Remove locking freon caps
- Thread starter rmanrman
- Start date
My friedrich DIY mini split came with that pink locking cap, I guess there is no reason to mess with the charge under normal circumstances.
OzarkMan
Well-known member
So long as your line set meets the manufactures guidelines for length. Your unit comes pre-charged with enough refrigerant for "X" amount of line set.
In my case I needed to add .22oz per added foot of line set.
OzarkMan
Well-known member
Do you have a refrigerant leak detector? If the schrader valve is leaking, you can replace it while its under pressure with a core tool. You can also try a soap bubble solution to see if its leaking.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
OzarkMan
Well-known member
You can also buy R22 from amazon. I checked yesterday and added it to my basket to see if it would go thru. If I did the transaction it would have been $350 with the $97 shipping since it wasn’t part of prime. This is for the large 25lb jug
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Brian_WK
Well-known member
There is a company here that installs them when they are new. Every other company removes them and puts on the plastic or brass ones with a o-ring. There was a company around that made caps with a loop on the top of them that you could use safety wire or a tamper tag though an then go around the service shut offs or lineset. Not sure if they ever made it into production or not, as it was at a trade show.
They would have been a good idea as we wee going to order some and put them on all our new installs to ensure that the system wasn't messed with in the warranty period.
Brian
They would have been a good idea as we wee going to order some and put them on all our new installs to ensure that the system wasn't messed with in the warranty period.
Brian
walterjames
Member
EPA is clear as mud on a lot of things but they now imply that r410a needs 608 certification: ][/QUOTE]
I know this is a year old read a article written by a code inspector on what you don't know about code an mini splits that got me here. I disagree on a lot including disconnect on the indoor heads, the other part of that is I read they are exempt because it is part of the control system. Same reason why you can in some areas run head wiring in 16 or 14-4 with a rubber jacket.
google 5 Mini-split Accessories Mandated by Building Codes
I do not have 5 posts so can't give link. can't do a quote either it has a link too:
but the sentence prior to the post I was trying to quote stated:
...that could release ozone depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified.
R410 and r134a are not considered ozone depleting.
To the caps no one answered the question of a mini split valve cover. My Guess is one way or butterfly tamper proof screws on the valve cover would be considered securing it.
I know this is a year old read a article written by a code inspector on what you don't know about code an mini splits that got me here. I disagree on a lot including disconnect on the indoor heads, the other part of that is I read they are exempt because it is part of the control system. Same reason why you can in some areas run head wiring in 16 or 14-4 with a rubber jacket.
google 5 Mini-split Accessories Mandated by Building Codes
I do not have 5 posts so can't give link. can't do a quote either it has a link too:
but the sentence prior to the post I was trying to quote stated:
...that could release ozone depleting refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified.
R410 and r134a are not considered ozone depleting.
To the caps no one answered the question of a mini split valve cover. My Guess is one way or butterfly tamper proof screws on the valve cover would be considered securing it.
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oltruckag
Well-known member
Can you post a link to that? I see R22 replacements on Amazon, but no actual R22. We're still paying $600+ for 30lb of 'reclaim/recycle' R22 in GA. Unless you find old stock, there isn't any new available.
Tyson
mustangacman
Active member
- Joined
- May 23, 2014
- Messages
- 40
Dallas Texas and surrounding cities have required locking caps for a year now.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Just FYI, you can't reuse recycled (or recovered) R22 unless it's going back into a unit owned by the same unit/property/person/organization from where it was removed. For all other service work you can only use R22 that is new or reclaimed to ARI 700 "virgin" specifications.
Tommy
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Wrench97
Well-known member
Requirements to Purchase Refrigerant
The following people can buy any type of ozone-depleting refrigerant (or, starting Jan. 1, 2018, substitute refrigerant) under this sales restriction:
Technicians who have earned the Section 608 Technician Certification.
Employers of a Section 608 certified technician (or the employer's authorized representative) if the employer provides the refrigerant wholesaler with written evidence that he or she employs at least one properly certified technician.
The following people can buy refrigerant found acceptable for use in a motor vehicle air conditioner (MVAC):
Technicians who have earned Section 609 Technician Certification.
Employers of a Section 609 certified technician (or the employer's authorized representative) if the employer provides the refrigerant wholesaler with written evidence that he or she employs at least one properly certified technician. Nothing in this provision relieves persons of the requirements of 40 CFR § 82.34(b) or § 82.42(b).
Only Section 608 certified technicians can purchase refrigerants intended for use with stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. Section 609 certified technicians cannot purchase refrigerants that are intended for use with stationary equipment, regardless of container size.
Small cans of non-exempt MVAC refrigerant (i.e., containers designed to hold two pounds or less of refrigerant) that have unique fittings, and, if manufactured or imported on or after January 1, 2018, have self-sealing valves, can continue to be sold to persons without certification for DIY use on their vehicles.
From > https://www.epa.gov/section608/refrigerant-sales-restriction
I had to get both in order to handle 410a, 404a, 452a and R22 in reefer units.
There is no restriction to purchase R410a however if you "handle it" you need certs.
The caps seem to be local code as they are not used in automotive, equipment that I've ever seen.
The following people can buy any type of ozone-depleting refrigerant (or, starting Jan. 1, 2018, substitute refrigerant) under this sales restriction:
Technicians who have earned the Section 608 Technician Certification.
Employers of a Section 608 certified technician (or the employer's authorized representative) if the employer provides the refrigerant wholesaler with written evidence that he or she employs at least one properly certified technician.
The following people can buy refrigerant found acceptable for use in a motor vehicle air conditioner (MVAC):
Technicians who have earned Section 609 Technician Certification.
Employers of a Section 609 certified technician (or the employer's authorized representative) if the employer provides the refrigerant wholesaler with written evidence that he or she employs at least one properly certified technician. Nothing in this provision relieves persons of the requirements of 40 CFR § 82.34(b) or § 82.42(b).
Only Section 608 certified technicians can purchase refrigerants intended for use with stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. Section 609 certified technicians cannot purchase refrigerants that are intended for use with stationary equipment, regardless of container size.
Small cans of non-exempt MVAC refrigerant (i.e., containers designed to hold two pounds or less of refrigerant) that have unique fittings, and, if manufactured or imported on or after January 1, 2018, have self-sealing valves, can continue to be sold to persons without certification for DIY use on their vehicles.
From > https://www.epa.gov/section608/refrigerant-sales-restriction
I had to get both in order to handle 410a, 404a, 452a and R22 in reefer units.
There is no restriction to purchase R410a however if you "handle it" you need certs.
The caps seem to be local code as they are not used in automotive, equipment that I've ever seen.
Jim greengo
Well-known member
The only time I've ever seen those caps up close was in the bargain bin at johnstone.
Never come across them in the field.
Never come across them in the field.
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frank001
Well-known member
So what? There are tons of stupid laws made by stupid government employees.
frank001
Well-known member
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Unless you are servicing the AC for the passenger compartment of a motor vechicle, you are only required to have a 608 cert. The size & operating pressures of the equipment you service dictates whether it must be type I, II, III or Universal.
Tommy
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Wrench97
Well-known member
Unless you are servicing the AC for the passenger compartment of a motor vechicle, you are only required to have a 608 cert. The size & operating pressures of the equipment you service dictates whether it must be type I, II, III or Universal.
Tommy
Automotive(truck) is my primary so I had the 609 then came the reefer units................
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
I don't think that's a good idea. Most of us are all for DIY, but sometimes the general consensus is the OP may be in over his head and the advice is warranted. There are other times when people (me included) post info about the legality of things just so that it's available, not so much to chastise other posters.
There will always be some posts that are may be a little condescending or strongly voiced. Sometimes you'll get that when you follow the First Amendment.
Tommy
SGKent
Banned
yes. Excepting refrigerants that are considered non-environmentally damaging. There are problems even with how the refrigerant is added*, and you cannot release it to the atmosphere. Here in California the Air Board has sniffers all over the place and they can pinpoint with some certainty where chemicals are released into the air. Then they go look for the culprit. Frankly it isn't worth the savings anymore to do HVAC yourself without the proper training and tools. I just dropped off my old vacuum pump at Goodwill yesterday for that reason. A good set of modern legal tools, and the training will set you back more than the cost of a whole new AC.
*some refrigerants must remain liquid when added, and others must be added as a gas or it damages the system or causes the cooling efficiency to drop.
Also - more car systems are damaged by over topping than by being low. You can get a MOBILE EPA section 609 cert online. The EPA section 608 cert is a bit harder but it can be done in cram classes.
Wrench97
Well-known member
Jim greengo
Well-known member
Sniffers all over the place,do you have a picture of one of these sniffers?
No offense, I find this EXTREMELY hard to believe...
Just WHO is going to come looking to see if I passed any gas?
slow
Well-known member
is HFC-134a not used in canned air in California. I always found that funny, you can buy the canned air that contain the same stuff that is in refrigerant, but you can't vent the refrigerant.
gayler
Well-known member
Hell. It was an open book test when I took it in 1991!
rlitman
Well-known member
Sometimes after I pass gas I expect the neighbors to send the police over with a cadaver dog. My wife and children simply know when to hide in a safe room.
R-134a has been removed from canned air across the country for years now. Mostly it's now R-152a.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
I already posted that the 608 test is not for MVAC. It's for stationary HVAC. 609 is the MVAC "easy" test that can be taken online. Let's not muddy the waters any more than necessary.
Tommy
Wrench97
Well-known member
Not the same test, as of last January the older cert(The one that used your SSN as the cert number............) is no longer valid
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
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rburke65
Well-known member
Big Brother is watching......
I installed a pair of locking vent caps on my home unit just as a deterrent against would be sniffers. They screwed up and I couldn't get them off with the tool. I ended up cutting them off with a dremel. Once apart I could see it was simple mechanism.
I reinstalled HD regular brass hex caps and have had no problems since.
I reinstalled HD regular brass hex caps and have had no problems since.