 76, 60% humidity. Supply temp about 70. Outside temperature 84, 30-40% humidity. Suction line was showing 100 psi, 60F, high pressure line was reading about 170 psi. This is a 3 Ton Payne unit. There is no nameplate on the condenser, service guy said it was installed in 97 from the serial number on the evaporator coil housing.
The service tech said the system was overcharged and proceeded to bleed out the refrigerant into the atmosphere for what seemed like several minutes (isn't R22 not that great for the environment?). The suction line pressure didn't drop a bit. The high pressure line didn't seem to drop either but I don't remember exactly what it read in the beginning. He diagnosed a bad compressor. Does this sound right? Could it be anything else?
If it is indeed a bad compressor, I don't think it's worth replacing, and will probably get a whole new system. Unfortunately the house could also use a new roof and I can't do both right now. Homeownership sucks.