HVAC-Talk: Heating, Air & Refrigeration Discussion banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Filter drier or not?

Jump to Latest
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
#2 ·
plumbstar said:
I am doing as much research as I can before I hire a contractor to do my system. What are your thoughts on installing a filter drier on a new system?
Click to expand...
I'll put it to you this way

I have been installing and repairing air conditioning systems for 34 years now

And from Day 1 We did things this way. Pops taught me

Properly sized liquid line filter drier installed before the evaporator

Proper vacuum

Some typeof Time delay for short cycle protection

With fingers left over I can count the number of warranty compressors I've replaced

Some may say it is a waste of money

I liken it to cheap insurance

Most manufacturers now factory install them in the condenser
 
#5 ·
Why not have two?

I have two contractors telling me conflicting information on my York 13 seer system. One saw the in-line filter drier and offered to remove it for me to prevent issues (since they said one is already factory installed). The other contractor said they always install the in-line filter, and have never had issues with them and recommend leaving it.
 
#6 ·
domiane1 said:
I have two contractors telling me conflicting information on my York 13 seer system. One saw the in-line filter drier and offered to remove it for me to prevent issues (since they said one is already factory installed). The other contractor said they always install the in-line filter, and have never had issues with them and recommend leaving it.
Click to expand...
Restart : new install? OD unit and coil or just OD unit..... if just OD unit and has one it it already remove the one off line set and a 500 micron pump down will do the trick ... if not one installed on factory unit replace the one that is there never reuse filter driers when unit open
 
Save
Like Like
#7 ·
plumbstar said:
I am doing as much research as I can before I hire a contractor to do my system. What are your thoughts on installing a filter drier on a new system?
Click to expand...
Consider this.
The system is only new until it starts getting used. As it gets used it starts wearing out. As it wears out stuff that would'nt normally be moving through the lines is moving so the filter dryer is there to catch it and keep the system clean.
Don't freak about the wearing out, it should take years and years.
 
#9 ·
New indoor air handler, OD unit 6 mos old

Mustang894me said:
Restart : new install? OD unit and coil or just OD unit..... if just OD unit and has one it it already remove the one off line set and a 500 micron pump down will do the trick ... if not one installed on factory unit replace the one that is there never reuse filter driers when unit open
Click to expand...
I was hoping to get a few more years out of the indoor air handler, so I only replaced the outdoor heat pump 6 mos ago. Last Friday, the indoor unit gave up. Upon having a new indoor unit (Carrier) installed, the installer was having issues with getting the readings back where they needed to be. So, after an oil spill that coated my sidewalk with a spray of 14 feet, he noted that there was a drier in the lineset which in his opinion wasn't needed because the York hp had one installed at the factory. This was his explanation about how the oil spill happened. Didn't make sense to me, so I called out the original installer of the York hp, who said to leave the additional drier. It sounds like you're saying that the time to have made the decision to remove the additional one was at the time of install. What to do now that the install is already done with 2 driers? Take out the factory one, install a new one in the line set? I think that you are saying that the drier cannot be re-used once the system is opened up, right? What happens if I keep using it with 2 installed? I get the feeling that I'm being patronized with their reasoning being that "two filters are better than one, as it will catch more particles". Help??
 
#10 ·
Only one filter in the entire system.

If a new filter is added, the old one must be removed, not left in place.

ANYTIME a major component is replaced, you need a new filter. X 2 with the newer refrigerant 410a as its oil is hydroscopic (absorbs water from the air).

Many manufacturers are starting to include filter dryers with replacement coils. The added expense is worth it to the manufacturer. That should tell you something.
 
#11 ·
domiane1 said:
I was hoping to get a few more years out of the indoor air handler, so I only replaced the outdoor heat pump 6 mos ago. Last Friday, the indoor unit gave up. Upon having a new indoor unit (Carrier) installed, the installer was having issues with getting the readings back where they needed to be. So, after an oil spill that coated my sidewalk with a spray of 14 feet, he noted that there was a drier in the lineset which in his opinion wasn't needed because the York hp had one installed at the factory. This was his explanation about how the oil spill happened. Didn't make sense to me, so I called out the original installer of the York hp, who said to leave the additional drier. It sounds like you're saying that the time to have made the decision to remove the additional one was at the time of install. What to do now that the install is already done with 2 driers? Take out the factory one, install a new one in the line set? I think that you are saying that the drier cannot be re-used once the system is opened up, right? What happens if I keep using it with 2 installed? I get the feeling that I'm being patronized with their reasoning being that "two filters are better than one, as it will catch more particles". Help??
Click to expand...
Why didn't you match the system?? Is it r410a?
 
Save
Like Like
#12 ·
It's R22 not 410A

Thank you for all of the replies!! I told the contractor#2 (who installed the indoor Carrier coil) about the advice here, and also called the York technical rep myself, who verified this information: The best solution at this point is to remove both the factory installed drier, and the one in the line set, and put a single new drier on.

It's a long story, but contractor#1 installed a York R22 heat pump (compressor) system 6 months ago, not 410A. Good news is that contractor#2 has agreed to come and remove the 2 old driers and install one new one. They did say that they don't want to do a refrigerant replacement though. So, my only question now is, should they, or is it fine to use the existing refrigerant?
 
#13 ·
domiane1 said:
Thank you for all of the replies!! I told the contractor#2 (who installed the indoor Carrier coil) about the advice here, and also called the York technical rep myself, who verified this information: The best solution at this point is to remove both the factory installed drier, and the one in the line set, and put a single new drier on.

It's a long story, but contractor#1 installed a York R22 heat pump (compressor) system 6 months ago, not 410A. Good news is that contractor#2 has agreed to come and remove the 2 old driers and install one new one. They did say that they don't want to do a refrigerant replacement though. So, my only question now is, should they, or is it fine to use the existing refrigerant?
Click to expand...
If they can do the replacement without recovering the refrigerant then it will be fine. This method requires that both filter/driers be after the liquid service valve, so your compressor can pump the refrigerant into the outside coil allowing the external piping to be isolated. If they must use an external pump and tank to recover the refrigerant AND they filter it and use an uncontaminated tank it will also be ok. In general contamination issues are less with R22 than they are with R410a. A little POE oil in a R22 system probably won't hurt. A little mineral oil in a R410a system is worse.
 
#14 ·
It is a must, adding a filter drier on your system especially a new system is a very smart thing to do, and if you getting a new system should be done automatically since it will come with the new unit. If at anytime you have any debris in the system the filter drier will stop it and save your compressor and other componets. IT IS A MUST!!!!!!!!!
 
Save
Like Like
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
About this Discussion
13 Replies
12 Participants
Last post:
gtgrad
HVAC-Talk: Heating, Air & Refrigeration Discussion
posts
5M
members
275K
Since
2000
The #1 HVACR Community
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
AOP Residential HVAC/Refrigeration(Beenthere Zone) General Discussion Tech to Tech Chat - Residential Controls Refrigeration & Ice Making