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How to tell if central ac unit is drained?

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  1. #1
    NoviceScrapper started this thread.
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    How to tell if central ac unit is drained?

    A neighbor of my parents called me and asked if I would take his old AC unit once a company replaced it. I took it and was wondering if the company drained the freon when they replaced the unit? I've broken down the unit and separated the compressor from the metal and it feels heavier than it should. Is there anyway to tell or should I just call an HVAC company to come by?

    Thanks for all the information





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    The lines are cut, so there shouldn't be any refrigerant left. Oil? Maybe.

    Compressors are heavy for their size.

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    Novice, if the unit is disconnected from the house but still in tact like in the picture. It is in fact still pressurized. The compressor us like a closed circuit. Look at the compressor in the middle you'll notice there is no outlet for pressure to be released. Compressor to the coils, coils are a closed circuit. I'm not an expert, but I do know unless it had a leak or something you could get a nasty surprise. I have an HVAC guy drain all my stuff only because he is an old freind does he do it for me. If the line inbetween the compressor and coils was cut or the installer bled it, you have a pressurized unit.
    Last edited by Russell; 09-23-2012 at 07:24 PM.

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    Russell's Avatar
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    On a side note: these f-n things house a lot if nasty spiders. Do yourself a favor. Get a good bug spray that kills spiders. Spray the heck out of it , and let her sit for a day. After it sits take a hose with some pressure or pressure washer to it.

    I was taking the compressor off one day. Had my arm down in the unit. Youll see the 4 bolts holding her down to the frame. I was wearing those Jean type gloves; they are very loose at the top, I felt something inbetween the open part of the glove and my wrist. **** near had a black widow or something that looked like one sitting on the edge of the glove feeling its way around touching the hairs on my arm. I kept it alive just in case it had bit me. Im no spider expert and we don't have a lot of poisonous spiders around her but, it didn't end up biting me. It was a scary lesson.
    Last edited by Russell; 09-23-2012 at 07:34 PM.

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    gustavus is offline Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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    Quote Originally Posted by Russell View Post
    Novice, if the unit is disconnected from the house but still in tact like in the picture. It is in fact still pressurized. The compressor us like a closed circuit. Look at the compressor in the middle you'll notice there is no outlet for pressure to be released. Compressor to the coils, coils are a closed circuit. I'm not an expert, but I do know unless it had a leak or something you could get a nasty surprise. I have an HVAC guy drain all my stuff only because he is an old freind does he do it for me. If the line inbetween the compressor and coils was cut or the installer bled it, you have a pressurized unit.
    This particular unit looks like it was plumbed into an A Frame evaporator which would have been installed inside the furnace plenum giving the house central air conditioning.

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    Destructo_d's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gustavus View Post
    This particular unit looks like it was plumbed into an A Frame evaporator which would have been installed inside the furnace plenum giving the house central air conditioning.

    I agree... this is a central air unit, tied in with a furnace... Now... Some units like this have 2 shut off valve to hold the freon in the unit. They would be on each copper line near the brass fittings... sometimes the hvac techs shut these off and only drain the house side of the system and allowing the unit to be disconected and serviced, thus leaving the compressor pressurized... this particular unit does not appear to have the shut off's in it and from what I can tell, you are good to go on stripping it down... always err on the side of caution and be carefull tho

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    NoviceScrapper started this thread.
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    Thank you everyone so far for your information. I thought I posted a picture but just in case here it is:


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    hobo finds's Avatar
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    I am sure it still has freon in it. Up to you what you do next... Never mind I just saw pic! No freon left in that!

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    call the EPA, they'll check it out for free

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    If that is all you have left then there is definitely no refrigerant left in it. It was actually a heat pump so the radiator would be a little heavier than a normal a/c. Those scroll compressors are really heavy for their size.

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  12. #11
    NoviceScrapper started this thread.
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    Thank you everyone for your knowledge!

    Quote Originally Posted by freonjoe View Post
    If that is all you have left then there is definitely no refrigerant left in it. It was actually a heat pump so the radiator would be a little heavier than a normal a/c. Those scroll compressors are really heavy for their size.

    Does this weight affect the price at all?

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    More weight equals more money.

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    Central draining is very important that will give much desire to keep it more functional and learn new achievement that will come in creating much knowledge.

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    Hypoman's Avatar
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    moshei,
    Thank you for the knowledge of achieving new functional learning by important central draining creating desires!











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  18. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by moshei View Post
    Central draining is very important that will give much desire to keep it more functional and learn new achievement that will come in creating much knowledge.
    Huh?


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