Posted: 5/30/2009 1:03:55 PM EDT
| About a month ago my A/C unit stopped blowing cold air. The sevice man said all the freon had leaked out. He recommended replacing the whole unit because there is no way find the leak and fix it. He said he could charge the system but wasn't sure how long it would last. I had him charge it. Well, yesterday was how long it lasted. If replacement is the only answer does anyone have any advice? We live in Plano. House is about 1900ft. single story. All electric. Byant heat pump system. If I have to replace the system I would like to install better one depending on the price. Would someone install the system if I got the equipment? Any advice? e5mike |
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He's full of shit, he's trying to rip you off. They make electronic leak dectors to find leaks. It could be something as simple as a loose schraider valve, that is the type like a bicycle tire valve. Check the unit outside where you would connect the gauges and see if they are oily, that is a sign of a leak. Now if the coil is leaking then yes it needs to be replaced. It could be leaking at the evaperator coil, the one on the inside of the house, if it has a bolt up type connection it could be loose, check it too. I think you need to get another service company. The company I work for, we build apartments and manage them we used a company TDIndustries, I can not promise the service tech will be completely honest but they are a reputable company.
Something else you can try is to mix up some soap and water put in a spray bottle and spray it on all of the sweat joints and connections and see if it bubbles, if it does then there is your leak. good luck man, and like I said, get another A/C company. |
| Definitely get a different tech...from a reputable company. As txharleyrider says, there are leak detectors that should be standard equipment on EVERY real A/C techs truck. They are incredibly sensitive...on a day without a lot of wind, you should be able to find a leak that would takes many months to deplete the system. |
| I did notice the schraider valve had oil aroud it. Is this an easy repair? I'll try the soap and water tomorrow. One question about the soap and water. If there is no freon in the system, will it still make bubbles? Will the compressor build any pressure? Thanks for the help! |
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e5mike it may - or may not have enough pressure for bubbles... give it a try, and call another guy.... sheesh. eta: after all - the most that could happen to you, is that you could - get SHOCKED REAL BAD- and fuggin' KILLED - pokin' around in your 220 VOLT - 60 AMP A/C. your neighbors will know when they hear a big buzz, and their lights dim. " his flip flops are way over there -> " ... 
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If your seeing oil from the schrader valve go ahead and replace those. They are cheap. http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/3GD03 Then after you replace those get some one to run a leak check with one of the electronic detectors. If no leak is present outside then check the evap inside. If no leak there either then your problem is solved, unless the leak is in your lines somewhere. |
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Quoted:
If your seeing oil from the schrader valve go ahead and replace those. They are cheap. http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/3GD03 Then after you replace those get some one to run a leak check with one of the electronic detectors. If no leak is present outside then check the evap inside. If no leak there either then your problem is solved, unless the leak is in your lines somewhere. If you take out the valve stem without a special tool you will dump what freon is in the system. Plus you are required to have an EPA certification to work on A/C or Ref systems, otherwise it could cost you 25K dollars, they even pay up to 10K and more for people turning someone in with proof for venting freon. don't do anything other than trying the soap bubbles, if there is a small charge left it should show up, running the compressor will not cause it to build pressure if it is out of freon. When it is completely out the system is then at atmosperhic pressure. |
| There is also a leak stop that they can install in the system for around $39.95. I have been using this company for over 25 years; a friend's A/C guy told him the same story, r&r the system. My guy went out and did the leak stop and he is still going strong many months later. |
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Quoted:
There is also a leak stop that they can install in the system for around $39.95. I have been using this company for over 25 years; a friend's A/C guy told him the same story, r&r the system. My guy went out and did the leak stop and he is still going strong many months later. If the leak is to large the leak stop will not fix it. If it is leaking down in a month it is probably to large for the leak stop. Call another A/C company and get them to come out and check it. Some people are good at finding leaks and some people couldn't find the leak if you pointed to it. 
BigDozer66 |
