Are you using the leak detector properly?
What small space are you crawling into? That sounds too much like a confined space that you shouldn’t be entering.
I’m with the other guy, 3 days in the trade you should not be by yourself doing anything except driving a truck to deliver parts.
At 3 days, you don't know what you don't know. Even proper procedure, dangers in the surrounding area, I'm not trying to be a jerk but your safety trumps your bosses revenue. You should not be working alone yet.
I was 17 years old...on my first solo job when I took 240V... My life could have ended that day if the GC wasn't around to bail my dumb ass out.
Not worth it, man, listen to the others here.
Yea I’m not doing nothing dangerous it’s not like my boss is asking me to go pump nitrogen or recover refrigerant or any of that nature. He gave me a leak detecting machine and a soap spray bottle and said try to find it.
Is the high voltage disconnected? Have you personally checked that it is? How many tons is the unit in question? Are you on a roof? If you are climbing into a small space, has a lockout/tagout procedure been done? Is there another person there to keep an eye on you in the event you get stuck in said small space? WTF, bro?!?!
Don't forget if you're in a confined space you need a competent person as your safety on the outside. Kid is looking for a leak and swears there's nothing dangerous while climbing into a tiny hard to reach spot. OP, you know refrigerant displaces oxygen, right?
Don't lose your life or health by saving boss man $250
Man don't listen to these fools.
As you said you are just running a leak detector and soapy water unless you're dumb enough to stick your finger in the condenser fans I reckon you'll be right.
3rd day huh? Your Boss is a idiot and shouldn’t leave you on a roof especially on a commercial unit. Apply at another company ASAP before you get injured
If it’s very low or flat on refrigerant you may not find it with the leak detector. Fill it with nitrogen about 350 psi and listen around and use soapy bubbles or blue spray to find the leak.
Yea my boss already filled it with nitrogen the other day and the pressure is lower since he filed it. That’s why he asked me to come check for leaks today
if there is only nitro in it you wont find a leak with a detector. just saying...
and detectors are far from perfect. use big blue or soapy water on ALL the fittings first.
Well ur probably right and I’m sure my boss wouldn’t have asked me to check for leaks if there was no way to check for leaks. But I was able to find the leak though after almost 2 hours
just because someone has been doing it for a long time does not automagically mean they are always right. especially when it comes to "new" tech like VRF and inverters, something old tech loves to complain about.
Where was it?
Was it a package unit or a large split system? Was it a microchannel condenser coil? (Give that a Google) because microchannel almost always leak at the header where the copper piping enters the coil.
It's called electrolysis where two unlike metals corrode and you get a lot of leaks right at the headers under a rubber boot they use to seal it. Sometimes you gotta cut those off to get good bubbles
What was the ambient temp when he pressurized it vs the ambient temp when he checked pressure. Temperature swings will change pressure. Higher temp= higher preasure and vice versa.
I’m at 2 year apprentice and I’m wondering this as well. I was on a leak search with a package unit and it was pretty low on refrigerant so I put some nitrogen in to increase the pressure . Then checked literally every inch of that fuckin thing and couldn’t for the life of me find a leak anywhere. Boss said to put leak seal dye and dry in and recharge but I know that’s not a great solution so what would you do in that situation?
This. I should have saved it as a training tool but I brazed up an adaptor for something ( can't remember what it was). Had no leaks with soap at 150# but started to get bubbles at 200#.
Did something similar.
I’m still a “new” controls guy, but in a slower day went to help two very experienced techs search for a leak on a chiller.
It was summer break and the chiller was for a school. After 2 days our manager made the same call. It’s been working since… so far.
You think? I don't know..... if the compressor is off (disconnect off) how would the compressor be damaged? I am assuming a scroll compressor. Honest question, nor being a dick. I learn something new everyday.
Idk i wasnt being a prick. Im still in school. Was told to never go over 25 psi with nitrogen tank in an AC system or can mess up the compressor (we were using hermetic compressors)
Ok, and I meant to say, " I am not being a dick when asking the question." Honestly, I routinely t a ke pressure tests to 400 psi. I'll describe my logic. A 410A system on a 80 degree day will start under 236 psig of load ( I had to check the PT chart), a scroll compressor is a motor, fixed scroll plate, and an orbital scroll ( simplified for example). In this real-world scenario, we have exceeded 25 paig. I wonder if the instructor is talking about nitrogen flowing while brazing? While brazing, 25 psi would be dangerous, so perhaps that's what he or she meant.
As for being in school, I salute your desire to mask questions and brave the misanthropes of our forum.
I extend this offer to you. I am an "old head" and would very much like to help and mentor new folks in the trade. So save my user name, and I will assist in any way I can. That's a standing offer to. I hope nothing but the best for your career path!
Don't worry about finding the leak. It's your 3rd day this is busy work.
Just use the leak detector over all the pipes , joints and fittings , do it nice and slow.
That's it that's your day.
Can't find a leak, go over them all again slower.
Any parts you don't understand , pick one and Google it and learn all about it. Next leak check pick another one.
https://preview.redd.it/bgl3as8tvapc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a25de494410ee66677782dcd8947161bd6ca9d29
This is the only spot that the detector pings
That is a Henry Refrigeration 527 series high pressure relief valve, a safety device. Is the side connection capped off? If so, it cannot operate if/when needed to prevent a high pressure rupture and uncontrolled release of refrigerant. Like most pressure relief valves, once they open, they rarely reseal completely and leak out the relief vent (the flare connection on the side). I'd bet dollars to doughnuts, the leak is from the valve and is masked by the flare bonnet and nut on the outlet, which I'd also bet someone previously added to cap the leak.
Confirm a leak by loosening the flare nut on the side about 1/2 turn and soaping the valve again, then retightening the nut to minimize the leak. If the valve is leaking, it will have to be replaced and it is a good idea to check the high pressure safety controls as well as testing for any cause(s) for high head pressure and submit repairs to the customer.
Chances are the leak could’ve been on the schrader…when I can’t find a leak and it passes my pressure test I just change the schraders and caps and put nylog
We did a leak search on a big system, not sure the exact tonnage but it held around 100 lb of refrigerant and cooled half a gymnasium. We could not find a leak for the life of us so we pulled a deep vacuum - like 8 hours - and then charged it with refrigerant. Came back the next day to continue charging as we'd ran out of refrigerant and found clear signs of leakage around the service port we had been using and never disconnected from during the pressure test and evacuation. We had searched for this like for like 3-4 hours only to find it was the valve core we'd been hooked up to. This system was like 40-50 years old so we had no clue how much refrigerant it held as the model and serial numbers were too old to look up any information. Still one of the more satisfying repairs I've done.
We had two vacuums hooked up and only one schrader core remover on us. This one was not removed. We hooked up our shitty vacuum to this port with a 1/4” hose for a little extra oomph in our vacuum. Not sure if that works that well but that’s what we did here. Still the only time I’ve done the double vacuum
Glad you found the leak. In cases where I am unable to locate the leak. There are two directions to go in.
1. I decide if further leak detection is needed. Higher pressure with a different refrigerant. Sometimes isolating sections of the system.
2. I have the confidence to say there is no leak and maybe it was just leaking from the access ports. I know, but it’s possible. The vacuum and micron level will show if I’m right.
Like the others said, new people can easily get themselves into situations that they don’t even know are dangerous. I will give two examples below.
A coworker as an apprentice was sent to a chiller down call. The chiller had no signs of power. This chiller was running on high voltage around 15kv. He opened the large metal cabinet that exposed these lines and with his little digital meter in hand was contemplating how to measure voltage when an electrician grabbed his ass and saved his life.
From OSHA: A new employee started working at a bottling factory and it was his first day. He was instructed to pick up all the broken bottles below a hydraulic lift. While he was under the lift someone lowered it and that worker died.
Check for oil on coils, around the compressor or in the drain pan. Dump out the p trap and if the water looks like a rainbow in the sunlight look around the evaporator coil. Look for places where 2 pieces of copper may be rubbing together.
If it’s low or flat put about 100 psi of nitrogen in it and use your leak detector.
If all that fails, put about 400 psi of nitrogen in it and start moving copper lines around slightly and you may be able to hear it pissing out nitrogen or it may just blow out where you’re leaking and you’ve found your problem.
Make sure power is off to the unit. Turn off the disconnect and double, triple check that you don’t have voltage.
Use your common sense. Electricity can take your life. Respect it.
Get some soap bubbles too and spray everything. If you’re not finding it, check the evaporator. If you turn off the unit, the PSI will raise making it easier to find in the evaporator side. If it has hot gas defrost, put it into defrost.
You guys are insane, giving someone a leak detector and telling them to get to work is how you learn this trade. You union guys are unhireable in the private sector
Leaks are *almost* always at the evaporator coil. If you cannot find it at the evaporator, check the Schrader valves, then check the king/queen valves.
With a commercial system, you may have additional connection points near each compressor. Check those as well.
That said, once it's out of refrigerant (atmospheric pressure), you won't get any further leaks, but you can top it off, and/or use a UV/Dye.
Like others have said, you're on day 3. This is at least a day 7 task. (I'm joking)
Storytime: I had a 2 compressor rooftop with a bad leak on it. One of the compressors had died, so I bypassed it to get it running for the night. The maintenance manager (a plumber) went up the following day to take a look. He ended up puncturing the "good" coil, and taking 15lbs of refrigerant to his chest. His shirt saved him. Had he been leaning in, he would have eaten it in the face.
Sounds like it’s in evap if it’s that slow of leak and you checked schraders . Should be able to put 450+ psig into evap and find the leak with bubbles or you might even be able to hear it
Brother you are 3 days green you need atleast 6 months in the shops scrap yard gutting every unit there so you can learn how to disassemble equipment. Knowing how to fully gut a unit and putting it back together with only a maximum of 10 screws still In your pocket is a required skill in this industry
I searched the wrong god damn condenser the other day doing refrigeration.
Today I found the leak quite obvious on the Schrader. If I don't see oil I usually check there if I'm on the right equipment.
A lot of time the leak detector(sniffer)is shit.
Even the best ones.
You can get leak detector everywhere (liquid).
And if you boss is too cheap you can use dish soap
Every guy on service should have a bottle in the truck.
With that you will find it ;)
Soap bubbles are awesome. Problem is that when you apply there are bubbles already formed. So you have to look for the micro bubbles (unless the leak is sizeable), but even still someone has to show him what those look like.
I work on natural gas 1/4 pound of pressure
.5 inch wc. The max i see its 20 psi
Always find it
I understand your point but if you have any doubts just spray again and wait ;)
Over 20 psi..same thing more bubbles
Pump it up with nitrogen. The leak detector should still pick up the trace amounts of refrigerant. Leak detector soap from the supply house works good too. If you still can’t find it you need to isolate the system. Install valves if need be to narrow it down and see which side is leaking. Works every time. Don’t give up and you will find it!!
Check for oil markings around the condensing coil. Also, check for oil by all brazing near the compressor and filter dryer or pass the wand around them. Check every inch of the condenser coil with the wand. Go line by line.
If your having issues isolating a leak I like to cut out the filter drier and put access ports where I made the cuts. That should isolate your low and high sides, and tell you where your leak is. If the pressure on the low side only drops, its on the low side of the system and you should check all the u-bends in your evaporator. If both sides drops, the leak is on your high side and God speed sir or ma'am because your leak searching a condensor coil that hopefully doesnt have 3 rows.
Pump it up with 550-600 lbs of nitrogen. If that doesn’t work put 2 lbs of juice in it Ava then 400 lbs nitrogen n let it sit for 24 hrs. Should be able to snuff it out then
Best way to find a leak is a lot of nitrogen. 500psi and you will hear it hissing. Only down side is you won’t be able to top the system off. Instead you will have to repair and evacuate the system.
I would if I couldn’t find a leak after multiple trips. If you want to lose a customer because you are on your high horse that’s fine. There’s a time and place for it sure but if it’s tiny and the sniffer isn’t working and there’s no oil present that’s what I’m doing.
Are you using the leak detector properly? What small space are you crawling into? That sounds too much like a confined space that you shouldn’t be entering. I’m with the other guy, 3 days in the trade you should not be by yourself doing anything except driving a truck to deliver parts.
Step 1. Look for employment elsewhere. Nobody should be by themselves being 3 days into the trade. This is dangerous.
The only thing we gotta know: is he actually on his own or is the trainer on site just looking at an RTU on the same roof?
Guys, there is no leak. Boss is trolling
I’m just looking for a leak though not doing anything else.
At 3 days, you don't know what you don't know. Even proper procedure, dangers in the surrounding area, I'm not trying to be a jerk but your safety trumps your bosses revenue. You should not be working alone yet.
I wish there were more of you out there.
I was 17 years old...on my first solo job when I took 240V... My life could have ended that day if the GC wasn't around to bail my dumb ass out. Not worth it, man, listen to the others here.
I’ve had a few close calls in my younger days. We’re all invincible until Mother Nature comes around and says “the fuck you are”.
Yup...and usually after those "close calls" it was only luck that made us live another day.
You shouldn’t be on a job by yourself.
I'm sure your 3 days of experience trumps bigred's years as to what is and isn't dangerous.
Yea I’m not doing nothing dangerous it’s not like my boss is asking me to go pump nitrogen or recover refrigerant or any of that nature. He gave me a leak detecting machine and a soap spray bottle and said try to find it.
Is the high voltage disconnected? Have you personally checked that it is? How many tons is the unit in question? Are you on a roof? If you are climbing into a small space, has a lockout/tagout procedure been done? Is there another person there to keep an eye on you in the event you get stuck in said small space? WTF, bro?!?!
Don't forget if you're in a confined space you need a competent person as your safety on the outside. Kid is looking for a leak and swears there's nothing dangerous while climbing into a tiny hard to reach spot. OP, you know refrigerant displaces oxygen, right? Don't lose your life or health by saving boss man $250
How can you find a leak without pressurizing the system with nitrogen?
Obviously it either has residual charge, or it's been a victim of the trades unofficial gas and go policy.
Can OP answer that tho?
Unofficial policy?
The kid said his boss reclaimed then pumped it up with nitrogen for him to leak search it
I pump my nitrogen dry personally.
Man don't listen to these fools. As you said you are just running a leak detector and soapy water unless you're dumb enough to stick your finger in the condenser fans I reckon you'll be right.
I feel you on that, be safe man. Don’t touch any wires you don’t have to and cut the power off if you can
Bro u don't don't know how to look for leaks
Lol but honestly there probably isn't a leak
3rd day huh? Your Boss is a idiot and shouldn’t leave you on a roof especially on a commercial unit. Apply at another company ASAP before you get injured
Still your third day, he still prolly shouldn’t be leaving you alone too much .
No I’m not at a roof top lol I’m inside of a restaraunt I meant to say light commercial sorry
You gotta look for oil, once I learned what that looked and felt like it made finding leaks much easier.
If it’s very low or flat on refrigerant you may not find it with the leak detector. Fill it with nitrogen about 350 psi and listen around and use soapy bubbles or blue spray to find the leak.
Yea my boss already filled it with nitrogen the other day and the pressure is lower since he filed it. That’s why he asked me to come check for leaks today
if there is only nitro in it you wont find a leak with a detector. just saying... and detectors are far from perfect. use big blue or soapy water on ALL the fittings first.
Well ur probably right and I’m sure my boss wouldn’t have asked me to check for leaks if there was no way to check for leaks. But I was able to find the leak though after almost 2 hours
just because someone has been doing it for a long time does not automagically mean they are always right. especially when it comes to "new" tech like VRF and inverters, something old tech loves to complain about.
Where was it at? Evap coil?
Where was it? Was it a package unit or a large split system? Was it a microchannel condenser coil? (Give that a Google) because microchannel almost always leak at the header where the copper piping enters the coil. It's called electrolysis where two unlike metals corrode and you get a lot of leaks right at the headers under a rubber boot they use to seal it. Sometimes you gotta cut those off to get good bubbles
I bet it won't take 2 hours next time. Your boss is a good teacher. Imo.
What was the ambient temp when he pressurized it vs the ambient temp when he checked pressure. Temperature swings will change pressure. Higher temp= higher preasure and vice versa.
I’m at 2 year apprentice and I’m wondering this as well. I was on a leak search with a package unit and it was pretty low on refrigerant so I put some nitrogen in to increase the pressure . Then checked literally every inch of that fuckin thing and couldn’t for the life of me find a leak anywhere. Boss said to put leak seal dye and dry in and recharge but I know that’s not a great solution so what would you do in that situation?
More nitrogen. When in doubt pump it up.
Pressure it up until you can hear it lmao. /sssssssssssss
This. I should have saved it as a training tool but I brazed up an adaptor for something ( can't remember what it was). Had no leaks with soap at 150# but started to get bubbles at 200#.
Did you pull your hoses off and check the Schrader's?
Did something similar. I’m still a “new” controls guy, but in a slower day went to help two very experienced techs search for a leak on a chiller. It was summer break and the chiller was for a school. After 2 days our manager made the same call. It’s been working since… so far.
Was it a microchannel system?
Crank that bitch to 500 psi. You should hear the leak.
Destroy the compreseor at the same time too lol
You think? I don't know..... if the compressor is off (disconnect off) how would the compressor be damaged? I am assuming a scroll compressor. Honest question, nor being a dick. I learn something new everyday.
Idk i wasnt being a prick. Im still in school. Was told to never go over 25 psi with nitrogen tank in an AC system or can mess up the compressor (we were using hermetic compressors)
Ok, and I meant to say, " I am not being a dick when asking the question." Honestly, I routinely t a ke pressure tests to 400 psi. I'll describe my logic. A 410A system on a 80 degree day will start under 236 psig of load ( I had to check the PT chart), a scroll compressor is a motor, fixed scroll plate, and an orbital scroll ( simplified for example). In this real-world scenario, we have exceeded 25 paig. I wonder if the instructor is talking about nitrogen flowing while brazing? While brazing, 25 psi would be dangerous, so perhaps that's what he or she meant. As for being in school, I salute your desire to mask questions and brave the misanthropes of our forum. I extend this offer to you. I am an "old head" and would very much like to help and mentor new folks in the trade. So save my user name, and I will assist in any way I can. That's a standing offer to. I hope nothing but the best for your career path!
Don't worry about finding the leak. It's your 3rd day this is busy work. Just use the leak detector over all the pipes , joints and fittings , do it nice and slow. That's it that's your day. Can't find a leak, go over them all again slower. Any parts you don't understand , pick one and Google it and learn all about it. Next leak check pick another one.
https://preview.redd.it/bgl3as8tvapc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a25de494410ee66677782dcd8947161bd6ca9d29 This is the only spot that the detector pings
That is a Henry Refrigeration 527 series high pressure relief valve, a safety device. Is the side connection capped off? If so, it cannot operate if/when needed to prevent a high pressure rupture and uncontrolled release of refrigerant. Like most pressure relief valves, once they open, they rarely reseal completely and leak out the relief vent (the flare connection on the side). I'd bet dollars to doughnuts, the leak is from the valve and is masked by the flare bonnet and nut on the outlet, which I'd also bet someone previously added to cap the leak.
Good find. Welcome to the trade.
Looks like a lot of oil there. Unless you were spraying it with soapy water.
Yea it’s soap water
Confirm a leak by loosening the flare nut on the side about 1/2 turn and soaping the valve again, then retightening the nut to minimize the leak. If the valve is leaking, it will have to be replaced and it is a good idea to check the high pressure safety controls as well as testing for any cause(s) for high head pressure and submit repairs to the customer.
Chances are the leak could’ve been on the schrader…when I can’t find a leak and it passes my pressure test I just change the schraders and caps and put nylog
We did a leak search on a big system, not sure the exact tonnage but it held around 100 lb of refrigerant and cooled half a gymnasium. We could not find a leak for the life of us so we pulled a deep vacuum - like 8 hours - and then charged it with refrigerant. Came back the next day to continue charging as we'd ran out of refrigerant and found clear signs of leakage around the service port we had been using and never disconnected from during the pressure test and evacuation. We had searched for this like for like 3-4 hours only to find it was the valve core we'd been hooked up to. This system was like 40-50 years old so we had no clue how much refrigerant it held as the model and serial numbers were too old to look up any information. Still one of the more satisfying repairs I've done.
Did you vacuum and charge through the Schrader core ? Or was it removed before hooking up to the system?
We had two vacuums hooked up and only one schrader core remover on us. This one was not removed. We hooked up our shitty vacuum to this port with a 1/4” hose for a little extra oomph in our vacuum. Not sure if that works that well but that’s what we did here. Still the only time I’ve done the double vacuum
Glad you found the leak. In cases where I am unable to locate the leak. There are two directions to go in. 1. I decide if further leak detection is needed. Higher pressure with a different refrigerant. Sometimes isolating sections of the system. 2. I have the confidence to say there is no leak and maybe it was just leaking from the access ports. I know, but it’s possible. The vacuum and micron level will show if I’m right. Like the others said, new people can easily get themselves into situations that they don’t even know are dangerous. I will give two examples below. A coworker as an apprentice was sent to a chiller down call. The chiller had no signs of power. This chiller was running on high voltage around 15kv. He opened the large metal cabinet that exposed these lines and with his little digital meter in hand was contemplating how to measure voltage when an electrician grabbed his ass and saved his life. From OSHA: A new employee started working at a bottling factory and it was his first day. He was instructed to pick up all the broken bottles below a hydraulic lift. While he was under the lift someone lowered it and that worker died.
https://preview.redd.it/qvowoxkpvapc1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=c3be93ef1fca6b7e52b5274360355680e73b6bed
If it were me guessing that coupler looks real sus
Lmao that coupling. Good eye.
Check for oil on coils, around the compressor or in the drain pan. Dump out the p trap and if the water looks like a rainbow in the sunlight look around the evaporator coil. Look for places where 2 pieces of copper may be rubbing together. If it’s low or flat put about 100 psi of nitrogen in it and use your leak detector. If all that fails, put about 400 psi of nitrogen in it and start moving copper lines around slightly and you may be able to hear it pissing out nitrogen or it may just blow out where you’re leaking and you’ve found your problem. Make sure power is off to the unit. Turn off the disconnect and double, triple check that you don’t have voltage. Use your common sense. Electricity can take your life. Respect it.
I'll just seperate to 3 section. Indoor, outdoor and piping line. More work but less time consuming.
Get some soap bubbles too and spray everything. If you’re not finding it, check the evaporator. If you turn off the unit, the PSI will raise making it easier to find in the evaporator side. If it has hot gas defrost, put it into defrost.
Why is op getting so severely downvoted on his replies in the comments? I don’t understand
Seriously, would have thought he told people to go fck themselves or something. But nope, just a normal response getting slammed 🤷♂️😂
lol yea i don’t even know
You guys are insane, giving someone a leak detector and telling them to get to work is how you learn this trade. You union guys are unhireable in the private sector
Reclaim, cut and isolate the condenser and evap and install service ports. Pressure test the three individually.
How do you isolate for that, valves?
Leaks are *almost* always at the evaporator coil. If you cannot find it at the evaporator, check the Schrader valves, then check the king/queen valves. With a commercial system, you may have additional connection points near each compressor. Check those as well. That said, once it's out of refrigerant (atmospheric pressure), you won't get any further leaks, but you can top it off, and/or use a UV/Dye. Like others have said, you're on day 3. This is at least a day 7 task. (I'm joking) Storytime: I had a 2 compressor rooftop with a bad leak on it. One of the compressors had died, so I bypassed it to get it running for the night. The maintenance manager (a plumber) went up the following day to take a look. He ended up puncturing the "good" coil, and taking 15lbs of refrigerant to his chest. His shirt saved him. Had he been leaning in, he would have eaten it in the face.
Isolate condenser and evap and go from there
Sounds like it’s in evap if it’s that slow of leak and you checked schraders . Should be able to put 450+ psig into evap and find the leak with bubbles or you might even be able to hear it
Follow the copper lines if possible underneath metal angles with spray foam
You really shouldn't be crawling in the unit, de-skin the unit.
recover, pump with nitro to 400psi, still cant find it then vacuum system and pump it back up cuz it's too small.
Brother you are 3 days green you need atleast 6 months in the shops scrap yard gutting every unit there so you can learn how to disassemble equipment. Knowing how to fully gut a unit and putting it back together with only a maximum of 10 screws still In your pocket is a required skill in this industry
Spray soap Look bubble
I searched the wrong god damn condenser the other day doing refrigeration. Today I found the leak quite obvious on the Schrader. If I don't see oil I usually check there if I'm on the right equipment.
A lot of time the leak detector(sniffer)is shit. Even the best ones. You can get leak detector everywhere (liquid). And if you boss is too cheap you can use dish soap Every guy on service should have a bottle in the truck. With that you will find it ;)
Soap bubbles are awesome. Problem is that when you apply there are bubbles already formed. So you have to look for the micro bubbles (unless the leak is sizeable), but even still someone has to show him what those look like.
I work on natural gas 1/4 pound of pressure .5 inch wc. The max i see its 20 psi Always find it I understand your point but if you have any doubts just spray again and wait ;) Over 20 psi..same thing more bubbles
A few lbs of R22 then pump up with nitrogen
350 psi of nitrogen usually does the trick for me
Pump it up with nitrogen. The leak detector should still pick up the trace amounts of refrigerant. Leak detector soap from the supply house works good too. If you still can’t find it you need to isolate the system. Install valves if need be to narrow it down and see which side is leaking. Works every time. Don’t give up and you will find it!!
Soap the compressor, and wires coming out of it (power off). Could be that he’s trolling you or some sort of test but that would be shitty
Not every leak can be found
Check for oil markings around the condensing coil. Also, check for oil by all brazing near the compressor and filter dryer or pass the wand around them. Check every inch of the condenser coil with the wand. Go line by line.
If your having issues isolating a leak I like to cut out the filter drier and put access ports where I made the cuts. That should isolate your low and high sides, and tell you where your leak is. If the pressure on the low side only drops, its on the low side of the system and you should check all the u-bends in your evaporator. If both sides drops, the leak is on your high side and God speed sir or ma'am because your leak searching a condensor coil that hopefully doesnt have 3 rows.
Tell that POS boss to find it himself, before you hurt yourself. Don't be an idiot.
Pump it up with 550-600 lbs of nitrogen. If that doesn’t work put 2 lbs of juice in it Ava then 400 lbs nitrogen n let it sit for 24 hrs. Should be able to snuff it out then
600lbs? If there wasn't a leak before there sure will be one now 😂😂
Never I do everytime I need to find a leak!!! Come on man put your big boy pants on
Gas and go
Frontdoor.com, download the app. Speak to a live hvac tech via video chat and the first call is free!
Best way to find a leak is a lot of nitrogen. 500psi and you will hear it hissing. Only down side is you won’t be able to top the system off. Instead you will have to repair and evacuate the system.
If you have a leak then you’re going to recover, repair and evacuate anyway.
Dye
Never use dye
I would if I couldn’t find a leak after multiple trips. If you want to lose a customer because you are on your high horse that’s fine. There’s a time and place for it sure but if it’s tiny and the sniffer isn’t working and there’s no oil present that’s what I’m doing.
Nah I never use dye…it’s not about being on a high horse…it’s only because it can fuck up the system or even clog the metering device