Rat/Sigarms
Willl is right call a pro, It's cheaper and safer! Iam not a hvac service tech. But been in the trade for 42 years (sheet metal background) i have pump down many ac compressors in my day.
Sigarms, to answer your question "in general". here's the steps to do a compressor pumpdown:
1. Go to theomstat location and set to off settings.
2. go outside to ac condenser and install refrigeration gauges.make sure to place each on right port (for moderatoring only) Make sure you have a electrial disconnect box
in reach or close by (code required) you'll need this later.
3. ajust t-stat to cooling, fan on or auto and lower temp. to lowest setting. This will insure system will
not cycle off in the middle of pumpdown.
4. go back to the condenser and it should be running, there two copper lines that run from the inside unit (Air handler)
to the condenser. 5 ton Trane 1 1/8" and 3/8"
5. Quickly valve off the 3/8" line with the allen hex tool.
6. Now start looking at the refrigeration gauges, the 3/8" line will read "zero" and the 1 1/8" line will start dropping, when it
gets to zero, very fast valve off this line, when done, reach up and turn off electrial disconnect box.
At this time all the system refrigeration is in the ac compressor, in the trade this is called a pumpdown.This is by no means a full
detailed pumpdown. Please call a hvac pro to do this task, it'll be cheaper and safer in the long run,anyway this is only the 1st.
half of a system pumpdown, you'll have to reinstall later and this runs into more issues for a non pro.
nappy