HOW AND WHY FREON LEAKS
Freon leaks can be extremely frustrating. They can lead to freeze-ups which can lead to compressor damage (the heart of the system). Location and repair of refrigerant leaks is a challenging assignment—not for amateurs. You need a repairman who:
- Has the correct tools and experience in finding and repairing leaks
- Is patient
- Is trustworthy
- Has good judgement
Repairing a Freon leak can be as simple as tightening a valve core or tightening a schreader cap seal.. It can be as expensive as replacing an evaporator coil, condenser coil, or copper line set.
If your system is low on Freon, it's because it leaked out. IT DOES NOT DISSIPATE OR BREAKDOWN!. So where did it go? Here are some possible solutions to where the problem may lie…valve cores, weld joints, electrical conection to the compressor body, or the copper tubing itself.sometimes caused by vibration.
LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL
Systems low on freon work harder to produce less cooling. It is absolutely essential to have the system charged properly in order to keep your electric bills to a minimum. We all know how outrageous utility bills are now! Don’t pay them more than you have to.
A Most Hostile Place
When the system is off ay in the winter time, the refrigerant in the coil can reach temps as high as 150 degrees and as low as 20 degrees when the system is running in the cooling mode.
These extreme temprature swings cause a tremenous amout of stress on the evaparator coil.
Dissimilar metals are used in the construction of the coil—copper, steel, and solder alloy. The result is a slightly corrosive cell.
In summary, you have erosion and thermal cycling, along with an electrolytic cell. Added to these, you have stress concentrations.
This combination ultimately leads to coil failure. That's why (my estimation) 50% of Freon leak problems can be corrected by replacing the evaporator coil.
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to pay $1000 or more for a new coil installation.
Freon Electronic Leak Detection
The easier and quickest method of leak detection is the electronic sniffer—that will usually lead the technician to the general area. Sometimes I wrap the suspected part in plastic to capture the fumes, so the sniffer can be more specific.
Bubble leak method
If the leak is big enough, we introduce high pressure nitrogen ( an inert gas) and use soap bubbles to pinpoint the leak. Sometimes you can actually feel a breeze or hear it hissing out from the leaking Freon.
The UV light/Spectronic Method
The most precise method for locating Freon leaks is for the technician to install a liquid tracer into the system, and allow it to circulate about two weeks. A small amount of fluorescent dye is added to an air conditioning, refrigeration or industrial fluid system and allowed to circulate. The dye escapes with the system’s refrigerant or fluid and remains at all leak sites. When the system is scanned with a Spectroline® TITAN® UV/Blue™, Blue Max Plus™, or ultraviolet inspection lamp, the dye fluoresces brilliantly to pinpoint the exact source of every leak. Proven to find multiple and intermittent leaks undetectable by any other method. Even leaks smaller than 1/8 ounce per year!
Easily verify repairs by removing the dye from the leak sites with GLO-AWAY™ dye cleaner and then reinspect. The dye can remain safely in AC&R or fluid systems indefinitely for future leak inspections.
Fluorescent leak detection is the only method that can be used for both accurate diagnostics and as part of a comprehensive preventive maintenance program.
AR-GLO® fluorescent dyes are the only dyes that are co-solvent free and OEM-approved by major compressor, refrigerant, lubricant and AC&R equipment manufacturers.
AR-GLO dyes are super-concentrated, lubricant-specific and proven in over 40 million AC&R systems worldwide.
AR-GLO dyes are completely safe and will not alter or impair lubricant properties, which could lead to equipment damage and costly downtime. They have been successfully tested in accordance with ASHRAE Standards 97 and 86.
Worst Case Senerio
What if the leak is in the copper tubing—in a wall or buried in insulation? That usually requires a pressure test, and the solution is to replace the line set.
Evaporator Coil Warranties
Most AC manufacturers give a 5 year warranty on their coils that Citywide Supply and Service will honor.Some companies extend the warranty to 10 years when you replace a system or a condenser/coil match up. Some contractors will only give a one year labor warranty. If you've been adding Freon, and your coil warranty is about to expire, that's an ideal time to have us do some thorough testing for Freon leaks.
Summary and Conclusion
Finding and repairing Freon leaks can be tedious and expensive. But, for traditional R-22 or R-12 Freon, if the loss is small, most people just live with the situation, and add some refrigerant each spring.
At a certain point, it has to be fixed. Citywide Suply and Service keeps an ongoing record of suspicious AC systems, and each spring we evaluate the situation. Excessive Freon loss is the first red flag. If we have to come back in the middle of summer, that's a huge indicator the leak or leaks have grown, and should be dealt with soon.
Furthermore, you cannot assume there's a single leak. For different reasons, people are stressed by Freon leaks, but all the wishing in the world won't put a stop to them.
Our Partners
http://thehvacsource.com
http://goodmanmfg.com/ furnace/ac equipment
http://spectroline.com/ leak detection equipment
http://www.peerlessboilers.com/ boiler equipment
http://www.fasco.com/ motors
http://www.white-rodgers.com/wrdhom/index.html thermostats
http://www.tecumseh.com/ compressors
http://www.heil-hvac.com/ furnace/ac equipment
http://www.energystar.gov/ energy tips
http://www.ase.org/ energy tips
http://www.mcdonnellmiller.com/ boiler controls
http://www.corp.carrier.com/ furnace/ac/rooftop equipment
http://www.trane.com/ furnace/ac/rooftop equipment
http://www51.honeywell.com/honeywell/ controls
| Chicago Heating and Cooling-Sales, Service, and Installation
| Chicago Furnace Service and Repair-Sales, Service, and Installation
| Chicago Refrigeration -Sales, Service, and Installation
| Chicago Air Conditioning -Sales, Service, and Installation
| Chicago HVAC -Sales, Service, and Installation
| Chicago Sheet Metal -Sales, Service, and Installation
Chicago Heating Air Conditioning Repair Service | Chicago Air Conditioning | Refrigeration Chicago | Heating Repair and Service | Freon Leaks Chicago | Furnace Repair Service Chicago
