It looks likes somebody (this is a repro) wanted to take the compressor (exterior part) with them, then decided not to.
Result:
The case cover is mmissing its panel next to the house
The powere cords have been removed
the thermostat wires are wadded up (but at least still present)
Biggie:
Lineset (the 2 copper tupes connecting the interior and exterior parts) have been (neatly cut)
The neat cut plus the coils still being here suggested the whole-unit approach to theft…
The house has been in the market for over 1.5 years
I am not even close to knowing how to do this stuff, so, my bottom line - how likely is it that this can be made to clunk along another 5 years (at which time $ will be slightly easier)? Or should I simply decide I won’t hace A/C for a few?
If the lines are cut you would need to splice in couplers and then use a vacuum pump to draw down the system before adding freon. Unless you know how to run freon lines and wire an air conditioner you will have to call a repair person.
I’m a big believer in DIY, and I’ve helped more than a few DIYers. That said, this is almost always not a DIYer project. The skills are highly technical, and specialized tools are required.
My advice: call a service tech. You’ll probably have to pay their basic service charge, and have them give you a hard estimate to repair. If it’s in your budget, cool. If not, you’ll likely be without A/C for a while.
I just don’t think this will be a DIY repair.
raindog
a/c guy
And depending on the state, it’s illegal. In Wisconsin (though I thought it was true for all states, but maybe not) it’s illegal to work with freon without an EPA license, and I believe even if you have an EPA license, the place you buy the freon from can require you to prove that you the proper tools to work with it (such as a recovery pump).
Good point.
I’m not clear from the OP. If someone stole parts off of the air conditioner on your house, you should file a police report and an insurance claim to pay for the repairs. Is there some reason you wouldn’t?
I’m certified in refrigerants and when my unit needed work, I called a pro. I just don’t have the recovery and recharging units for R-22.
Also after being open that long, the receiver drier (filter) will need to be changed.
To me, the neat cut and the wires all coiled up tells me that it may have been that someone was (legally) taking it out, maybe to replace it, or repair it in a shop. I’d think if someone wanted to steal it, the wires wouldn’t be all coiled up and the copper would be pinched as if it was cut with a bolt cutter or the cuts would be rough from a recip saw. If it looks like it was a pipe cutter, it probably wasn’t in the process of being stolen. But I could be wrong.
Also, what do you mean by ‘made to clunk along’ If by clunk along, you mean not work, it’ll do that forever. With the two freon lines cut, the AC unit won’t do anything whatsover. Even if you hook them back up yourself, it’ll still do nothing until it get’s recharged.
Call a pro, get an estimate, might not be as expensive as you think it’s going to be. It would almost certainly be cheaper then putting window units all over the house. OTOH, if someone was in the middle of taking it out becuase it was broken, that’s entirely different.
I could be wrong, but I get the feeling the OP bought a ‘fixer-upper’ and this is one of the things that needs to be fixed.
What they said, plus.
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What makes you think it was operational when it was disconnected?
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Exposure to moisture in the air will require changing the liquid line filter/drier as Rick pointed out but also may have been absorbed in the compressor oil or caused rusting inside the compressor.
Depending on the age of the unit, oils newer than mineral oils developed for the new refrigerants often have a high affinity for moisture. Compressor crankcase may be filled with sludge now.
If you did put it in service, I’d oversize the liquid line filter drier to protect the rest of the system from possible contaminants in the compressor plus contaminants created when the compressor burns out.
Taking that precaution, the minimum tools required would be an oxy/acetylene torch to repair the copper lines, vacuum pump to evacuate and gauge/hose set for evacuation and charging. Of course you’d also need to be able to acquire the proper refrigerant which may have regulatory hurdles.
What you really need is an A/C service company to replace it.
If a service company offers to just hook it back up and start it, run them out of your yard with a rake or something.
This is not a DYI job. If you have the equipment an open system for that amount of time is in question. And unless you are EPA certified it is against federal laws to work with most referagent gases.
My advice call a pro and explain what you have and what you want. Most will come out and for no fee give you a bid on repairing the system. They may suggest a new compressor. Do not be afraid to get bids on more than one company.
I don’t own it?
as for the ‘not-diy’; No kidding. (hea! won’t need to recover anything on this one - open for over a year.
My big concern was the likelyhood of the lineset and/or condensor sstill being usuable.
this is Sacramento - hot dry and all, but the surface of the copper is not so good - can they be too far gone to recover/clean/ whatever?
the cut was bizarre - the unit (Lennox HS25-411-1P, fwiw) has neat, tube-cutter type cuts, What’s left dangling from the house has been smash-with-a-hammer ‘Pinched’
Is the "411’ in the data plate a ref to the newer “freon” "
Probably not. The new refrigerant for residential use is r410a.
Theres no way to know for sure, but I’d guess that a new condenser might be all you need. I agree with everything Batfish said, but a good HVAC company will put in the appropriate dryers and do everything they can to minimize moisture.
There is something called a “triple evacuation” that uses multiple vacuums and dry nitrogen in between to soak up moisture----all measured with a micron gage.
It is common to have condensers stolen. (we’re replacing one tomorrow) It’s not an ideal situation-----and the best outcome is an all new system-----but with the proper evacuation/installation methods you should be fine.
ETA. I overlooked this…
“411” on a Lennox (only) identifies the size, in this case a 3 ton.
Pinched, as in pretty well completely pinched? If so, that’s another thing that suggests it wasn’t being stolen. If they may have pinched off that part to keep moisture/rain/dust/bugs from getting into the house part of the system. Then when they return they would just cut that part off.
I’ll go have another look tomorrow, but the fuse block is missing its fuses and was on the ground. Not a real professional approach. OTOH, the smashed tubes are somewhat carefully pointed down. OTOH, the nice, neat cuts on the unit are open to the air - maybe it was being removed, but if so, why the neat cut on the scrap part, and slop work on the part that’s staying?
The coil on the furnace (evaporator?) is undisturbed - I grapped the line set and tugged - it is connected to something
One Q - I couldn’t begin to try to lift the beast, so I’ll have to ask: are the compressors typically bolted down, or do they rely on gravity to stay put? I’m thinking someone wanted to steal it, got this far, and then found it wasn’t so easy to lift?
Oh, another - the lines on the compressor are rigid pipe – the stuff on the house is flex tubing. What was in-between? (No, I’ve never dealt with A/C before)
One last one - I promise. I take it this was not likely installed by the builder (house is 1979), correct? The windows are 1980’s vintage double-pane (low end aluminum), and, given that there is no insulation in the walls, the builder wasn’t spending money on energy. So, can anbody tell me its approx age, based on the data plate?
I don’t remember if Lennox serial #'s have the year of manufacture in them, look for an obvious ‘79’ or the like in it. The serial # would definitely identify the year to a Lennox parts dealer. A picture might help give an approximate age. If the unit is older than… 5 or so years… it’s likely to be R-22, but I admit I’m not familiar with Lennox’s progression to new refrigerants.
Joey is right about the pinched off thing, if it was being replaced there would be no need to protect the scrap unit, but desirable for the indoor side of the system. Sounds like it was going to be replaced but not finished for whatever reason.
I refer you to item #1 in my first post.
Again I highly doubt there is an inexpensive DIY way to a working system.
post the serial number and I can tell you it’s age.
Bless you!
5896G03007
It also reads HCFC-22 - I take it that is the “freon” required?
And, for those still reading:
Although the t-stat wires are intact within the compressor, all that remains on the house is a small hole beside the electrical cut-off. I’m guessing whoever did that was not planning on needing the air conditioning much longer.
At least that part I can handle, assuming the wires are still in the wall and not nailed down (I never got the hang of a fish tape)