AC maintenance

T

TimHenn

Member
Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
RO Number
126
Messages
346
I have four Marine Air 16k BTU units (220v) that I want to have serviced. No issues to speak of other than adjusting one temperature probe that seems to be off relative to the others.

I plan on contacting a service company I've never dealt with since my first service company is far away and not answering the phone or web requests (out of business, IDK).

What kind of inspection/replacement list should I provide? What would a general maintenance visit cost, roughly, per unit to get a sense of reasonable/fair? Am I better off doing the service now or in the spring, I'd like them done now but I won't be running them too much longer here in NE.

Appreciate the info.

Tim
 
The most important thing is to flush the coils,down here in FL we do it every 2 to 3 years. Basically they hook up a small binge pimp in a bucket full of a cleaning solution and run it for 10 or 15 minutes. Depending on accessibility it s a couple of hours of labor to clean 4 units...

Cleaning the screens and possibly the coils if they re dirty is another item although usually the screens are user maintenance items

Finally, they should out gauges on and check pressures
 
Thanks Pascal, any difference when I do the maintenance (now, or in the spring)? My only hesitation doing it now is that I won't get to use them as much so if they do something wrong I may not know till spring... but it's not that big of a deal I suppose.

"..That's a lot" -- well, there's a unit forward, mid-ship, aft and 1 in the bridge. Because of the ventilation on the boat I wouldn't want less, that's for sure.

Thanks for the info,
Tim
 
I usually always agree with Pascal . In this case I have to disagree. Gauges should never be connected to a properly working ac unit . How do u know a properly working ac unit ? Discharge air temp and an amp meter is all u need . When a unit holds mere ounces of refrigerant the last thing u want is to loose some gas when they disconnect . Then maybe the access pin sticks , maybe the mechanic leaves his gauge port open . All things that can go wrong . So that's why I wanted to put that out there. Seen it way to many times a perfectly working ac system isn't anymore after a service . Home ac's are a completely different animal and this doesn't apply .
Again I said a properly working ac unit !

Rob
 
Well, this is debatable i guess. I ve had units with very slow leaks and while they were still working fine finding the leak early prevented aggravation a few months later. And yes, I once had a valve which caused a slow leak after that routine check ...

I guess with newish self contained (less plumbing) unit, I d go along with "If it ain't broken don't fix it"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top