[chrisv2]

My son lives in a condo here in eastern NY, which has a heat pump as the HVAC system. Not ideal due to how cold winters usually are, but that's what they put into all the condos in this complex.

A/C worked fine all summer. Heat was not working and had to be put into aux/emergency - the compressor would not run.

Had a tech come over and he said system was very low on R-22 so he added 3 lbs. Next day it was 20 degrees warmer outside, and the system made a horrible sound - sounded like it was overcharged.

Today it's cold out again and the system is working fine. Tech is going to come back again. I'm linking a couple of photos since I'm a little worried -- there's an oil slick on top of the canister near the compressor. Looks like something either blew out of it or it's just leaking.

I'm pretty sure the tech is going to advise that we replace the entire system but financially that's not going to be feasible. What sort of conversation should I have with him about this? Can he just replace that canister that's leaking?

Thanks for any help you can give me on this.

http://i.imgur.com/NYG6O4g.jpghttp://

http://i.imgur.com/J4Qi2hD.jpghttp://

 

[Bitters]

It's not possible to tell if it' over charged by sound. Might be you heard the reversing valve switch over. I would spray some soap and water on the receiver and see if you see any bubbles.

 

[zappa]

That's called an accumulator and it looks like it was replaced at some point. They normally get pretty rusty on the top and bottom because of condensation. Did you touch it to make sure it's oil and not water? I see that the piping looks wet also.

Keep it clean in there as that debris will hold moisture and rot out the bottom of the accumulator and base pan.

They can easily replace it but make sure they reuse the refrigerant or it will cost a small fortune.

Good idea on checking for a leak as Bitters mentioned.

 

[chrisv2]

Thanks for the pointers. I didn't remove the access panel so no I didn't check for sure if that is oil or water. It "looks" oily to me but you are right it could be water. It's only "wet" on that accumulator, no liquid on the compressor or anything else in there. We haven't had rain in over a week.

The sound was *really* loud and built up quickly -- then there was a sound like a small explosion then a hissing sound and it quieted back down. I don't recall it ever making that type of sound, nor do the neighbors' units.

 

[roughneck]

If the tech added refrigerant, why was there no leak check done? Refrigerant isn't "used up" during operation.

 

[Bob Sanders]

That looks like condensation not oil. As Zappa notes the piping looks covered as well.

The sound you heard may possibly be the unit kicking into defrost mode. They make a very loud hissing sound as the reversing valve kicks over. This is normal. To confirm though, the condenser fan will stop turning while it's in defrost mode. You'll hear the compressor stop, an incredibly loud hissing, then the compressor will restart but the fan won't be turning. If this is what you are witnessing, it's defrost mode and is normal.

 

[chrisv2]

ah, ok. That might have been it. Can't answer the question as to why no leak diagnostics done; over the last 20 years I've had at least 6 different service companies out either at the house or now at this condo and nobody here does leak testing, they add refrigerant then if that doesn't work they replace the entire system. I've even thought about taking the courses and getting certified myself, that's how bad it is here.

 

[sktn77a]

Sounds like it may be time to look for a #7 and a #8!

 

[roughneck]

ah, ok. That might have been it. Can't answer the question as to why no leak diagnostics done; over the last 20 years I've had at least 6 different service companies out either at the house or now at this condo and nobody here does leak testing, they add refrigerant then if that doesn't work they replace the entire system. I've even thought about taking the courses and getting certified myself, that's how bad it is here.

They add refrigerant and replace the system if that doesn't work??? It's either low or it's not, and if it's not the system obviously has another issue causing the lack of performance.
If it is low, the refrigerant went somewhere. It's not a consumable material, I have systems that are 20+ years old and have no record of refrigerant being added/leaking/recharges.
Now, many times there are other issues that can have the same symptoms of low refrigerant, and many are quick to pump more gas in the system. But full diagnosis of the system including superheat/subcooling readings will show what the system is doing.