Hacked Trane XL19i units! Very BAD installation!
Pictures and video clip:
The first 30 seconds plays a slide show, then an awesome video of this gawd aweful hack job!
This is a really fine example of how a customer can spend TOP DOLLAR on brand new high efficiency Air Conditioners and with the improper installation, actually receive WORSE efficiency and reliability than keeping their OLD air conditioners!
In this case, you are looking at almost $20,000 worth of brand new Trane XL19i two stage Air Conditioners.
This install was so screwed up, that these units didn’t even make it through the first hot week! That’s because they recirculated air so badly due to the poor clearance issues, that the head pressure climbed over 400 PSI and tripped off the compressors!
The other technician went back and isntalled the basic XB13 fan discharge grills to keep them under 400PSI! That is what the video clip is showing.
Think these customer’s got their $20k worth on this install?
The problem is, this residential a/c company doesn’t care about anything except getting the install done quickly and collecting the cash!
These systems will NEVER work correctly as they are installed now. They are shoved up against the wall with maybe 3″ clearance for air flow. They are also installed only 8″ or so apart form each other.
Trane specs say that the CLOSEST any side can be to a wall is 12″ as long as two sides are wide open.
They also need to be MORE than 12″ from each other.
And to top it off, the electrical panes are shoved into the back area forcing the service technician to squeeze in between the two units and practically rely on a mirror to see his way into the electrical panel to service the refrigerant system or the high voltage!!!!
National Electrical CODE states that any service panel MUST have at least 30″ UNRESTRICTED access!
Does this look to be true here?
Watch the video and you be the judge.
If you are a home owner I hope this video helps you become aware of how a BAD install can hurt your a/c’s efficiency as well as safety of future service techs.
These should be considered a “How NOT to…” video series! 
Duration : 0:1:20
Trane CleanEffects Removes Flu Virus From Filtered Air
Many times these …
Many times these situations are forced on a contractor.
The Homeowners ociation will not allow the moving of walls or plants to accommodate a lager unit.
The HOA ONLY cares about looks.
if a cowl was …
if a cowl was attached to the top of both units (say a few feet of tube, to give cooler intake air) they would work better. Perhaps with the closeness, 1 would work better than 2 of them?!
They do that …
They do that airtime500 down there?
LOL! What license?
…
LOL! What license?
In Arizona they don’t require a license/certs or any proof of any training and you can go work on refrigeration. plumbing and electrical components in the systems. All you need is a EPA card. And they rarely check for that. Only your employer usually asks for that. A guy can study and take the EPA test to get that just like studying and getting your drivers license. Doesn’t mean you have a single day’s of experience! It’s BAD. No permits, no inspections here.
the person who …
the person who installed those got there license out of a cracker jack box, That’s no way to treat a trane! Stupid holes..
Yeah, it gets HOT …
Yeah, it gets HOT here! :-O
As noted, these units failed by April or May on their first summer run.
i acctually did an …
i acctually did an install like this but it was at the “custom builder’s” request to make room for fences (3′ sideyards, you gotta love em) told him the problem with it but he insisted
p.s. its not asa hot here in memphrica.
I would tear the …
I would tear the whole thing out and re install it. At least it is a Trane though!
Some proud company …
Some proud company in the NorthWest valley! They do a lot of work in the retired communities. Nice huh?
who the put …
who the put these in? I have worked on some tight but that is the next level.
hahaha
hahaha
Evaps were very …
Evaps were very common until the last 10 years or so. Most probably don’t because of the additional maintenance, room for one, and of course HOA’s prohibit them.
After watching …
After watching these vids I would seriously consider installing evaporative cooling if I were a HO in Arizona. This contractor should lose his license!
Yup. That’s just a …
Yup. That’s just a change out with a new stat and disconnect. No ductwork changes, etc.
So wow down in …
So wow down in phoenix those cost $10.000 each, installed.
Thats pretty crazy.
Maybe if some of …
I’d LOVE to see them get busted. Because I no longer work there because I complained about the installs and the manager and salesmen would laugh at me and say “just do the jobs we give you” BTW. I HEARD that some poor tech recently worked 90 hours (that’s right NINETY HOURS) in one week. They are slave drivers!
Maybe if some of YOU viewers could also email someone at Trane, it may get someone’s attention! Just tell them it’s the ONLY Trane dealer in Sun City West!
Trane should be …
Trane should be upset at this. Only ruins the reputation of their products.
Couldn’t those units have been placed on pedestals to get them out of that cavity? Or is it a situation where customer is ignorant/irrational and would complain about the units being visible..
So another …
So another technician in your HVAC company swapped the discharge grilles? How you come you can’t move the units and set them up properly, or can only the original installer do that?
Amen brother! …
Amen brother! Agreed 100% The bad thing here was that obviously teh TWO of us techs (pictures from me, video from my cowrker) thought this was crap. But the boss still didn’t care. He only got mad that we talked about it and that we took pictures of it and talked about it online. LOL! I don’t work there no more because I wouldn’t ignore their hackery and how they were ripping customers off by installing this this way! And call backs? They did so many warranty call backs it was just insane!
you should not …
you should not compromise quality and your company because someone is crying about get them installed. Do it right the first time and then the company would not have to have call backs. I have been in the hvac business for over 15years and If I saw that kind if installation from one of my mechanics they would be fired that day.
LOL! You bet they …
LOL! You bet they did! In fact. I bet they would have been better off with two basic 13 SEER units being that this company doesn’t bid these jobs to install them where they would have adequate air and service clearances!
The customer lost …
The customer lost their 19 seer rating.
Hmm I’ll have to …
I think I would have heard something about the XL19i’s going away though. Them going to R410 sounds about right tho. Because they have NO CHOICE by 2010 to not use R22 anymore!
Hmm I’ll have to ask because I’m doing just all commercial now. So we don’t use units like this. Mostly Trane Voyagers or 13 SEER XB13’s now. Of course they all have PLENTY of air flow on our commercial buildings.
I don’t know if …
I don’t know if this is the right place to ask, but some guy told me that Trane is going to make a new version of the XL19i with a 20+ seer rating that uses R-410a refrigerant and has dual scroll compressors. He says that Trane does not make the XL19i anymore but the internet still has the XL19i on it’s web page with a communicating device. Is it true that they will not make any more XL19i units?
Oh yeah. This one …
Oh yeah. This one really takes the cake!