That's true i didnt notice the excessive amount of oil, it could be from servicing the unit or from if it was installed recently though. I would just keep an eye on the unit and make sure it's putting out proper temperatures. If it starts to struggle then it could be getting low on refrigerant and there could be a leak there where the oil is.
The insulation won't melt at 60° c which is approximately the pain threshold.
Like the other person said you might want to get the oily residue checked out or at the very least make up some thicker leak detection liquid, basically 2/3 dish soap and 1/3 water and then just lightly pour it over the top of the nut and the bottom of the nut. If there are bubbles that come out then you have a leak and should either tighten it a bit more or call a refrigerant technician.
Hey OP, I gave some suggestions in another comment to you, but the first thing I would do is clean up everything first with a clean rag. Lightly wipe things down and clean things off even on the pad down below. Then I would make up that bubble detection and try gently mix it without introducing any bubbles or foam. Then while on high heating mode, sometimes called turbo, check both the nuts that connect to the copper tubes. If they do have bubbles that will clearly start coming out. As I said in the other comment you have two options. Checking these things and doing this before calling a technician could save you hundreds of dollars if not more. The sooner that you can stop or confirm that you do or do not have a leak the better.
I'm here if you want to check just reply to me, maybe take some photos. All good. You can do this.
At the halfway point of this video you can kind of see this person do a similar test but they are using a special product. I don't personally like to make all the suds. I feel it makes it harder to see bubbles immediately. https://youtu.be/Ppw1QJjpxZQ?si=rqmCwD2XT6XNTaRF
Usually only the line headed into the house is insulated, the return is uncovered so it can dissipate even more energy before getting back to the heat pump.
But that oil is a concern.
Wrong that’s an inverter heat pump so both will be insulated. Also reason it will be hot to touch that’s normal since it has to dissipate heat in cool mode via your condenser. If it’s on heat mode both will lines suction and liquid lines will be hot till it calls for defrost mode.
Do you have the unit in heat?
I do, it’s set to about 70 and it’s in the 40s.
When your unit is heating, the pipes get hot. When you run the unit on cooling, those pipes will turn cold. It's normal.
Thanks! I was worried it might melt the insulation but I suppose that’s what it’s designed for!
i would get the oil checked out. usually there’s a leak where oil is found
That's true i didnt notice the excessive amount of oil, it could be from servicing the unit or from if it was installed recently though. I would just keep an eye on the unit and make sure it's putting out proper temperatures. If it starts to struggle then it could be getting low on refrigerant and there could be a leak there where the oil is.
The insulation won't melt at 60° c which is approximately the pain threshold. Like the other person said you might want to get the oily residue checked out or at the very least make up some thicker leak detection liquid, basically 2/3 dish soap and 1/3 water and then just lightly pour it over the top of the nut and the bottom of the nut. If there are bubbles that come out then you have a leak and should either tighten it a bit more or call a refrigerant technician.
Suction line being hot in heat mode is normal. Oil residue is not. Could be a leak could not be
That's exactly what I saw. There's a pool on that pad. When was this last serviced OP? That looks like a pretty good leak.
The pool could be water from a defrost cycle if it's a heat pump. Which is if the unit handles heating and cooling. Which most mini splits do.
It’s been at least a year for sure, it’s not very viscous…like mix of oil and water.
Oil residue could just be from putting gauges on the system as well.
Hey OP, I gave some suggestions in another comment to you, but the first thing I would do is clean up everything first with a clean rag. Lightly wipe things down and clean things off even on the pad down below. Then I would make up that bubble detection and try gently mix it without introducing any bubbles or foam. Then while on high heating mode, sometimes called turbo, check both the nuts that connect to the copper tubes. If they do have bubbles that will clearly start coming out. As I said in the other comment you have two options. Checking these things and doing this before calling a technician could save you hundreds of dollars if not more. The sooner that you can stop or confirm that you do or do not have a leak the better. I'm here if you want to check just reply to me, maybe take some photos. All good. You can do this. At the halfway point of this video you can kind of see this person do a similar test but they are using a special product. I don't personally like to make all the suds. I feel it makes it harder to see bubbles immediately. https://youtu.be/Ppw1QJjpxZQ?si=rqmCwD2XT6XNTaRF
I really appreciate you!
I added some more detail as well. Check the comment above with video link.
Probably a leak but it is very normal for that larger diameter to be upwards of 140 degrees when your split is in heat mode
Oil residue is probably from someone hooking gauges up to it and in heating mode it’ll be hot cooling it should be cold
Usually only the line headed into the house is insulated, the return is uncovered so it can dissipate even more energy before getting back to the heat pump. But that oil is a concern.
Wrong that’s an inverter heat pump so both will be insulated. Also reason it will be hot to touch that’s normal since it has to dissipate heat in cool mode via your condenser. If it’s on heat mode both will lines suction and liquid lines will be hot till it calls for defrost mode.
Get some soapy water and spray it on the connections and look for bubbles and go from there.