PennSilverTaco's HVAC BS MegaThread!

One of my grandparents houses just had an issue last week.
I noticed that every time I'd come in, it was always running.
So I walked in and it was 84' degrees. We keep it set to 79'.

Evidently the condenser had a leak. Waiting on parts now.

 

@Lt. Dangle

I cannot find the original post, but here's the updated list (10 straight-cool units and 2 heat pumps) of HVAC equipment that I have scrapped. The correct figure is 12, plus the 1981 York Champion "Tombstone" that I sold, and the 2001 Trane that is presently sitting in the bed of my truck; I don't remember the exact order in which I acquired each unit, so here they are listed by nominal tonnage...

2011 Payne 1.5-ton A/C (R-22)
2009 Weather King 1.5-ton A/C (R410a)
2000 Ruud 2-ton A/C (R-22)
1977 Tappan 2-ton A/C (R-22)
2011 Day & Night 2.5-ton A/C (R410a)
2013 ICP 2.5-ton A/C (R410a) with 60,000 BTU gas furnace
1991 Trane XE800 3-ton A/C (R-22) with air handler
1993 York Stellar 3-ton heat pump (R-22) with air handler
2012 Goodman 3.5-ton heat pump (R-22)
2018 Trane XR14 3.5-ton (R410a)
2007 Heil 4-ton A/C (R-22) with air handler
1997 Trane XB1000 4-ton (R-22) with gas furnace

 

So, the total is...

• 10 straight-cool central air-conditioners
• 2 heat pumps
• 3 air handlers
• 2 gas furnaces
• 4 oil furnaces
• 2 portable A/C units

I have torn apart and scrapped so many window A/C units since December 2022 that I've lost count, and the same goes for dehumidifiers and refrigerators; I can confirm that I have scrapped two reach-in/top-load residential freezers, plus one freezer that already had the guts yanked out of it. The 2018 Trane is the only one that I legitimately regret scrapping, because it was merely replaced due to the homeowner installed ductless mini-splits and still worked...

 

If you are having fun and making a few bucks in the process, then it's all good!

 

Well, now it's legitimately just side hustle, because I've got a full-time job...

 

Don’t take your central air for granted. When it’s 108 degrees outside and you don’t have it, life is hell!

 

Good unit. Had a good run and did exactly as it was designed to do for as long as it was supposed to. Can't ask for much more than that.

 

Tell me what I got Charlie

 

2015 Rheem gas-pack (Straight-cool central A/C and gas furnace) packaged in one outdoor unit, 2-ton/24,000 BTU. Gas-packs are not common in residential buildings (except for trailer homes) in my area, and really not anywhere north of the Mason-Dixon Line. My aunt and uncle’s house in Norfolk, VA has a crawlspace. The first floor has a Carrier gas-pack, the second floor has a Goodman split system A/C with the gas furnace located on the second floor, and the one-bedroom apartment above the detached garage has a Goodman heat pump with the air handler in a closet in the apartment. I have absolutely no experience with packaged units beyond changing the filter in the aforementioned filter in the Carrier at my aunt’s house…

 

There's an HVAC thread on Taco World?
Of course there's an HVAC thread on Taco World.

I'm throwing out a request for help

I've always had SOME drip, but not nearly as much as there has been the past 6 months after the flush.
I know just enough to be dangerous.... so figured I'd ask for some help before I blow up the laundry room.

 

What's the pipe connected to? Like a T&P valve?

 

Charlie , name this.

 

It's the indoor portion of a ductless mini-split system, but my vision isn't good enough to get the brand name...

 

Dang bro ur good !

 

If it were to guess. It's the AC condensate drain.
My mothers house has that type system. The system is in the attic, and the drain is piped out of the wall.

 

@Lt. Dangle

Never mind. I just seen the other pictures. I don't see an AC system there.
I see a water heater?

 

No it's not the AC. Looks like it's connected to two t&p valves, one on the furnace and one on the tank.

 

Sometimes when you open a T&P it won't seat properly and will leak. Ok, so what I would do and have done before is these 2 things first.

1. Reopen the T&P and flush out the body and let the lift arm shut suddenly hoping it makes a good seal.

2. Gently tap the top of the T&P with a wrench or such trying to jiggle it to shut properly. This works far more often than I would like to admit lol.

Final option, T&P could be weak and needs replaced.

Of course could be any number of other things, but adjusting the T&P one way or the other is always my first move. Crud in the system can easily interfere with the valve sealing and you get a continuous leak from them.

I only go this way since you said the problems got worse after a flush.

I could be all wrong too so don't take this as gospel and keep in mind I am not there looking at it. I'm willing to try and help though.

 

Can I play? I'm gonna guess it is a Fujistu based on the look of the unit as Charlie already said what it was correctly. Possibly Daikin, but I don't think so.

Any chance we can get the name of the place and location? I'm curious if google maps can get me some pics of the outdoor unit. Nothing better to do and solving a great unknown HVAC mystery is fun for some of us lol.

 

Sure, it was at a restaurant
Speers street grill 121 Speers Ave, Belle Vernon pa 15012