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Bryant Evolution AC Condenser and Ductwork Installation

Bob Jackson
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by Bob Jackson

The new Bryant Evolution condenser (outdoor compressor unit) and sheet metal duct upgrades are installed to replace the old central air conditioning system.

Series index:

Bryant Evolution AC Condenser Installation

Heavy rain was forecast so the HVAC crew put a pop-up canopy over the work area. The old condenser is removed and the new 3 ton Bryant 189BNV air conditioner condenser is moved by hand truck to the side of the house. As mentioned in the previous article, I double checked the copper refrigerant lines by shining a flashlight in the tubes. The outdoor tubes were bright and shiny with no corrosion or debris:

Bryant Evolution Variable-Speed Air Conditioner Model 189BNV Installation
Bryant Evolution Variable-Speed Air Conditioner Model 189BNV Installation

The new unit is set on a large plastic mounting pad with a least 24 inches of space between it and the other old AC condenser that I’m keeping for now. The refrigerant lines were flushed with cleaner before brazing new splices between the old line set and the condenser:

A look at the control panel circuit boards (.pdf) to manage the 5 stage (running speeds) compressor and diagnostics:

Bryant Evolution Variable-Speed 3 Ton Air Conditioner Model 189BNV Electronics
Bryant Evolution Variable-Speed 3 Ton Air Conditioner Model 189BNV Electronics

A new air conditioner electrical whip was installed because the old whip was too short to reach the new condenser.

With the new evaporator coils and condenser installed and refrigerant lines sealed, the AC techs:

  • Pressure tested the refrigerant lines to about 300 psi with dry nitrogen gas to check for leaks.
    They waited about 30 mins to see if the pressure gauge held steady.
  • Ran a vacuum pump to pull a deep vacuum to remove air and dehydrate the refrigerant lines, condenser and evaporator coil.
    The techs ran the vacuum pump for at least 30 mins to boil off any water in the lines and checked the gauge to verify the vacuum is holding steady.

While waiting for the vacuum pump to do it’s thing the techs turned their attention to the ductwork upgrades.

Sheet Metal Supply Duct – Mixing Box Fabrication

An optional but recommended improvement is replacing the too small duct board mixing boxes with sheet metal for better air flow and to clean up branch duct connections. I liked this because I had previously replaced the 12 inch flex trunk ducts with sheet metal. This is one of the old duct board mixing boxes:

Rigid Ductboard Trunk Duct and Flexible Duct Branch Lines
Rigid Ductboard Trunk Duct and Flexible Duct Branch Lines

The new mixing boxes are fabricated from 12 inch round snap lock sheet metal duct. I invited the crew to work in the garage to stay out of the rain. To make the mixing boxes a prefabricated metal end cap is fastened to one end of the duct pipe with screws and sealed mastic and HVAC metal foil tape. A fiberglass insulation wrap is cut to length, the long side taped to the duct pipe then the pipe is rolled up in the wrap. The insulation seam is then sealed with HVAC tape and mastic:

Central Air Conditioner Installation - Round Sheet Metal Trunk Duct Insulation Wrap
Central Air Conditioner Installation – Round Sheet Metal Trunk Duct Insulation Wrap

Holes for the flex duct collars are located and cut in the insulation wrap and sheet metal duct. Air Tite® saddles (a.k.a. “collars”) with a peel & stick adhesive gasket are pressed on the pipe, secured with sheet metal screws then sealed with mastic. It was a very efficient process seeing a pro at work:

Central Air Conditioner Installation - Round Sheet Metal Trunk Saddle Take Offs for Branch Ducts
Central Air Conditioner Installation – Round Sheet Metal Trunk Saddle Take Offs for Branch Ducts

The new 12″ inch round mixing box is connected to the main supply trunk with an adjustable elbow, the flex ducts connected, sealed with mastic, HVAC tape and large zip ties. The new ductwork looks so much better:

New Round Sheet Metal Trunk Duct and Flex Duct Branch Lines
New Round Sheet Metal Trunk Duct and Flex Duct Branch Lines

Return Air Plenum Trunk Duct

The old return air ducts were undersized for the ~1200 CFM air flow needed by the 3 ton central air system. The solution is to:

  1. Replace the 14 in x 14 in to 10 inch round ceiling register box in the hallway with a 14 in x 20 in to 12 in round box.
    The old ceiling box, 2×4 cross framing and 10 inch flex duct was removed, the drywall opening cut to 20 inches long, new 2×4 cross members installed and a 12 inch round flex duct installed from the ceiling box to the return air plenum.
  2. Replace an 6 inch ceiling return with 8 inch duct and vent in another room.
    I chose my upstairs office above the network equipment wall rack because it generates a lot of heat. The heat is a bother in the summer but nice in the winter.

The new hallway ceiling box being fitted in the rough opening. The box will be fastened with screws to the joists and 2×4 cross members set in the flat interior sides:

14 in x 20 in to 12 in Round Ceiling Return Air Box
14 in x 20 in to 12 in Round Ceiling Return Air Box

New 12 inch ceiling return after installing the grill:

New 14 in x 20 in to 12 in Round Duct Hallway Return Air Register
New 14 in x 20 in to 12 in Round Duct Hallway Return Air Register

Completed Bryant Evolution Installation

View of the new Bryant Evolution air handler in the attic:

New 3 Ton Bryant Evolution Attic Air Handler
New 3 Ton Bryant Evolution Attic Air Handler

Annotated air handler system components:

Attic Air Handler Installation - Bryant Evolution 315A Furnace and CAPMP Evaporator Coil
Attic Air Handler Installation – Bryant Evolution 315A Furnace and CAPMP Evaporator Coil

EZ Flex Cabinet Air Filter

Instead of a standard air filter I chose the Carrier / Bryant EZ Flex Cabinet Air Filter EZXCAB high flow air filter. The filter has a much greater surface area for better air flow. It typically only needs to be changed once or twice a year.

The panel unscrews without tools for easy access:

EZ Flex Cabinet Air Filter EZXCAB Front Panel Removal
EZ Flex Cabinet Air Filter EZXCAB Front Panel Removal

The filter panel has finger grabs and pulls out easily for changing the filter cartridge:

EZ Flex 20x25 Expandable Air Filter EXPXXUNV0020
EZ Flex 20×25 Expandable Air Filter EXPXXUNV0020

New Central Air System Commissioning

Commissioning the new central air system takes about an hour and consists of:

  • Charging the system with Puron (R-410A) refrigerant.
  • Install and configure the Evolution Connex WiFi thermostat.
    The gas furnace and AC condenser model and serials numbers are input so the thermostat knows exactly how to operate the equipment.
  • Test the heating and air conditioning operation.
  • Customer education – how to operate the thermostat, owner’s manuals, register the warranty with Bryant, answer questions, paperwork sign-off, etc.

The crew worked from 7am to 8pm (13 hours) including cleanup and loading up the old AC system to be hauled away. They could have finished in about 1/2 the time except for the ductwork which was time consuming.

Post Installation Central AC Maintenance

I forgot to ask the installers to put AC condensate pan tablets to prevent slime clogging the drain line. The next day I removed the evaporator coil access panel revealing split delta plate and plastic drain pan:

Carrier Bryant CAPMP A-Frame Evaporator Coil Split Delta Plate - Side View
Carrier Bryant CAPMP A-Frame Evaporator Coil Split Delta Plate – Side View

Closeup of the evaporator coil drain pan and drain line outlet at the far end:

Carrier Bryant CAPMP A-Frame Evaporator Coil Condensate Drain Pan
Carrier Bryant CAPMP A-Frame Evaporator Coil Condensate Drain Pan

I bought a bottle of RectorSeal Hydrex AC Drain Pan tablets and placed 6 tablets in the pan 2 tablets per ton for this 3 ton system per the instructions. Two tablets on the left & right sides of the coil and two in the front of the drain pan:

RectorSeal Hydrex AC Drain Pan Tablets in Evaporator Coil
RectorSeal Hydrex AC Drain Pan Tablets in Evaporator Coil

Leaf Guard Air Conditioner Cover Kit

My home is surrounded by tall trees and I wanted to prevent leaves, seeds and twigs from falling through the AC condenser grate like it did with my old unit:

AC Condenser Unit Interior View before Leaf Cleanout
AC Condenser Unit Interior View before Leaf Cleanout

I bought a 32in x 32in leaf guard AC cover that fits the 3 ton Bryant Evolution. The kit consists of a mesh cover and bungee cords with hooks:

Leaf Guard Air Conditioner Cover Kit
Leaf Guard Air Conditioner Cover Kit

Installation was simple by hooking the bungee cords to the side panel. The instructions recommend the bungee cords be snug but not tight:

Bryant Evolution 3 Ton Condenser with Leaf Guard Air Conditioner Cover
Bryant Evolution 3 Ton Condenser with Leaf Guard Air Conditioner Cover

Continue reading the Bryant Evolution Connex WiFi Thermostat & MyEvolution Smartphone App Review.

Thanks,

Bob

Bryant Evolution Central AC Installation
Bob Jackson
Bob Jackson
Technology product manager by day and a prolific handyman in the evenings and over the weekends. Bob was the founder of the original Handyman How To website and that tradition continues on this site with excellent new handyman content into the future.
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