DIY A/C Refill/Recharge

[bmarshall1]

The repair is next to the compressor (between the compressor and shrader valves). Can he either pump the system into the blower A frame or pump it into his tank then 'give it back' to me?

 

[Showkey]

The repair is next to the compressor (between the compressor and shrader valves). Can he either pump the system into the blower A frame or pump it into his tank then 'give it back' to me?

Pay to have the refrigerant recovered........then the guy sells it back to you, that’s a great business Plan. Q

Similar to builder that removes the topsoil during initial construction and then sells it back to you in the landscaping package

 

[brewchief]

In a situation like this I would bring an empty recovery tank thats been put in a vacuum, makes it easy to recover the charge and return it to the system.

FWIW differences in airflow could account for at least some of the difference in temperature drop.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[LS6 Tommy]

The repair is next to the compressor (between the compressor and shrader valves). Can he either pump the system into the blower A frame or pump it into his tank then 'give it back' to me?

Pay to have the refrigerant recovered........then the guy sells it back to you, that’s a great business Plan. Q

It's common, legal practice to recover the customer's refrigerant and then put it back into the same unit. It's not "sold back". You can't recover it and use it someplace else. That's not legal.

If a system has service valves you can pump it down into the condenser, repair the leak, leak check, evacuate and open the service valves. After that, you'll only have to finalize the charge to make up for what leaked out. Unfortunately, since your repair is on the "high" side of the system, recovering the refrigerant is the only way to do it.

Tommy

 

[jjrbus]

Hey Guys, sorry to go dark but I had a few other items needing attention, so...... here's the results. Living in SW FL there are a lot of sketchy contractors and I have had my share of them. I was not looking to dismiss anyone's trade or knowledge, but I can see now a few people on here have taken it upon themselves and were successful. I did not want one of the $29 "Check Up" guys to come out and upsell me (they recently busted a very large company for fraud in just this manner, predatory lending etc...).


=)

If it was Bruno air, someone actually recommended them to me a couple years ago. I did not call them as anyone doing that much advertising could not possibly be on the up and up. People think I am a disgruntled old coot when I say how bad the AC people are here in SW FL.

 

[bmarshall1]

Thanks Slow - Since the repair was done between the compressor and the valves, can the system be pumped into the lines leading to the interior A-Frame leaving the compressor empty?

 

[nsula_country]

Thanks Slow - Since the repair was done between the compressor and the valves, can the system be pumped into the lines leading to the interior A-Frame leaving the compressor empty?

No. Can only "pump" into the condenser. To service the A-Coil (evaporator).

To service the condenser (where compressor is) requires recovery of refrigerant with a recovery machine or a recovery tank under vacuum. 2nd option will get most, not all. Or have him fix it with 1/2" and he owes you the refrigerant because he put a restriction in your discharge line.

CT

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Yes......it is vacuum to 500 microns ..........hold 500 microns for period of time ..........Charge by weight ......Temperature and pressure checks.

The typical ROBINAIR machine does it all in one package.

None of which involves nitrogen in automotive. While it’s done on occasion....it’s not a standard procedure.

And it's still incorrect. More carryover "knowledge" from the days of "dump it, replace the bad ***, pull a vacuum and fill'er up".

Just because the machine can do it doesn't make it proper. You never use vacuum to leak check, regardless of application. Pressure check with dehydrated nitrogen is standard leak check procedure for ALL HVAC equipment before evacuation and charging. Been that way since day one. Anyone "teaching" MVAC that says to use vacuum to skip the normal leak check is dead wrong.

Tommy

 

[LS6 Tommy]

@Tommy - the technician brazed the 3/8 line into the 1/2 line it now creates a whistle in that spot, like fluid moving through an orifice or valve. Also, that unit gets about a 15 degree drop whereas my other unit gets a 25 degree drop. Since I only use this unit sparingly, is this a big deal? Lastly, if I choose to have him come back out. Can he vacuum the charge and save it, and return it to the system so I don't have to purchase a complete recharge?

That's what I was afraid of. You have a restriction.
The whistle is bad. Eventually it may even leak. Refrigerant going across a sharp edge on the copper or something like the end of a small piece of tubing inside a larger one causes a condition called "wire threading". The refrigerant will actually wear away the copper until there is a leak.

He can recover the charge, make new repairs, leak check, evacuate and use the same recovered refrigerant again.

Tommy