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Brand new mini-splits not working/contractor seems lost but also made a huge error...

gbodor
gbodor Member Posts: 4
edited July 2024 in THE MAIN WALL

Good morning,

I did my homework, interviewed 5 highly rated companies, and went with the best company and system and day 1 the system is not working correctly. I am in Albuquerque, NM so high dessert with huge daily temp flux and I have a 2 story home 1,435 sq ft with a great deal of solar gain. I switched last week from evaporative cooling to mini-splits. I kept my gas furnace in place. The brand installed is Carrier and below are the details about the units and the compressor.

Since it is July, I have been very stressed about this issue and hot while the contractor is making assurances but the tech who installed and came out to trouble shoot just does not seem to know much in depth. What I have found is that they sold me a compressor that is not large enough for the 4 indoor units they sold me so that is probably problem #1. 4 units need 36,000 BTUs and compressor is for 30,000 BTUs. Now I am loosing heart. This company was vetted by the credit union I used for the loan as well as me. Not feeling like they are competent now but also, not sure what to do. Yes everything is under warranty but if they messed up the basic math on the compressor and they are lost on why the system isn't working. . . . can I really trust them to fix this? Also, is there possible damage now to my indoor units even if they replace the condenser? The 18,000 BTU unit does not cool at all even with all other units off and a reset. Please advise.


Model: 40MAHBQ18XA3 (18K BTU’s Heating/Cooling) Kitchen/Living

Model: 40MAHBQ06XA3 (06K BTU’s Heating/Cooling) BR-1 Model: 40MAHBQ06XA3 (06K BTU’s Heating/Cooling) BR-2 Model: 40MAHBQ06XA3 (06K BTU’s Heating/Cooling) BR-3

Variable Speed with a Digital Inverter Compressor
Outdoor Unit:
MULTI-ZONE CONDENSER
Model: 38MGHBQ30DA3

Issues:

The mini-splits are not working. The large unit is downstairs and does not cool at all. The small units are in the bedrooms upstairs and the one directly above the large unit downstairs over cools by 20+ degrees unless the downstairs unit is off and then it doesn't cool at all. All units are set to cool mode. The other unit in the back with the two problem units does much better and is about 20 feet closer to the compressor but it does lose ability to regulate the temperature when the other units on that side are on though so far only a few degrees. The 4th small unit upstairs on the front of the house is not having problems. All are tied into the 30,000 BTU compressor.


Thank you very much!
Gari

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,181

    Get someone back who knows what he or she is doing. At least two of the units are miswired, and who knows what else is messed up.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    mattmia2gbodorTeemokGGross
  • mikedo
    mikedo Member Posts: 232

    did you go with the cheapest quote.

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,816

    Outdoor unit tonnage ≠ indoor units total tonnage is not uncommon with multi splits. The engineer will make this decision with load diversity in mind. TLDR: not necessarily an issue.

    That said, your description is that of crossed wires—the electrical connections don't line up with the refrigerant connections. Not a hard fix, but somewhat tedious to determine which goes where.

    It's quite possible that once the miswiring is corrected it'll work fine, it'll certainly work better.

    mattmia2gbodorGGross
  • gbodor
    gbodor Member Posts: 4

    I actually did not so that I could get good quality. It was the 4th most expensive out of 5 quotes.

  • gbodor
    gbodor Member Posts: 4

    Thank you!

  • gbodor
    gbodor Member Posts: 4

    All of my money is tied up in this work but I could hold back the remainder however that will involve litigation as I signed the invoice. Even though I should prevail, it is still expensive and very stressful and I can't be 100% sure to win nor to regain the thousands I would spend in litigation and I can't match their ability to out spend me in court which does make a difference sadly.

  • mikedo
    mikedo Member Posts: 232

    i feel bad for you not trying to cheap out and still have problems. small claims court is not as hard as you think it is and easy to win if you have the proper information.

    gbodor
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,181

    Avoid litigation if you can. All it accomplishes is make all concerned annoyed.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    mattmia2gbodor
  • mikedo
    mikedo Member Posts: 232

    jamie i have to dissagree nothing better than seeing a lying piece of do do losing in court.

  • Teemok
    Teemok Member, Email Confirmation Posts: 677
    edited July 2024

    It sounds like the control wires for the indoor units are mixed up. The down stairs unit is hooked up to the terminals at the outdoor unit that controls the refrigerant flow for the upstairs unit that over cools. Just a guess but very easy to test and fix. Like Jamie already said.

  • STEAM DOCTOR
    STEAM DOCTOR Member Posts: 2,225

    Don't necessarily need to go to court. An official lawyer's letter, can do wonders.

    mattmia2