I have had numerous problems with my Lennox Heat Pump. I have had 3 condensers and one air handler replaced in 16 years. I also let them replace the complete outside unit 4 yrs. Ago. My air handler is in the crawl space and I do not have a condensation pump going to the exterior. I have asked my HVAC man to install one and he says I don't need one. I guess it drains in the crawl space. I know I have had moisture around and in the handler that caused mold problems before. Should I give up on this Lennox HVAC man and get someone else that would service a Lennox and install a drain pump? I think the one I have now is getting a lot of money from this dummy home owner. Should the Lennox Co. be informed of the replacements and this particular distributors operations?
Thank You.

Where to begin? For starters having that much work done on a single unit that should have lasted 16 years raises a flag. Lenox makes a good unit however the contractors are not all good or honest. Lenox will do nothing to help. Their objective is to sell units. If the contractors are less than honest they can't help with that.

From all that you have said you do have a problem with that crawl space. Don't know where you live, but codes were established to stop moisture problems in a crawl. They are not suppose to be either damp or wet. This is most likely why your air handler had to be replaced, moisture causing it to rust. Do you have visqueen or a vapor barrier on the entire surface?

Finally, I'd look for another contractor who will give you a warranty. As many bad contractors are there are out there, there are also good hnest ones. Talk to your friends, neighbrs etc. And be sure to warn others about this one. Good luck!

Something or things are definitely wrong:

The condenser is outside. The evaporator is on the inside in an AC system. Yours is a HP, so the roles can be reversed.

I suppose your talking about the inside coil and the air handler. Why did it fail? I thing you have figured it out. Too much moisture.

Dump the AC guy and find another for a second opinion. You know what they say "Follow the money". In this case I'd follow the water and the money.

The water has to go somewhere. Find it.

Take some photos of the installation, especially the drainage system. Post it here if you'd like. I'd talk to Lennox customer service. They might send someone out to take a look at it.

A crawl space can be a hostile environment. The air handler might have to be insulated.

Thanks to eschuen and KeepItSimpleStupid for your rapid and excellent suggestions. Yes I do have a good vapor barrier throughout the crawl space. However I never really checked out the moisture problem until the #*@* contractor kept replacing parts. I talked to his tech manager & he said he would come out mand install a drain pump. He quit B 4 he could come out. Prewtty good turnover in personnel which should have given me a good clue. (I had a maint. Contract and they serviced the unit twice a year). You would think they "might" see something that might be going bad but NO---unit always went down in the hottest and coldest time of the year. I live on East Coast of MD.
This dummy has been hoodwinked (my own fault) and I am definitely changing to a recommended contractor.
Thanks to you both again. I appreciate your help.

Do you not have a condensate drain line at all going to the outside or to a french drain? Your heat pump won't create moister at the fan coil in the winter. The city inspector should have caught any thing wrong after inspection of the system.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by T-Top

Do you not have a condensate drain line at all going to the outside or to a french drain? Your heat pump wont create moister at the fan coil in the winter. The city inspector should have caught any thing wrong after inspection of the system.

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No I don't have a condensate drain to the outside. I don't know how this got by the inspector when it was first installed however after all the replacements no one has bothered to check. That's a good comment and I can call the county inspector and have him check it. Perhaps he can force my crooked contractor to install a drain line without cost to me. Even if he installs one I am still going to take my business elsewhere. Even if the inspector can't get him to install a line, as soon as he does my tune up next month he is history. Thanks.

What you need done is a full system inspection to include A Load calculation to be sure you have something that is to big,duct work STATIC preasure check, lineset size and length, complet model # of matched equipment. To figure out why things are failing. The condinsate must be pumped to the outside of the structure. BUT would not be the main cause of system failure or premature failure.