Re-installing ductless heat pump

[tortuga]

Greetings all I have a ductles heatpump that was removed during a remodel and stored in a barn for a few years. It probably a 8 year old unit. I noticed the line sets are just open to the air not capped off or anything. I have been told that this ruins the unit and another HVAC tech says its fine and people are just trying to always sell new equipment.
Any opinions/experience ?
I know its not an electrical question but industry related.
Thanks in advance

 

[LarryFine]

Insect bodies are certainly capable of clogging refrigerant lines.

 

[kwired]

Greetings all I have a ductles heatpump that was removed during a remodel and stored in a barn for a few years. It probably a 8 year old unit. I noticed the line sets are just open to the air not capped off or anything. I have been told that this ruins the unit and another HVAC tech says its fine and people are just trying to always sell new equipment.
Any opinions/experience ?
I know its not an electrical question but industry related.
Thanks in advance

What exactly is open?

Compressor units typically have valves on the lines. They often can close the hi pressure line valve, then run the compressor until nearly all the refrigerant is sucked into the unit, then close the low pressure line valve before shutting compressor off, that contains the refrigerant in the compressor unit. There is only limited amount of line beyond valve and where they likely open the lines.

Moisture, dirt, etc is not good for the system. Is good to at very least tape up line sets and indoor coil lines but they also can be flushed out AFAIK if needed. Some specific components however might need replaced if too much dirt/moisture would get into them. The line and heat transfer coils (which are just lines with added external heat sinks) are the easiest parts to clean/flush though.

If they left the compressor lines open to the environment... all bets are off on what is still usable or not, and the longer left open the more likely things need replaced.

 

[tortuga]

What exactly is open?

The indoor unit lines were not tapped off.

Compressor units typically have valves on the lines. They often can close the hi pressure line valve, then run the compressor until nearly all the refrigerant is sucked into the unit, then close the low pressure line valve before shutting compressor off, that contains the refrigerant in the compressor unit. There is only limited amount of line beyond valve and where they likely open the lines.

I think this was done but the lines were not tapped off.

Moisture, dirt, etc is not good for the system. Is good to at very least tape up line sets and indoor coil lines but they also can be flushed out AFAIK if needed. Some specific components however might need replaced if too much dirt/moisture would get into them. The line and heat transfer coils (which are just lines with added external heat sinks) are the easiest parts to clean/flush though.

If they left the compressor lines open to the environment... all bets are off on what is still usable or not, and the longer left open the more likely things need replaced.

 

[winnie]

My understanding:
Moisture and debris will kill systems.
The lubricating oil is tremendously hygroscopic.
My guess is that an installer could flush the lineset and evaporator, re-install the unit with an additional filter/dryer, and have a good chance of the system working.

Given the ratio of installed cost : hardware cost, if I were paying a professional full price for the install, I'd simply replace the hardware. But I'd DIY a reinstall in a heartbeat.

-Jon

 

[tortuga]

My understanding:
Moisture and debris will kill systems.
The lubricating oil is tremendously hygroscopic.
My guess is that an installer could flush the lineset and evaporator, re-install the unit with an additional filter/dryer, and have a good chance of the system working.

Good tip thanks

Given the ratio of installed cost : hardware cost, if I were paying a professional full price for the install, I'd simply replace the hardware. But I'd DIY a reinstall in a heartbeat.

-Jon

The unit was offered to me for free so I grabbed it. I can do the install my self other than the line sets, but i was getting different opinions from HVAC people.