Help a friend with filter replacement? New Rheem unit.
#1
06-24-17, 06:50 PM
Help a friend with filter replacement? New Rheem unit.
Friend back in VA just got a nice new Rheem HVAC system installed in her apt by the landlord. She's overjoyed at the comfort and markedly less electrical usage. The old one struggled to keep it at 76 degrees and the new one keeps it at 74 with less than 1/2 the electrical usage (per her meter observation) so far.
Only problem is it was done while she was at work, so no chance to talk to installers. Owner/landlord is 87 so she wouldn't know the answer and likely wouldn't be able to get the techs to call.
Question is...where is the filter on this unit? The furnace and air handler are in a closet and from the pic I'm sure it's behind one of the access panels, but she's not a real mechanical DIY type, so she needs nice clear instructions. Only number she could find/read is "rcf241407215" which to me appears to be just the coils?
I'm guessing the filter might be in one of the 2 panels, but she's not an open and poke around type.
Only problem is it was done while she was at work, so no chance to talk to installers. Owner/landlord is 87 so she wouldn't know the answer and likely wouldn't be able to get the techs to call.
Question is...where is the filter on this unit? The furnace and air handler are in a closet and from the pic I'm sure it's behind one of the access panels, but she's not a real mechanical DIY type, so she needs nice clear instructions. Only number she could find/read is "rcf241407215" which to me appears to be just the coils?
I'm guessing the filter might be in one of the 2 panels, but she's not an open and poke around type.
#2
06-24-17, 06:58 PM
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 700
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
#3
06-24-17, 07:07 PM
Probably can't see it in this pic, but it appears the bottom is a window where the burners are, not a vent as such.
It's the best I can upload though, couldn't reduce the size of what she sent any more. Kinda weird, every time I reduced it file size increased? I'm no wizard that's for sure.
It's the best I can upload though, couldn't reduce the size of what she sent any more. Kinda weird, every time I reduced it file size increased? I'm no wizard that's for sure.
#4
06-24-17, 07:11 PM
Oh, and do those handles just turn to the horizontal like a sink fixture or are they the pull to unlatch then turn? Would they be pretty stiff when new? Like I said, I'm not there and she's back in the VA hills near Covington.
#6
06-25-17, 03:30 AM
I asked her that, but she said no, and I have seen them like that before.
This used to just have a wall furnace and a separate a/c I guess, cause she said there was new duct installed as well (can't see it at the top in the pic) and where the furnace used to blow into the room through the wall is now boarded up with ply I guess.
You know how these type cheap apartments were built when they really didn't need a lot of heat, single outlet in the main area and the beds and baths were cold. Had to use fans to move the air around.
This used to just have a wall furnace and a separate a/c I guess, cause she said there was new duct installed as well (can't see it at the top in the pic) and where the furnace used to blow into the room through the wall is now boarded up with ply I guess.
You know how these type cheap apartments were built when they really didn't need a lot of heat, single outlet in the main area and the beds and baths were cold. Had to use fans to move the air around.
#8
06-25-17, 10:47 AM
I can't see in the pic but there should be ductwork connected to the lower portion of the furnace for the return air. Whatever side the ductwork is on that is where the filter would be.
Sometimes they incorporate it into the ductwork at the furnace or if you remove the lower door where the blower is it should be on the side where the ductwork enters the furnace. Possibly 15 1/2 x 25 factory supplied filter rack to accomodate a 15 x 25 filter.
Hope this helps a little.
Sometimes they incorporate it into the ductwork at the furnace or if you remove the lower door where the blower is it should be on the side where the ductwork enters the furnace. Possibly 15 1/2 x 25 factory supplied filter rack to accomodate a 15 x 25 filter.
Hope this helps a little.
#9
06-25-17, 01:29 PM
Like I said Mark...hills of VA, probably done super cheap and while she wasn't home. May not even know the number, she just hates to call the old lady, but that may be ehr only option if she doesn't want to take the doors off w/o knowing.
Spott, it almost looks (in the full size pic) like the unit is sitting on or behind duct. That grayish flat area that the PVC pipe is casting a shadow on. Kind of coming in at an angle? And I also see some foil at the lower right front of the unit. And now that I looked more closely, the dark rectangle near the bottom front of the unit is a warning label on it's side. But it still looks like some viewports to check the flame just above the label. I could be seeing things.
Does the air handler always go before the burners? If so, that would pretty much mean that the filter would have to be in the bottom section. Can't imagine it being in the burner section or between the burner and coil.
Spott, it almost looks (in the full size pic) like the unit is sitting on or behind duct. That grayish flat area that the PVC pipe is casting a shadow on. Kind of coming in at an angle? And I also see some foil at the lower right front of the unit. And now that I looked more closely, the dark rectangle near the bottom front of the unit is a warning label on it's side. But it still looks like some viewports to check the flame just above the label. I could be seeing things.
Does the air handler always go before the burners? If so, that would pretty much mean that the filter would have to be in the bottom section. Can't imagine it being in the burner section or between the burner and coil.
#11
06-25-17, 07:09 PM
Geez I hope not Ray, the filter will never get changed! Landlady only paid a guy to do it once a year, but my friend changes the fiber(?) filters every 3 months or the cheap blue/green ones monthly.
That smaller top piece is definitely the coils and I was able to look at a manual/specs for that. Didn't see any info about a filter in it. Rheem Cased and Uncased "N" Coils (RCF) Series
It really gripes me they didn't leave some sort of basic instructions or even a business card apparently. I know I could figure it out in 2 min if I was nearby.
I remember noticing the air flow was real poor at a friends place in San Diego. Got to looking at the return grill and saw it's filter was completely clean but I could hear a whistle sound. Pulled a panel off the unit in the garage. There was a SECOND filter in their that they were completely unaware of, and they'd lived there for 7 yrs. Must have had an inch of dust, hair, lint, and fur on it. They were lucky they were in a mild climate like SD, they probably would have burned the system up anywhere else. Never saw a guy so UN-handy around the house. He could fly helo's but didn't know the first thing about faucets, plumbing, electrical, or basic carpentry.
EDIT Well, crud, while looking for that link to the coils, I looked at their gas furnace section. I might be able to figure it out by looking at those specs. After dinner of course...and Walking Dead.
That smaller top piece is definitely the coils and I was able to look at a manual/specs for that. Didn't see any info about a filter in it. Rheem Cased and Uncased "N" Coils (RCF) Series
It really gripes me they didn't leave some sort of basic instructions or even a business card apparently. I know I could figure it out in 2 min if I was nearby.
I remember noticing the air flow was real poor at a friends place in San Diego. Got to looking at the return grill and saw it's filter was completely clean but I could hear a whistle sound. Pulled a panel off the unit in the garage. There was a SECOND filter in their that they were completely unaware of, and they'd lived there for 7 yrs. Must have had an inch of dust, hair, lint, and fur on it. They were lucky they were in a mild climate like SD, they probably would have burned the system up anywhere else. Never saw a guy so UN-handy around the house. He could fly helo's but didn't know the first thing about faucets, plumbing, electrical, or basic carpentry.
EDIT Well, crud, while looking for that link to the coils, I looked at their gas furnace section. I might be able to figure it out by looking at those specs. After dinner of course...and Walking Dead.
Last edited by Gunguy45; 06-25-17 at 07:11 PM. Reason: Added info about unit
#12
06-26-17, 02:42 AM
Locally our HVAC techs never miss an opportunity to paste one of their stickers on a unit hoping you will call them for service.
As far as I know the filter is always before the burner or coil in the air handler.
As far as I know the filter is always before the burner or coil in the air handler.
#13
06-26-17, 10:26 AM
G,
The filter is always or should be on the bottom of the furnace to filter the return air before it gets to the blower and then up through the heat exchanger and coil.
That furnace can have the filter on the side where the return air comes in or on the bottom if the return air comes from underneath the furnace.
If you remove the bottom door the filter should be right on the floor of the furnace if the unit is sitting on ductwork.
The sheet metal it's sitting on is your return air. If the filter is not there chances are they did not install one and you should get them back to finish the job.
They should have left the manual with the furnace. If not go to the Rheem site below and find your furnace and the information and filter location. When you find the furnace that looks like yours click on it then scroll down to documents and then click on spec sheet and page 3. you can see your filter under the blower and everything else.
Hope this helps a little.
https://www.rheem.com/products/heati.../gas_furnaces/
The filter is always or should be on the bottom of the furnace to filter the return air before it gets to the blower and then up through the heat exchanger and coil.
That furnace can have the filter on the side where the return air comes in or on the bottom if the return air comes from underneath the furnace.
If you remove the bottom door the filter should be right on the floor of the furnace if the unit is sitting on ductwork.
The sheet metal it's sitting on is your return air. If the filter is not there chances are they did not install one and you should get them back to finish the job.
They should have left the manual with the furnace. If not go to the Rheem site below and find your furnace and the information and filter location. When you find the furnace that looks like yours click on it then scroll down to documents and then click on spec sheet and page 3. you can see your filter under the blower and everything else.
Hope this helps a little.
https://www.rheem.com/products/heati.../gas_furnaces/
#14
06-26-17, 01:45 PM
Thanks Spott, that's pretty much what i figured out after looking at a very similar (if not the same) unit on the Rheem site. Apparently the internal "filter holder" is an additional optional item if you go stock, that's why so many use a filter grille I guess.
She said she has actually noticed less dust. Since the work would have stirred some up I would think, she has to have a filter somewhere. If she doesn't have a filter in the return, it has to be internal.
I know Mark, I found it odd too. Hey, for all I know it was "a guy who can install furnaces/AC's cheap".
I'll message her tonite and give her whatever info ya'll have helped me find. If she can't find it, then she'll need to reach the installer or the landlady.
She said she has actually noticed less dust. Since the work would have stirred some up I would think, she has to have a filter somewhere. If she doesn't have a filter in the return, it has to be internal.
I know Mark, I found it odd too. Hey, for all I know it was "a guy who can install furnaces/AC's cheap".
I'll message her tonite and give her whatever info ya'll have helped me find. If she can't find it, then she'll need to reach the installer or the landlady.
