Click for Comfort Click for Abeking Click for Westport Click for Walker Click for YF Listing Service

Need A/C help

Discussion in 'HVAC' started by Boomer, Jul 7, 2020.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2017
    Messages:
    677
    Location:
    Seminole
    Well, final word is the compressor locked up..old r22 unit that is 20 years old....electronics are still good...he did mention the handler in the ceiling is original the boat...1984...3 options...1)replace the compressor 2) replace entire compressor unit 3) replace compressor unit and handler with new 410 units...thoughts?
  2. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2017
    Messages:
    677
    Location:
    Seminole
    It means our boat is a pos
  3. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2017
    Messages:
    677
    Location:
    Seminole
    Oh, and caps look brand new
  4. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Are you kidding? REPLACE IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  5. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2017
    Messages:
    677
    Location:
    Seminole
    That could be pricey...have to cut holes in the ceiling and bridge to get old unit out a new one in...different foot prints
  6. dewald

    dewald Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    Messages:
    103
    Location:
    Treasure Island, Florida
    OOOCH! I hope you think he is still a good guy. Both my systems are old Cruise Air R22. When the one compressor went bad I rolled the dice and was able to replace with a Dometic R22 Compressor he had stock piled. My evaporator is over head in the salon with accessed from the bridge. Your welcome to look at mine if you want.
  7. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,205
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    At almost 40 years old you'll be chasing it part after part dollar after dollar. Sure you can't break the new unit down for installation?
  8. dewald

    dewald Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    Messages:
    103
    Location:
    Treasure Island, Florida
    I was not suggesting that he tries to fix the old one, GO New. Just that he could look at my boat to see how it is installed and may not have to tier his whole boat apart.
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Could always switch to a package unit as well. But I'm with NYCAP on this one.
  10. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2017
    Messages:
    677
    Location:
    Seminole
    Good guy...I enjoyed talking to him...very informative
  11. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2017
    Messages:
    677
    Location:
    Seminole
    Thanks for all the information and thoughts...i truly appreciate it
  12. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2008
    Messages:
    1,162
    Location:
    Windsor On. Canada
    I'm in the same position.
    I'm looking at leaving the actual enclosure and swapping out just the evap coils. Keep the blowers and again change the motor (s).
    Or have a new one custom made to fit through the helm opening.
    Mines an 87 so I agree that just doing the compressor end is really pushing your luck.
    Also check to see what controls parts are still available, I'm betting very few.
  13. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2019
    Messages:
    1,579
    Location:
    Vero Beach
    You know what's pricey? Finding, buying, installing a new R22 component only to see its renewed youth cause another older component to fail. Wash, rinse, repeat, and you'll soon be replacing it all after having repaired it all a couple of times. Oh, and the failure won't occur at a time of convenience.
  14. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2019
    Messages:
    1,579
    Location:
    Vero Beach
    Especially with the air handlers, this is a very good, solid, easy path to follow. Air handlers are simple to break down and reassemble.
  15. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,432
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Not to mention R22 Freon is expensiveeeee.
  16. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2019
    Messages:
    1,579
    Location:
    Vero Beach
    It is. Replacing a simple compressor isn't a big deal, although the cost of the labor, the freon, and the compressor quickly gets you into the zip code of a new system.

    Then, strong new compressor provides a renewed vigor of functioning pressure to valves and expansion/evaporator coils with decades of wear on them. Owner will be seeking help to locate and repair a leak in reasonably short order.....and Murphy demands this happen late at night, on the hook, in a steaming thunderstorm during foreplay.

    Damned Murphy.
  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    12,649
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Know this lil bast**d well.

    I tried but could not avoid making some comments here.

    Done correctly, with RX22 rinse, high pressure filter installed, a whole 35cf bottle of nitrogen involved to blow out the RX22 and two nitrogen charges and draw downs, I have had 100 % luck in swapping out just the condensing station. Of course the evap station is completely checked and cleaned also before money is spent.

    Using the same procedures, I'm 4 out of 5 just replacing the compressor. I just can not rinse enough sh*t out of the mufflers and condenser.
    If the compressor did not burn the oil or throw sh*t in the lines, just a compressor should work but it's still a poker hand.

    R22 is what it is. When your a jobber, it's not to badly priced. Have not been with out for 40 years, At least one can will be by my side till,,,,,
    I still have R12 in inventory.

    The Bad part is, The copper lines have to be changed out when changing compressor oils and gasses. Next, The over head is not available in R410. Dometic will build on demand for R22/R417 those 16Kbtu overhead units. Takes 2 weeks nominally (been there).
    Of all, R22 will always be around. 40 years later r12 is still here. 85 years later; Ammonia and propane are still used (probably the best of all).

    I still have 2 & 3 knob controls (new) on hand (somewhere?)

    Long live Air De Mer.
    Now who remembers that??
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2020
  18. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    Messages:
    1,648
    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Replace the compressor only, the Air handlers can be fixed by YOU, fan motors get stiff over time, can be gotten from Grainger.
    My 39 year old Cruisair units (1981), both 1600 btu units are still kicking fine. I've replace two fan motors in short time and my HVAC friend and I did the compressor which I got from United Refrigeration. All an easy days work.
    And both bronze cooling tubes that wrap around the units are super thick and fine as wine....just make sure yours are too. I'm sure they are good.
    Oh I fixed one thermostat too, the rotary one. It was a Raco which I also got from Grainger...
    This all was two years ago...all is good and we run them alot! More than just weekends.

    NO Marine AC Manufacturer makes there own units from scratch, it's all by out stuff to which they assemble to make their AC unit.
    It's going to be big bucks to replace the entire system, and not worth it IMO.
  19. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,119
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    You can not compare cruisair 1981 vintage with the crap they ve been producing in the last 14 years

    2009 vintage chillers (big one$) already replaced. Same with 5 2009 air handlers out of 10... 2003 split condensers... by 2015 3 out of 7 replaced. The lists goes on. Average useful life of a CrapAir condenser, chiller or air handler is less than 10 years.
  20. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    Messages:
    1,648
    Location:
    Cherry Hill, NJ
    Lol!! Good to know. Glad I have an old boat!
    I think ...