i'm looking for someone who will be committed to finding the sloooooooooow leak i have in my central AC system. It is such a slow leak of freon (R22 whatever you call it) that prior techs using the "sniffer", and even a red dye pack have not been able to find.

 

its so slow that a full charge in spring time will last me the entire summer, but as soon as try to run it the following year its dead.

 

2 different guys have spent an hour on it, we are to the point where the recomendation was to cut the copper pipe in the basement, pressure and cap with a gauge each side (one side being the run to the air handler, the other being the run to the condensor) to determine which "side" is leaking.

 

other than that they have no way of determining if the leak is in the handler, the copper run, or the condensor. Both prior techs said it is a miserable task, and hence i am not getting phone calls returned.

 

i'm hoping to find a reliable guy who would want to take on this task.. cash job.. hopefully they can come on a weekend.. i need this done ASAP because the warm weather will be here soon, and if charging and capping is the way to go i want it to be on for at least 2 months to find the culprit.

 

PM me if you know someone who might want to take it on.

I have to ask. Has anyone pulled the charge on the unit and weighed it in?

look for signs of oil around brazed joints and on service fittings, check the brass caps on the outside unit make sure they are nice and snug

Not sure what you mean buy weigh the charge? Each spring they tell me the coolant has completely disappeared

 

This will be my 3rd spring doing it and I just want it fixed instead of dropping a hundred each time a guy comes out

Did they physically look at the condenser coil? The die should show up if installed correctly.

if you have a contact number i can pass on, i can get you in contact with one of my customers. he's based here in cherry hill, but he travels..........

 

company name is D&L Custom Services.

 

if i overstepped by putting his name up here, i apologize..........

I'm in your area,You haven't mentioned how old unit is.I seem to find a lot of leaks in the evap coil.I have also used leak stop additive with decent results.My primary leak Check method is Nitro and soap solution.

Not sure what you mean buy weigh the charge? Each spring they tell me the coolant has completely disappeared

 

This will be my 3rd spring doing it and I just want it fixed instead of dropping a hundred each time a guy comes out

if they are telling you that you are out of gas then this isn't a concern. Just To explain. If it's a pound a year that isn't necessarily an indication of a leak. I've seen systems that were over charged masking the problem of a partially clogged evaporator coil. But being bone dry is a different animal

 

sent from my Samsung Note 2

 

 

From what you're describing It sounds like a leak on the low side of the system. If it was on the high side of the system, I don't think the refrigerant would last the summer.

 

http://inspectapedia.com/aircond/aircond1123.htm

 

I'm in agreement with mpflood about using dry nitrogen to increase the pressure to the max system test pressure. When you have about 350-400 PSI, then you start looking for the leak with a good electronic leak detector and a soap bubble solution.

 

When you do that its just a matter of time before the leak is located, hell some times you may hear it.

 

I'm not a fan of using dye and I have never used the stop leak stuff. Finding slow leaks is a patient HVAC techs game!!!

 

Whats the age of the equipment and piping?

 

 

I'm in agreement with mpflood about using dry nitrogen to increase the pressure to the max system test pressure. When you have about 350-400 PSI, then you start looking for the leak with a good electronic leak detector and a soap bubble solution.

 

When you do that its just a matter of time before the leak is located, hell some times you may hear it.

 

Thirds on this advice

I've got 10+ years doing HVAC, and if your guys haven't been able to square you away, find another service company.

Not to mention that refilling a system that you know to be venting R22 to atmosphere can be a violation of the clean air act, sec 608

(Big fine for them, not you)

Where are you located?

Replies for all. I am located near Wayne

 

Split system installed 2006. Unit in question starts outside enters basement then up chimney flew to air handler in attic. Call it 25 feet

 

Worked 3 summers then died. Needed recharging 2 summers ago then again last summer The installer is unknown was part of large addition job. The GC is unreachable

 

The two prior guys spent over an hour looking with flashlight and or the high tech sniffer looking for the leaks. They opened the handler and the condenser and looked hard I watched them the whole time. I can honestly say they didn't attempt it half assed.

 

Okay so we all agree to max the pressure up to find it. I need a guy to do that and was hoping to just not start in the phone book.

If it looses its whole charge that fast it is a major leak. It most likely holds about 8 lbs of R22. That leak should have an oily mess somewhere. Unfortunalty it is most likely in the condensing unit or the line set. That has been my experinece. If they cant find the leak and it did loose all its charge I would put my money on the line set. Also, R22 has gone up a LOT. just charging it may be very costly now.

Ken