[ Home ] [ Up ]

Mr. Franks:  the Man we call...The Agitator.

We had more fun than a barrel of monkeys doing Mr. Franks' job.  There was never a dull moment.  He was constantly playing tricks on us! 
 
                                               
The Old Air            The Old Heat                        No insulation on          Recovering the

Handler.                 Pump                                   Refrigerant Line.         Refrigerant.  

Mr. Franks’ aging upstairs unit had been giving him problems for some time, and even though he had a home warranty that would repair it as often as he wanted, he grew tired of dealing with the breakdowns.  He was also interested in paying lower utility bills.  It was decided that we would replace the existing system, including all ductwork, with an American Standard 12.0 S.E.E.R./6.8 H.S.P.F. heat pump split-system (Model #’s 6H2018A100A/ TWE018P130A0), install balancing dampers in the branch ducts, and balance the system air flow.  We performed the job through the TVA Energy Right Program.    

As you can see from the pictures at the top, the original installing contractor had not done a very good job.  The old air handler didn't have a safety drain pan under it, and water had been leaking out onto the floor.  The square-to-round adapter on top of the unit was not insulated.  The heat pump outdoors was supported by concrete blocks which were beginning to disintegrate.  The refrigerant copper was not insulated, and the low-voltage control cable was hanging loose where it could be snagged and broken.

We recovered the refrigerant in the system and disposed of the old equipment per E.P.A. guidelines.  The new air handler was installed in a backup safety drain pan, with a safety switch (which unfortunately can't be seen in these pictures) that will shut down the system if there is a stoppage in the main drain line.  We also installed an EZ Trap in the drain line, which has a clear trap for visual confirmation of any stoppages, and easily removable caps for cleaning the drain line.  We installed the outdoor heat pump on "pump-ups", which are thermoplastic supports designed specifically for heating and air conditioning equipment.  We replaced the old copper refrigerant lines with new ones that were sized correctly for the equipment, and insulated correctly.  We also encased the low-voltage control cable in tubing to protect it from the elements and damage from weed trimmers, etc.

Mr. Franks now has: 

                                               
New Air                  Safety Drain Pan                   New 12 S.E.E.R.                   Properly 
Handler.                 under Air Handler.               Heat Pump.                          Insulated Line.

  The Agitator!