Tucson Modular buildings

I do HVAC for ESB Modular in Marana. We do buildings mostly for schools and clinics. When I tell people that I do modular buildings I can bet that I will hear……you mean those crappy trailers with the ac’s on the end?

It’s true what they say about reputation,once it’s ruined it takes a miracle to re-build it. But that was modular of the 80’s and before. Todays buildings are made of concrete and steel.

They are made in a factory.

Shipped to the building site by truck .

Lifted and set in place by a crane.

Onto a concrete slab like a site built building.

Sometimes they get stacked to make a multi story building

I do split systems in some

But most get package units.

Modular Buildings have changed .

A glass house

 

Rheem RQNJ package heat pump

I received a no heat call about a unit running and no heat. What I found was the compressor would start then kick out on high internal temperature limit by its internal pressure relief valve. These units don’t have the low voltage high pressure switch that most people are familiar with. I suspected low airflow but what I found was a bad TXV.

When I opened the unit top I found the insulation liner sucked into and around the blower.

I then removed the insulation and ran the blower to see if that was the cause. No luck, still kicking out on the IPR. It would run up to about 385 then kick out. (R-22 system).I also removed the top of the return plenum so that there would be no back pressure from the return duct and filter on the blower except for the evaporator coil (more later on the filter).    Gauge just before hitting the max pressure

While I was running the unit and watching the pressure gage I couldn’t help notice the condensing fan motor was flexing its mount on the grill as it spun at 1075 rpm’s. After a closer look I noticed that the metal was cracked and would be spinning its way into the outdoor coil sometime soon.The fan blade and grill were replaced.

I then reclaimed the r-22 and replaced the txv. The pin inside the txv had stuck and would not shift. After I took it apart I found some black looking type of varnish material. The unit does not have a drier installed from the factory or this would not have happened. The unit was also severely overcharged by 4 lbs.

Here is the stuck pin.

You get what you pay for with this unit. On a scale of 1-10 I would give it a 4. The 4 ton can deliver 1800 cfm @0.50” SP.

Technorati Tags: Heat pump,Rheem,RQNJ,TXV

18 seer heat pumps

Friday I went by The Museum of the horse soldier, Museum  to check the stats and introduce Rick Redpath to Randy Johnson the builder. Randy had his guy’s stripping the old wood off of the front of the building and found this sign.

The museum has been redone. If you haven't seen it you need to check it out. It has a lot of history on display.

Testing windows live writer

This is a test hat I am doing on MS Windows live writer. I decided to “really” blog and noticed that I was having difficulty discerning between context and content when using office word. And after a few hours on Google I saw that millions of other bloggers were in the same predicament.

 

so now I’m trying out this windows live interface.

Lost a year

O.k. It's been over 2 years since my last post. I am trying to commit to this. Anyway last year (2010) I was out of town for 9 months up in Tuba city with no WiFi. I had no time anyway as I was up to my ears in the TCRC clinc.

Thanksgiving 09

Debbies homemade pumpkin pie ummmmmmmm

It's been an interesting last half of the year.Work has picked up tremendously with the majority of it being modular buildings for schools, Indian tribes and municipalities.This was a new culinary arts classroom building for mountain view high school, lucky kids.Real kitchenfacilites to learn on.

I just finished my only custom home for 09 and had only one sizable remodel. The custom is a beatiful Mark Soloway creation built by Terry Borror of Agave Homes.Here are2 slot diffusers above a window with spiral pipe branch duct and flex runouts to the diffusers. All the trunk lines are spiral pipe with r-8 insulation, done with either flex jacket or regular duct wrap

Looking forward to 2010 and the new Tuba city clinic job,28 systems and a long way from home.

Also Desert Christians new middle school job but havent seen the plans on that one yet.