Heat pump compressor oil add?
darylreece
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
The capillary line on the TXV for the outdoor heat pump unit rubbed a hole in it and vented all the R-22. I’ve talked to a few HVAC companies about the fix and my question is, “Does the compressor require an oil addition?” Some say yes. Others say no. It seems to me that some of the oil had to have been lost in the venting.
If addition is required, how do you determine how much to add?
Replies
capillary line on the TXV
Somewhat of an oxymoron there.
If you have a txv or orifice device you do not have a capillary tube.
If you mean the thin little line going to the txv from the sensing bulb, then you will not have lost any oil from the compressor, replacing the txv will fix that.
Since you say you lost all your R-22, then from your description it is probably the thin external pressure equalization line from the suction pipe to the txv that rubbed thru, so a minute quantity of compressor oil may have been lost. A good technicain can eyeball if more than a teaspoon of oil has been lost and replace that, but probably not needed unless the txv is near a low point in the line.
See this is your first post. Welcome to BT.
A good place to ask also in hvac-talk.com, although they will probably just tell you to trust your technician. A photo of the line that rubbed thru would help.