Anyone know how to fix a chiller?

[NicoleC]

I finally removed the West Coast 1/6 HP chiller from my system that a) has a messed up thermostat and b) stopped chilling any more. A) was easy, since I had it on a temp controller, but it also stopped chilling at the same time so something else is busted.

Anyone know how to troubleshoot these things? Or does anyone want a chiller... cheap?

 

[tacocat]

Nicole,

If you can get it in your car, you should take it to a refrigeration repair shop. Like this place:

Sam's Refrigerator & Air Conditioning Repair
2641 N Grand Ave, Santa Ana, CA
(714) 538-9445

 

[NicoleC]

Will they have any clue what a chiller is? Will it matter if they don't?

 

[Mchava]

They should most if not all the refrigeration units are the same. How old is it. I might just need to be recharged or the compresor unit is busted.

 

[ScotchMaster]

Tank hit 84 degrees today How cheap?

 

[NicoleC]

It's 12 years old. I guess anything could be wrong with it.

Scotchmaster, it's way too soon to have hot tank. Have you got fans inside the canopy and/or over the sump?

 

[NicoleC]

P.S. Get the tank cooled down to normal temp tonight. It's going to be warm for a few more days -- you may be experiencing a little extra heat each day adding up instead of just one hot day.

Opening up the cabinet doors helps the hot air escape, too.

 

[ScotchMaster]

I have 3 clip on fans blowing on my halide and a ceiling fan blowing over the entire tank....and I make sure I cool down the tank every night with a huge fan I have....I think Im just going to have to run the large fan all day long with all my doors open....SUCKS!

 

[Anemone]

(sigh)

Got up this morning and checked my garage tank - 89.8 degrees.

Checked, and my chiller is dead (Pacific Coast 1/10 hp). I think it's the compressor (but what do I know?) - it starts to run, but never really reaches "full volume" and shuts down after about 20 seconds.

I turned on my 7" clip on fan, and turned the timer on my halides off before I left for work. Got home and the tank was back down to 81.8. Don't know what the the damage is going to be in the tank (the lights are off).

Now I have to find a replacement chiller.

Kevin

 

[NicoleC]

Want me to sell you your chiller back?

Meanwhile, my return pump just failed. &^%# AGAIN!!!! The least it could have done was fail yesterday so I could get a new pump from Marine Depot the next day.

 

[coralGoodie]

my tank's temp. reaches 81.8 at night and goes beyond 82 during the day. I'm so glad I bought a new chiller two weeks ago from ReefGeek.com

 

[Bebo77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7350549#post7350549 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
Want me to sell you your chiller back?

Meanwhile, my return pump just failed. &^%# AGAIN!!!! The least it could have done was fail yesterday so I could get a new pump from Marine Depot the next day.

just not your week is it nicole

 

[cthetoy]

Nicole
Let me know if you take your chiller to a repair shop because my chiller is acting up as well. Just wanted to know your estimate on how much it would take to fix a chiller problem. Mine takes too long to cool even though I cleaned the evaporator and fans.

Another story today on the subject of fans. Came home from work and my entire tank was off. No lights, pumps, or fans. Found out that my fan fell in my sump and luckily my GFCI tripped. Good thing I added a GFCI.

 

[Mchava]

Hey Nicole if you need a pump let me know. i have a fairly new little giant pump that I can let you use untill you get the new one. Its a little giant 3.

 

[NicoleC]

Mike, West Coast Aquatics said they would look at it for $75; repair parts would be more. But they are all the way in Ventura.

I've dropped a light in a fish tank. I swear by GFCI's!

Thanks, Mario, but I found a pump to borrow until I can get a new impeller for mine. Didn't I just do this a year ago?!

The chiller has been broken for months, I've just been too lazy to move all the things I needed to move to get to it. Figures-- I go home sick and can't sleep, so what do I end up doing? Work on the tank...

 

[laverda]

Nicloe $75.00 seams high to look at such a simple machine! I can't recharge the freon, but would be glad to look at it for you for free. No promises I can fix it.

 

[NicoleC]

I'd be glad to take you up on your offer, Steve. It's old enough that is probably DOES have freon in it.

 

[tacocat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7349333#post7349333 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NicoleC
Will they have any clue what a chiller is? Will it matter if they don't?

They are just refirgerators with plumbing. The biggest differences being the titanium cooling coils and size of the heat exchanger. The best part is they can probably give you a free estimate and have the parts in stock.

The refrigeration techs are probably very familiar with aquatic chillers. I bet every nice grocery store and restaraunt in SoCal has a lobster tank which needs periodic servicing.

 

[NicoleC]

Thanks for the offers to let me borrow pumps, guys! The plumbing has cured and the borrowed pump is whirring away... MUCH quieter than the old one. Maybe the old was crap to begin with, as there's a yellowed spot on the case (heat?).

The new (borrowed) one is making a bit of a buzzing noise, but it seems like some pumps do that until they get settled it.

So, guess I'm buying a new pump!