How to Perform Proper Annual Maintenance on Central AC Outdoor Condensing Unit

Are you an experienced HVAC tech or mechanically inclined homeowner? This step by step how to video is for YOU!
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[@danpresson]

Great job Mikey pipes

[@johnwalker890]

Good job Mike...... You caught the sloppy work on the disconnect feeder.......

[@PipeDoctor]

Yup 👍

[@stephenzies8867]

Mr. D You Are A True Professional 👍

[@PipeDoctor]

So nice of you

[@brikaf6001]

excellent vid, thanks mikey!

[@PipeDoctor]

Thanks!

[@russellhill5959]

Might be a good idea to mount the Air cooled condenser starter capacitor upside down so that moisture doesn't accumulate in the bath tub top configuration when pointing up if connected wiring is long enough to allow you to reorient pointng down. Noticed the top of the capacitors were very rusty and tested good. Salty air environments rust everything. It's in a sealed compartment but doesn't keep out condensation and bug debris. Just a suggestion when doing maintenance. I really enjoy your channel. NJ Jersey Russ

[@mannyhendrix1]

So much information in this video really makes it easier to understand the usual difficult part of checking pressures 🙏❤️‍🔥

[@PipeDoctor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@numchux2]

there's always more to it, remember your ABC's! (airflow before charge)

[@dkinfishing]

I appreciate this video a lot Mikey! Your making me a better tech, my company is pretty thorough, but man you do a damn good maintenance 🤟🏾👏🏾

[@TomHolcombe-fh1kv]

Thanks for recommending that meter I bought one in great. I love it even though I don’t you do Service work anymore but it’s great when I have to diagnose something after Install.

[@PipeDoctor]

Thanks for sharing

[@wilmer23340]

Good job I love watching your videos Some important information I have been working for about 15 years for a company that is married to Lennox and we have many problems with the evaporators coils due to the tremendous leaks they cause. I know that all evaporators usually leak liquid but the ones manufactured by Lennox are still of poor quality. I have not repaired the ones they sell made of aluminum, so when they are low on refrigerant, pay attention to the evaporator coils Lennox gives a 10-year warranty on the evaporator and is not responsible for labor or Freon.

[@soldadosdejesucristo5280]

El mejor

[@PipeDoctor]

Me patron

[@user-zi9ww5mt5s]

This is the best step by step video i have seen on how to perform maintenance to a condenser unit. I hope you are able to do the same thing for the air handler straight cool system, it will be very beneficial. Mikey, does a 10 year warranty covers coil damage due to gulf salt exposure? You mentioned making observations if your audience could see anything you could do better? I liked your safety approach with how to disconnect power with your left hand behind your back, but by the same token you are wearing a metal bracelet (is not plastic) on your right wrist. This is an osha violation for any person doing some sort of electrical work. Other than that, you are very professional outspoken individual for the trade.

[@numchux2]

it is probably not manufacturer warranty, but maybe under home warranty

[@wolfy33789]

With those thermostats and returns so close together they might as well have twinned the systems together as one big system.

[@AdamTrailglider]

Great information, Mike, and very clear explanations. Question: Since you had to add a small amount of refrigerant and you suspected a small leak somewhere in the system, would you proactively add some Easy Seal to try and solve the leak? Thanks!

[@Ryan-RM]

Hi Mike, for the faded label do you know about the highlighting the faded area with a maker/pencil or flashing a flashlight over the label tricks so that you can read it? Good video!

[@PipeDoctor]

Not that I know of, good tip

[@nickcangelosi1836]

This was very in detail and great for learning. The right tools for the right job makes all the difference in the whole world. What year were those? Luv the STIKA but where’s the FILTA?

[@bagtube]

Because it’s Closer to the ocean. That had me laughing. 😂

[@gtpforever]

Why?

[@bagtube]

@@gtpforever Not sure must have been the gummies. LOL! I think my mind went that one unit was closer to the ocean and it was falling apart faster.

[@jesseflory9910]

Do you ever spray anything like corrosion block on the connections in your maintenance?

[@robertlamey7612]

I like testing the caps under load

[@scottvolage1752]

#1 Make the trades great again Mikey Pipes. #LoveBosch Smash that Like Button and Subscribe.

[@PipeDoctor]

👋

[@mitchdenner9743]

Looks dam thorough to me. Man, those fins were crumbling like a vanilla wafer.😮 so the subcooling happening in the evaporator is the temputure in degrees lower than the saturation point of the refrigerant ? And that basically accounts for the heat load in the house?

[@russellhill5959]

Which HVAC system do you prefer. Carrier Infinity or Bosch 2.0? Seems that Infinity has a larger remote air-cooled condenser.

[@BlahBlah-em2ed]

Someone missed the rally in the Bronx

[@butchiemcginnis]

Am I wrong in believing that a single pole contactor only breaks 1 line going to the unit, leaving the other line always providing 120 volts ?

[@sebastianl2916]

no thats correct

[@PipeDoctor]

That’s correct.

[@bernardaflores1720]

Great job. To minimize the amps pull at start up, will it help if you put a starting capacitor to minimize amps pull

[@PipeDoctor]

Yes it does

[@bernardaflores1720]

@@PipeDoctor Thanks for the reply

[@robertsmith2956]

you would think they would put them on as part of any solar install.

[@TomHolcombe-fh1kv]

Mikey, do you use nylok on the service port caps when you put them back on

[@PipeDoctor]

No

[@markcotter2355]

It is a Lennox so you know its low. Looked like both units were low. Did you charge both?

[@chuckq54]

Why can’t the factory mount the info sticker on the inside of the contactor cover plate with other decals

[@markcotter2355]

There are stickers inside to read the model numbers

[@markeckman3662]

Question - Why don't you use a protective coating to prevent corrosion on those terminals? We do it with car batteries

[@brian2359]

Every year it surprises me how bad the ocean eats those condensors!

[@PipeDoctor]

Crazy. Salt. Air. Death. 💀

[@throttlebottle5906]

14:34 that would be ok, "if it was an outdoor sub panel" with four or more breaker spaces, holding two "two pole breakers" one per unit(as the disconnect). the wire appears to be 8-3 or 6-3 with ground. I'm guessing it was right with an outdoor sub panel at one point, then the hacks came along. 😉

[@HonchHeado]

17:56 you said my testo wireless temperature probes to read my suction discharge pressures 🤣😂

[@TomHolcombe-fh1kv]

Had to clean a coil like that I’m outdoor unit because you’re afraid you’ll take some of the aluminum bins away when you clean it but what do you have as an option? Nothing you got to

[@PipeDoctor]

👍

[@robertsmith2956]

Wonder if they gold plate the fins if it would help.

[@numchux2]

I bet someone checked the charge at some point after it was installed with the coils plugged up, and it probably showed correct subcool at the time

[@justinhayward5027]

👍

[@TomHolcombe-fh1kv]

Here in Seattle, we always put vinyl on the exposed line sets that comes out of line hide but I see no vinyl ever on your stuff in Florida or New York. You should think about getting some vinyl.

[@PipeDoctor]

Thanks for the tip

[@spyder1125]

Trane or Carrier?

[@brianholle9498]

I've always added R-410A to a system with the bottle upside down. This is because it's a blended refrigerant and it ensures the two are mixed properly. Am I wrong?

[@throttlebottle5906]

that's the right way to do ALL blended refrigerants, inverted bottle drawn off as liquid. of course you have to throttle it down so it flashes to gas as it enters the system, don't want to feed the compressor liquid! you can do the initial charge with system "off" as straight liquid, generally into the high side only, unless there's a receiver tank, as you still do not want to flood the compressor, possibly pushing oil out or leaving it full of liquid. single component refrigerants can be charged gas or liquid, since there's nothing to keep blended.

[@throttlebottle5906]

whoops, to be clear, he did "flip the tank over and reset the scale weight" just before adding charge. forgot to say that.

[@scottmaz4063]

#2 hay Scott v

[@PipeDoctor]

👋

[@scottvolage1752]

Scott's Rule.

[@steveg5576]

Anybody know what those large gray units with the heavy duty round switch -- above the horiz elec duct on the wall are ?

[@PipeDoctor]

Time stamp please?

[@steveg5576]

@@PipeDoctor 24:20....solar equip ?

[@Kevin-wj4ed]

Wouldn't it be great if manufacturers designed there equipment so it would easier to work on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@HonchHeado]

Hey Mike what happened to that guy you had workin for you Tove?

[@PipeDoctor]

He moved on

[@HonchHeado]

@@PipeDoctor Weird he was ok thanks mike

[@HonchHeado]

@@PipeDoctor Did he move on in a good way? Reason I ask is cos of all the shit heads we get lol

[@UnderUrs69]

Has anyone ever worked on a concord? They are supposedly made by Lennox. I had a forced air heating and air concord system for 18 years in my last house. Went through 2 or 3 control boards, capacitors, was not reliable. It never leaked though and it was a R12 unit. The people that bought the house installed a carrier 😂

[@edbuscus360]

Got a complaint at the end of an annual ac service. Guy said he only paid 45 dollars for the last one and my price was way too high. Mind boggling to see handymen wiping off the outside of a condenser and calling it an “ac clean and check” it’s just sad.

[@numchux2]

so dude makes 200 dollars a day at best waxing condensers...chump change

[@suecrets5169]

Lennox crap worst system ever, been a nightmare for 15 years. Leaks and coils get dirty so quickly. Bosch or Split system next time.

[@PipeDoctor]

Yup 👍

[@banderson5144]

When you're that close to the ocean, does rinsing the coil once a week help at all or will it still corrode regardless

[@jhimeon]

Last company I worked for w a s Lennox dealer and I would do multiple coils a week

[@jhimeon]

Mo s t 1 or 2 years old

[@tuffram2165]

Lennox is the absolute worst residential unit's period. I absolutely hate them I would actually prefer Goodman over Lennox.

[@numchux2]

I used to work for a Lennox premier dealer, and yes Lennox is just goodman with a business suit and a haircut at best

[@kens.3729]

Shut-Off Breaker is Absolutely Ridiculous. How do Hacks stay in Business ? It’s quite Obvious the Hack that Installed this Danger Condition doesn’t Live here. 🤪👎

[@HonchHeado]

You put 2 pounds? Dude leak.

[@kemarp1]

First of all Why is everyone speeding.?!... slow down.!.. and youre deiving too close

[@martyober4833]

It’s a NY thing