Restriction on 5 ton RTU, never seen this before;

Empire_2

Services a 5 ton Rheem RTU, problem was no cooling. Hooked up gauges as usual, found really lo suction pressure (about 25 psig, and only a 200- 220 head pressure on the LL service access valve. Compressor was starting to whistle/scream after about a min or 2. located 2 additional access ports within aprox a foot before the LL access port. Being curious both of these ports would immediately rocket to 400 plus psig while LL port satyed and may have risen just a little. Reclaimed R-22 cut open the LL just before the LL port, blew out w/ nitrogen and out popped an "O" ring for a Schrader cap. I ask anyone how in the heck did that get in there? System never opened, all piping is original, RTU aprox 6 years old. If from factory, I doubt the system ever worked properly. A simple start up report would have caught this, but maybe it moved to its final position from some other location in the system......?

njtommy

It wouldnt be the first time I've found something like that. I had trane RTU do the same thing I found it all in the inlet of the filter drier. There was pieces brazzing rods in there too.

JUGHNE

Factory assembled on a Friday PM or a Monday AM?

Good thing for the filter drier, yes!

Empire_2

JUNGHNE I'm thinking a Friday.

JUGHNE

The "O" rings I could understand being an accident. The brazing rod scraps though would be tough to drop into an open pipe?

Maybe a disgruntled employee. The real issue is if the manufacture company would step up and actually admit that all this is possible.
However after the unit is a few years in use they have probably seen a lot of situations where junk could have been left in a system after it left a factory...but it is always obvious if the factory piping has been altered or opened, I'm not doubting either of your stories.

I knew who had the bad day for the few joints that I missed with solder or the PVC drain fitting that didn't get glued over the years.