Terry Beck
07-14-2009, 08:03 PM
Somewhat similar to Roger's last question. What threw me was that the compressor unit is installed in a closed metal box in the basement utility room. I don't see lots of AC units in this area anyway (Montana), so don't have lots of exposure to unusual installations.
House is built sometime in 1970's, can't say how old the stand-alone AC unit is (heat is supplied by a seperate oil-fired hot water boiler system). I would guess maybe 15-20 years old?
After I stared dumbly at this box in the basement utility room for a while, I finally figured out that a water (cold) water supply line ran into the box, I suppose through the coils that surround the compressor, and then out to a drain. Water supply [seems] to be controlled by a little gizmo box by the floor ("gizmo" is highly technical term for what I assume is a thermostatically controlled shut off valve).
No manufacturer's tag on this Carrier compressor housing, just the brand name tag
Model # of Carrier air handler in attic is 490HH003300
Serial # on air handler is J425546
QUESTION: Does this look odd to anyone? Besides overheating the basement utility room, is there any obvious problem with a water-cooled compressor set-up like this? I know that some commercial system probably work in a similar water-cooled fashion. It seemed to work ok, but just threw me for a complete loop for a while.
By the way, due to the lack of a techinical label on the compressor unit, have another question. The electrical service is 20-amp/240-volt. I asume that would normally be adequate for the compressor?
House is built sometime in 1970's, can't say how old the stand-alone AC unit is (heat is supplied by a seperate oil-fired hot water boiler system). I would guess maybe 15-20 years old?
After I stared dumbly at this box in the basement utility room for a while, I finally figured out that a water (cold) water supply line ran into the box, I suppose through the coils that surround the compressor, and then out to a drain. Water supply [seems] to be controlled by a little gizmo box by the floor ("gizmo" is highly technical term for what I assume is a thermostatically controlled shut off valve).
No manufacturer's tag on this Carrier compressor housing, just the brand name tag
Model # of Carrier air handler in attic is 490HH003300
Serial # on air handler is J425546
QUESTION: Does this look odd to anyone? Besides overheating the basement utility room, is there any obvious problem with a water-cooled compressor set-up like this? I know that some commercial system probably work in a similar water-cooled fashion. It seemed to work ok, but just threw me for a complete loop for a while.
By the way, due to the lack of a techinical label on the compressor unit, have another question. The electrical service is 20-amp/240-volt. I asume that would normally be adequate for the compressor?