Please help a consumer.
I have a four ton Lennox A/C and Lennox furnace that was manufactured in 2000 the same year my house was built. In 08/05 my A/C started freezing up. The tech that worked on my system stated the contractor that installed my system used "soft" solder on the line set of the A/C. The flux that is used when "soft" soldering is acid based and this acid corrodes a closed refrigeration system. After injecting an approved dye the next day the tech showed me multiple pin hole leaks in the condenser coil and two of the "soft" soldered joints were leaking as well.
I contacted the contractor that installed my system. He used "Stay-Brite" solder, and said Lennox recommends this solder.
I contacted Lennox, they do not recommend any solder, except that the line should be brazed. "Stay-Brite" is not a brazing solder according to the Harris website.
I had another Lennox dealer inspect the system and he stated the contractor that installed the system is not supposed to use "Stay-Brite", and should have used braze rod.
I had a Trane dealer give me an estimate for system replacement and he indicated the work done by the installing contractor should not have passed inspection.
I am trying to resolve this issue with the contractor that installed my system. Who is telling me the truth? Is there any type of text book that would indicate the proper procedure for soldering AC line sets? Does anyone have any recommendations on what recourse I should take.
Please help the Minnesota guy hunting for the truth.
I have a four ton Lennox A/C and Lennox furnace that was manufactured in 2000 the same year my house was built. In 08/05 my A/C started freezing up. The tech that worked on my system stated the contractor that installed my system used "soft" solder on the line set of the A/C. The flux that is used when "soft" soldering is acid based and this acid corrodes a closed refrigeration system. After injecting an approved dye the next day the tech showed me multiple pin hole leaks in the condenser coil and two of the "soft" soldered joints were leaking as well.
I contacted the contractor that installed my system. He used "Stay-Brite" solder, and said Lennox recommends this solder.
I contacted Lennox, they do not recommend any solder, except that the line should be brazed. "Stay-Brite" is not a brazing solder according to the Harris website.
I had another Lennox dealer inspect the system and he stated the contractor that installed the system is not supposed to use "Stay-Brite", and should have used braze rod.
I had a Trane dealer give me an estimate for system replacement and he indicated the work done by the installing contractor should not have passed inspection.
I am trying to resolve this issue with the contractor that installed my system. Who is telling me the truth? Is there any type of text book that would indicate the proper procedure for soldering AC line sets? Does anyone have any recommendations on what recourse I should take.
Please help the Minnesota guy hunting for the truth.
