New residential Lennox and duct work (8 months old) has stinky sock syndrome...
#1
06-15-17, 08:37 PM
New residential Lennox and duct work (8 months old) has stinky sock syndrome...
Im located in Southern California...Company that installed came out to spray "Viper" solution on the coil...It helped a little bit, but it still smells at start-up then smells "OK"...While he had the side panel off i snapped a picture of the coil and noticed what looks like insulation..I asked him about it and he said that was normal and for the most part unavoidable when assembling the duct work...I dont feel very good about having insulation in my ac system along with stinky sock syndrome...I told him to vacuum out the insulation from the coil, but I still feel like the left over debris on the coil should not be there, and I feel like that is causing the smell...Any advise or comments ...Thanks
this is the link to the before & after insulation vacuum pictures:
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this is the link to the before & after insulation vacuum pictures:
Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
Last edited by motofog; 06-15-17 at 08:53 PM.
#2
06-16-17, 07:50 AM
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There doesn't seem to be a lot of insulation there. To remove what remains, I imagine that you can use a pressure washer or an air compressor.
#3
06-16-17, 01:40 PM
Member
Never heard of viper before. I hope it is EPA approved for use inside of HVAC systems. Have them clean the coil then use something like BBJ on it. If that does not work its time for a coated coil.
#4
06-19-17, 09:39 AM
thanks for the comments
...I was hoping to hear more about the presence of insulation in my new "sealed" central air system...Just seems like I will get a constant flow of fiberglass particles as the system blows...Nor sure what to think now...
#5
06-19-17, 12:59 PM
Member
Cleaning the coils should remove the fiberglass from them. It looks like it was fiberglass from liner. If so you have insulation at least in the return box so you could get more unless it is removed ass well.
#6
06-19-17, 10:44 PM
Should not be that way. Something wrong with the duct insulation. You may want clean the coil first and then put a filter before the coil to catch those fiberglass. A few pieces fiberglass at the first use of a new system is OK, but never that much. what ever you do, you need to get rid of those fiberglass insulation inside the duct.
#7
06-20-17, 07:57 PM
Group Moderator
You cannot use a pressure washer to clean a coil. The fins will be bent irreparably.
On a new installation..... using internally insulated ductwork..... you may get some loose insulation. There should/needs to be a return filter between the duct work and the air handler. This filter should capture any fiberglass from the duct work.
Once the original cleaning is done.... no more insulation should appear at the coil.
The insulation is not causing your smell problem. That is an environmental problem and is a reaction to the metal coil. There are coated coils available to reduce/eliminate the problem.
Viper is just the trade name for Trutec's coil cleaning spray. It is no different than a lot of the other available cleaners on the market. As far as I know.... it will do nothing for the long term remedy of the dirty sock issue.
If your installer can't remedy the smell problem.... go directly to Lennox. Based on other jobs I've been involved in.... a coated coil will need to be installed.
On a new installation..... using internally insulated ductwork..... you may get some loose insulation. There should/needs to be a return filter between the duct work and the air handler. This filter should capture any fiberglass from the duct work.
Once the original cleaning is done.... no more insulation should appear at the coil.
The insulation is not causing your smell problem. That is an environmental problem and is a reaction to the metal coil. There are coated coils available to reduce/eliminate the problem.
Viper is just the trade name for Trutec's coil cleaning spray. It is no different than a lot of the other available cleaners on the market. As far as I know.... it will do nothing for the long term remedy of the dirty sock issue.
If your installer can't remedy the smell problem.... go directly to Lennox. Based on other jobs I've been involved in.... a coated coil will need to be installed.
