It is important to have refrigerant that is free from debris and contaminants, and we control these issues on many different fronts:

But in all of this we can easily forget the role that suction driers can play in protecting the compressor and the compressor oil.

In air conditioning, we rarely install suction driers unless there is known acid contamination, such as in the case of a compressor burnout. Interestingly, Copeland actually recommends suction driers in all applications in bulletin AE24-1105 R5.  While I certainly don’t think that we need to change our practices and begin installing suction line filter driers on every single installation, it does get you thinking about the role a suction drier can play in protecting a compressor.

In a typical burnout application where acid is present, it is a good practice to:

These practices above are good general practices to follow, but you may consider replacing the suction drier with a standard, high capacity, low-pressure drop suction drier with two pressure ports instead of just straight piping it. This will provide you an extra layer of protection for the compressor should any acid or contaminants from the burnout make their way to the compressor.

If you do choose to leave a suction drier in a system, there are a few things to consider:

All in all, having a suction drier in the system is a good thing, so long as it isn’t contaminated, rusty, or restricted.

Submit your own guest content here!

Bryan Orr is an HVAC and electrical contractor in Orlando, Florida. He is the founder of HVACRSchool.com and the HVAC School Podcast. He has been involved in technician training for 15 years. 

You must have JavaScript enabled to enjoy a limited number of articles over the next 30 days.

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the ACHR News audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep.

Learn installation techniques for quick and easy installs in any HVAC system, and methods for minimizing return air static pressure. You’ll learn the ins and outs of PRO-Cell technology, an ozone free air treatment solution that takes air Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) to the next level. 

Submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to suppliers of your choice with details on what you need with a click of a button

With over 950 suppliers and manufacturers listed in 1,850 product categories, you will be able to find exactly what you need!

Copyright ©2022. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing