Question for HVAC techs

[theoldwizard1]

What is special about the copper tubing used in AC/heat pump line sets ?

Can the properly sized nickel-copper (NiCopp) tubing be used ? (Much easier to bend without kinking and much easier to flare. Not sure about brazing.)

 

[Firebrick43]

Basically it's cleaned really well, purged, and capped off. It's hard to clean the insides of pipe.

Didn't realize the make kunifer in larger sizes, have only seen it in brake line. While I like kunifer for brake lines due to corrosion resistance, if you have problems flaring copper pipe you need a better flaring tool that rolls the flare instead of just trying to force the cone down. Ridgid 377 or imperial Eastman 537 for 37 flares and ridgid 345 and imperial Eastman 500 fc.

Also get some imperial or ridgid tubing benders. Bending any large soft tubing by hand looks like hack work

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

I've used rigid L copper for long runs up the side of buildings for suction lines when I couldn't get regular rigid hvac copper before.
The biggest thing is that it's been exposed to atmospheric conditions,it would never fly for med gas though under any circumstances.

 

[3fingerdan]

ACR copper is sold sealed from the factory with a nitrogen purge in the tubing. On larger refrigeration systems or larger centrifugal chillers steel pipe is used. It just has to be clean on the interior of the pipe, as contamination in refrigeration systems will wreak havoc on operation and cause failures of components.

 

[Climatecreator]

It's been a long while since I've gotten a lineset on the job that was sealed. Sometimes the rigid AC lines will have caps but other than that nothing.

But I do remember when they used to come that way.

I guess it may depend where they come from and the ones we get for our installs are cheaper. Anything to save a buck huh.



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[bonneyman]

AC copper typically has a greater wall thickness than standard plumbing tube to handle the pressure. It also comes sealed from the factory, as the aforementioned posts have stated to keep the inside clean and dry. Contaminants are extremely bad for the internal components of AC's.

For awhile there (maybe 10 years or so) manufacturers seemed to have a much higher incidence of leaks/tubing problems. While I have no proof, I think it is caused by the higher percentage of impurities (sulfur and phosphorus, among others) in the copper tubing coming from China. Always seemed to me certain brands of tubing had problems and others didn't. The impurities caused brittleness after heating or soldering, and made the alloy more susceptible to corrosion (especially internally). I haven't bought tubing in some time so I don't know if the problems have been addressed. JMHO

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

AC copper typically has a greater wall thickness than standard plumbing tube to handle the pressure. It also comes sealed from the factory, as the aforementioned posts have stated to keep the inside clean and dry. Contaminants are extremely bad for the internal components of AC's.

For awhile there (maybe 10 years or so) manufacturers seemed to have a much higher incidence of leaks/tubing problems. While I have no proof, I think it is caused by the higher percentage of impurities (sulfur and phosphorus, among others) in the copper tubing coming from China. Always seemed to me certain brands of tubing had problems and others didn't. The impurities caused brittleness after heating or soldering, and made the alloy more susceptible to corrosion (especially internally). I haven't bought tubing in some time so I don't know if the problems have been addressed. JMHO

Same wall thickness as L copper,heavier than M copper.

 

[bonneyman]

Same wall thickness as L copper,heavier than M copper.

Yeah, I couldn't remember the letter designation.All I knew was to get copper tube that stated "refrigeration tubing" on the box.

Especially the 1/4". Many times side job techs and handymen will opt for the cheaper (i.e. thinner) copper tube when doing coolers, and they hardly last one season. So I specified refrigeration-rated copper even for coolers.

 

[Climatecreator]

Yeah, I couldn't remember the letter designation.All I knew was to get copper tube that stated "refrigeration tubing" on the box.

Especially the 1/4". Many times side job techs and handymen will opt for the cheaper (i.e. thinner) copper tube when doing coolers, and they hardly last one season. So I specified refrigeration-rated copper even for coolers.

Lol the way I always remembered it was crazy. L for less and M for more than reverse it because it seemed like it should've been the other way around to me....

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[66cj225]

I'm sure you have confused the marketplace for years........Climatecreator; I won't quote to perpetuate.