AC Line set leak at air handler

Jon_blaney

Turned on my ac yesterday and no cool. Both lines of the line set were air temperature. I suspect no refrigerant. When I checked the system over, I found a dark area were the liquid line enters the air handler and staining on the considerate pan under this spot. Looks like something was dripping. There is also corrosion along the bottom of the access panel. I suspect the liquid line has been chafing on the air handler case and caused a leak. If this is the case, does the installer bear some or all the responsibility for the problem? The install was about 11 years ago.

EdTheHeaterMan

Good luck with that

EBEBRATT-Ed

The staining is probably oil that leaked out. After 11 years your out of luck

GGross

most would only warranty workmanship for a year in the best case scenario. I would not hold the installer responsible personally for a leak developing after 11 years, that seems a bit excessive. There is something known as "bad luck" and it would appear you are experiencing it.

mattmia2

Is it oily or is it just a condensate leak from the coil?

JUGHNE

Who knows how many hands could have man handled that line in 11 years?

Jon_blaney

I do, the guy that installed it.

ChrisJ

Jon_blaney said:

I do, the guy that installed it.

How long do you feel it should be covered under warranty?

Big Ed_4

11 years without a problem , I would recommend checking the coil ..

EdTheHeaterMan

Who to hold responsible? What a novel concept!  Perhaps the person that placed that coil inside that particular cabinet on that given day at manufacturing plant.  Is there any labels or stickers from quality control affixed to the appliance?   Maybe Inspector #9 was at fault.  Did the manufacturer offer a warranty on that appliance.  The document should be in your paperwork.  Look it up.  I'm sure there is a mention of defects in material and workmanship. It probably has a number of years listed on it. If you are lucky, it is 12 years!

And if inspector # 9 won't stand by his 11 year old work, then perhaps an attorney can find someone who can be held accountable for this travesty of justice.  Of course , be sure that the lawyer takes the case on contingency.  This will be incentive to get results.  Why should you pay for a lawyer if he can't get results anyway.

And you should also get a trophy attending any sporting event even if you loose.  Because that is the way the world works.  Everybody gets a trophy and everything is fair and no one gets the short end of the deal.  Fair is fair!

As I said earlier. Good Luck With That!  

HVACNUT

You suspect a lot of things. But do you actually know anything? No, no you don't. 
Could be a bad capacitor for all you know. Has it gotten annual maintenance over the 11 years, other than replacing the air filter?
Have it checked. Get the facts ma'am, just the facts. 

pecmsg

Jon_blaney said:

I do, the guy that installed it.

So, no one's touched it in 11 years?

pecmsg

ChrisJ said:

Jon_blaney said:

I do, the guy that installed it.

How long do you feel it should be covered under warranty?

11 1/2 years!

SlamDunk

"If this is the case, does the installer bear some or all the responsibility for the problem? The install was about 11 years ago." @Jon_blaney

"I do, the guy that installed it." @Jon_blaney

Are you asking if this chafe was your own fault?

EdTheHeaterMan

Perhaps there is a lifetime warranty on that system, Unfortunately the guy who offered the lifetime warranty died last year, maybe we can look up who the executor of the estate is. I'm sure confident there will be money set aside in an escrow account with @Jon_blaney's name on it. It will also have a cost of living increase allowance and interest earning contingency, Jon is in for a win fall! If I could be so lucky

mattmia2

HVACNUT said:

You suspect a lot of things. But do you actually know anything? No, no you don't. 
Could be a bad capacitor for all you know. Has it gotten annual maintenance over the 11 years, other than replacing the air filter?
Have it checked. Get the facts ma'am, just the facts. 

We never really answered the question about if this spot is oily. If it isn't oil, it is just condensate that isn't going where it is supposed to.

EdTheHeaterMan

mattmia2 said:

We never really answered the question about if this spot is oily. If it isn't oil, it is just condensate that isn't going where it is supposed to.

You are missing the BIG PICTURE here. We need to form a class action that will cover all refrigerant leaks since the inception of Apparatus For Controlling Humidity" over 100 years ago. Willis Carrier's Heirs can afford it!

I will be contacting the firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe. They are specialist in this type of litigation.

Who else is on board? Sign the petition here X________________________
.......... OR .........
Press the Litigate On Leaks (LOL) below and no one will contact you to add you to the List On Leaking refrigerant.

ratio

C'mon, this is getting a little silly. The OP asked a simple question. Maybe a little offensive to those of us in the field, but not completely unreasonable. Judging by his post count, he's not a one-post wonder looking to dun his installer (although he may not be back after reading some of this stuff, I wouldn't).

GW

Dig out your paperwork from 11 years ago and see what the labor warranty is. 

Prolly not even the issue! If your air handler vibrates that much, you have lots of issues 

no “chaffed” leak will blow out all at once. 

id love to be a fly in the wall when you confront the technician