superheat on residential systems

[jclevenger]

Ok sorry if this question seems really amateur but on residential:o systems do you all climb into the attic or crawl space to get line temps or are they only taken at the service valves to do the calculations?

[install monkey]

measure temp at the bulb-an apprentice is good for this- then compare with your gauges on the condenser- and then ring him-as all apprentices haves mobys-make sure he knows where to stick the temperature probe

[monkey spanners]

If this is an American style system i believe the correct method is to measure at the outdoor unit and compair it to the manufacturers chart, depending on model you either charge to superheat or subcooling.

It goes without saying that filters and coils need to be clean, with proper air flow through the coil etc.

If it was a refrigeration system though you would check at the txv bulb.

[jakabus]

(I assume you know how to measure SH and SCL) if it requires you (or an apprentice) to crawl in an attic then yes.