HVAC Advice Needed - Industrial Dehumidifier

[floyd]

Looking for some help from someone who has an HVAC background. I picked up this dehumidifier for next to nothing and wanted to see if I can get it working again. It's an EBAC CD60 (see link) that’s about 3-5 years old and retails for about $1500.

I know someone who owns a large commercial HVAC business and he had one of his techs look at the unit. They found that the fan and compressor are both running and operating properly but the coil isn’t cooling. Here’s their quote to make the repair:

1. Provide and install one (1) new piercing valve on the refrigerant piping for the unit.
2. Provide and install one (1) new service valve on the refrigerant piping for the unit.
3. Charge system with nitrogen and perform a leak check. (Repair – If Possible)
4. Pull a vacuum and check for leaks.
5. Start-up and check for proper operation upon completion of the job.

Equipment / Material $ 301.00
Labor $ 366.00
Total price for this option: $ 667.00

Question – What’s the best way to find someone who can make the repair at a more reasonable price? Or is that a reasonable price? Is there a good way to find a tech who would be willing to do this kind of work on the side? I see guys advertising on Craigslist, but don't really know what level of expertise I should be looking for and don't want to end up with a scammer. Should I check with a local HVAC tech school to see if they would take it on? Or, should I drop this thing at the recycling center? This unit is in great shape with about 400 hours. It would be perfect for my shop and I really hate throwing away something like this. Then again, $600 plus is too much for my budget.

Here’s a link to the unit: http://www.ebacusa.com/hvac/CD60.html

Many thanks!

 

[yeldogt]

Most closed system refrigeration setups don't have service valves -- So, your paying to install them.

Your also paying to find the leak. If it had service valves, you could quickly see if it did leak and where it leaked from.

This is the problem. When you design any portable refrigeration system -- stopping it from leaking is priority one. It's going to be moved -- it has to be robust. Everything is designed to minimize the potential for leaks. When these units do fail its often something else ..... I'm not sure I would try and fix something unless I knew it leaked. IE -- heard it happen or I see evidence of the leak.

Can you look over all of the evaporator?

 

[floyd]

I don't have the unit at home yet. I still need to pick it up from the commercial HVAC guy before I can take a look. I bet they would have told me if they saw any signs of damage to the coils. Thanks for the advice. Wild that something like this isn't designed to be more serviceable.

 

[Brian_WK]

If they are going to open the system might as well solder/ braze some Schrader ports in those piercing valves are temporary at best. Find a appliance guy to do the work should be cheaper.

Brian

 

[justinjoyal]

300$ for two cheap valves [emoji23]

 

[floyd]

Thanks - By appliance guy, I am guessing I should look for refrigerator repair type guy?

 

[Brian_WK]

Thanks - By appliance guy, I am guessing I should look for refrigerator repair type guy?

Correct they usually do window a/c, residential dehumidifiers, dishwashers, washers and driers etc. Commercial Refrigeration don't usually mess with that small stuff unless they are realllllllyyyyyy slow. It really surprised me that they quoted the tap-a-lines im guessing that thing hold less than a pound of refrigerant.


Brian

 

[yeldogt]

Correct they usually do window a/c, residential dehumidifiers, dishwashers, washers and driers etc. Commercial Refrigeration don't usually mess with that small stuff unless they are realllllllyyyyyy slow. It really surprised me that they quoted the tap-a-lines im guessing that thing hold less than a pound of refrigerant.


Brian

Can those guys normally work on refrigeration stuff?

 

[Brian_WK]

Can those guys normally work on refrigeration stuff?

Dehumidifiers are usually 134A or 410A or one of the new blends of refrigerant depending on age. They are pretty much a self contained a/c. I know a few that also work on reach in coolers and freezers or any small package unit as long as they are under a few pounds of refrigerant and can be put on a trailer and brought to their shop.

Brian

 

[brewchief]

If those specs are correct then that unit takes 13 oz of r-407c, I would expect that they are using a tapping valve to hook up to the unit and remove any refrigerant still in it and then fitting a brazed in valve. The better way would be to fit a valve in the process tube off of the compressor so it could be crimped and brazed shut after charging. Simply hooking a set of gauges up to it if it had regular service valves would result in a loss of refrigerant that would affect it's operation.

I've fixed stuff like that in the past and it always eats up way more time then you think it should.

The biggest problem I see is that it has a leak somewhere if it has lost refrigerant, finding and fixing leaks on stuff like that can be a real pita, with the cheap Chinese copper used in some of the coils you will get leaks in the middle of a coil where you can't easily fix it.

I might give it a shot if it was my own unit but if a customer brought it in I would not touch it.

 

[samss]

Does it have R134a and a capillary tube? If the condenser was ever packed with dust and got really hot, the capillary tube may be blocked. The manufacturers save a few pennies by not installing service ports on small equipment.