HVAC Zerol Ice additive

[marshalljimduncan]

I remember adding a product called "acid away" to a system, after a burn out, and my service manager gave me hell, cause he said the manufactuer didnt approve it. Does the unit manufactuer that you are working on recommend this additive, or did you just use your own judgement? Thanks, and I love your dog, in the dearest becky videos, he cracks me up!!

[DrZarkloff]

@marshalljimduncan I just used my own judgement. Dudley is a real nut.

[Subcool410]

New or old systems what I have found is the result was the same.

[Subcool410]

I have installed Zerol Ice for years, its a great product . Most people in the HVAC/R trade have never heard of it and have no idea how it works , but they will tell you it won't work. Two days ago I installed a can in a 10 year old 4 ton Rheem straight cool AC. I brought along three long time technicans who said it wouldn't work to watch with their own eyes. Before Zerol Ice was installed compressor was pulling 21 amps, 10 minutes after Zerol Ice was installed 19 amps. 2 amp drop Works for me.

[DrZarkloff]

@Subcool410 I'm thinking that it would give better results on an older system.

[tbone333]

Have you tried NuCalgons new Easy Seal for pinhole leaks?

[DrZarkloff]

@tbone333 No I haven't. I've used some sealants by cliplight.

[thisisnotyours1]

I've never seen or use this Zerol Ice additive. Does it works as a lubricant on the reversing valve, or is it an emergency add for low charge? Thank you.

[DrZarkloff]

@thisisnotyours1 It's an oil additive to keep thinks lubricated. It does not correct a refrigerant charge.

[stumbo2w]

I love working on those BARD units, so easy.

[DrZarkloff]

@stumbo2w Thanks. I usually work on them in the morning before I wake up.

[MrTERRYD55]

PlEASE DO A VIDEO ON THREE PHASE CONDENSER SYSTEM.HAD A SERVICE CALL ON FRIDAY ABOUT ONE PRESSURES NEVER READ ANY PRESSURES.THE GUY THAT INSATLLED THE UNIT WAS NOT FAMILIAR ABOUT THE UNIT COMPRESSOR RUNIING BACKWARD OR RUNNING ROUGH.ALL - N- ALL HE DID NOT SWITCH THE 2 LEGS  ( wiress) around.Now the compressor will need to be replace.Bare in mind the unit is 1 week old.

[DrZarkloff]

@MrTERRYD55 That sucks dude. I'll try to remember to make a video about it.

[hackfreehvac]

Hey Dr Z.

Long time no talk. LOL! I was wondering who talked you into trying the Snake Oil?

LOL! Seriously that's what we called it (funny that someone else already said "snake oil" here).

I was surprised NuCalgon was behind this stuff.

Only 4 ounces of that can is the oil. I have a hard time believing that 4 ounces could be dispersed throughout a system with a massive amount of surface area.

OK, I'm now towards the end of your video and realize why you are trying the stuff. :-)

[DrZarkloff]

@hackfreehvac Hello. I hope to see more of your videos soon. I like to give every product a review. I check out this stuff because one of my viewers asked me to.

[hackfreehvac]

@DrZarkloff

Good deal bro.

I've started to add some new stuff. I got some random video clips I've made over the past few months.

I work "in house" like you do now. It's a nice break. But pays less though.

But at 40, I am done crawling huge roofs and hot attics!

I'm trying to find the video clips I made of the cool zone valve actuators for our 4 pipe chiller/boiler system. I was going to make some cool new videos. Hope I didn't delete those.

[DrZarkloff]

@hackfreehvac Working in-house won't make you rich but it does have it's advantages. I look forward to seeing you vids.

[hackfreehvac]

@DrZarkloff

You got that right DrZ!

I can not see myself, at 40 yrs old, going back out on rooftops all day, or in attics or all those scary rooftops!

I need to get teh word out at work that I do "side work" so I can make the extra $ for other things.

[autobarry]

If you get a chance please give us an update in a couple of weeks, to see how it has performed. Have you thought about getting a data logger and getting run data for a week or so before and then again for a couple of weeks after installation to see if you actually show a savings.

[DrZarkloff]

@autobarry I will.

[acechoice45]

Dr Z i replace a compressor on a old trane heat pump just to have RV stuck in Heating mode that was a long day !!!!!!!

[DrZarkloff]

@acechoice45 That is so common. Sorry to hear that.

[steburton]

Did you test the run capasitor on this system? Seems like the amp draw is pretty high. If the cap is ok, then I wonder about the condition of the compressor.

[DrZarkloff]

@steburton I'm going to check back on the compressor tomorrow to see how it's doing. I'm thinking that the amp draw was a bit high because of the high heat load at the time.

[DrZarkloff]

@steburton The line voltage to this air conditioner is 208/1, so you'll get a slightly higher amp draw than if it were 240/1.

[AaronsAuto]

I don't know about you, but I make a lot more replacing a reversing valve than I would selling snake oil.

[DrZarkloff]

@AaronsAuto I work for the school board. There's no money insentive for me to replace the reversing valve. If it sticks later down the road then I'll replace it and make sure that I make an updated video.

[ibunregistered]

You are starting to look like a snake oil salesman.

[DrZarkloff]

@ibunregistered Yikes!

[Ode2Pops]

Many thanks for posting this! Although in some applications, additives might be considered “snake oil,” (especially Zerol Ice) I figure if it saves you the trouble of replacing the reversing valve after a compressor change then it's certainly worth a try. Keep us posted on the results you get with this stuff. I love your videos!

[DrZarkloff]

@Ode2Pops Thanks. I'll keep everyone posted to the success.

[myhero70]

I noticed during the video you paused, I guess to let the Zerol Ice settle into system, how long, if you don't mind me asking. I also noticed that the amps moved around alot and also went up to 16.0 while you were talking and when you came back it stayed around 14.9. Was this due to the Zerol Ice being put in. Have you checked it since.

[DrZarkloff]

@myhero70 The fluctuation was probably due to my multimeter being a true RMS.

[V8Jagnut]

its best to fix the problem rather than putting a can of hope in.lol. id say it over charged the sys and pushed the amps up.haha

[DrZarkloff]

@V8Jagnut Any hope is good in these old systems. lol

[steburton]

What is the RLA of the compressor?

[DrZarkloff]

@steburton 18

[tesla500]

Is that hissing noise produced by the scroll compressor? When my heat pump is in high stage cool, I hear a noise like that, but not in low stage cool.

[DrZarkloff]

@tesla500 I didn't notice any hissing noise. Some reciprocating compressors will hiss if the hot gas is backing up into the suction side.

[tesla500]

@DrZarkloff Sorry, maybe I described the sound wrong. It sounds exactly like the background sound in this video. Any idea what that sound was?

[DrZarkloff]

@tesla500 That sound was the compressor. The audio isn't very true to the real sound.

[Nutintoitbut2doit]

Dr. Z please not the snake oil. lol.

If the reversing valve is hanging up its best to change it with the compressor.

[DrZarkloff]

@Nutintoitbut2doit The reversing valve wasn't hanging up. The snake oil was just to help keep it from hanging up. I'll most definitely make another video if it doesn't work.

[Nutintoitbut2doit]

@DrZarkloff ok

[Straycurrent]

Doc -- just wondering how the old compressor failed and what other steps you had to take to get the system in shape. Was is a burn out? If so, can Zerol handle the clean up, or did you use anything else before installing the new compressor? Thanks alot - I enjoyed the video.

[DrZarkloff]

@Straycurrent The old compressor was a reciprocating compressor. It wasn't pumping anymore.

[mattbrandi]

I wish there was a way out of replacing a reversing valve, but there never is. Sucks, don't it?

[DrZarkloff]

@mattbrandi I'm really hoping this Zerol Ice stuff does the job.

[co2x3]

Doc cant belive this new product. zerol ice whats next perfume for air filters wow your the next 3m promo for scented air filters. ill go with tropic lemon . lol

[DrZarkloff]

@co2x3 I like cherry.

[hvacman77]

I second supco 88

[swampfoxgt]

Not sure about Zerol Ice, but Supco 88 works great for sticky reversing valves

[DrZarkloff]

@swampfoxgt I've used Supco oil in the past. It clogged the liquid line filter drier twice. Maybe I just got a bad batch?

[HCVguy93]

Have you seen hackfreehavac's video titeled "Misc. Hacked HVAC Installs & Repairs"? In that video he says that Zerol Ice is a worthless product.

[DrZarkloff]

@HCVguy93 I haven't seen that video. I hope that it doesn't turn out to be worthless. lol

[HCVguy93]

@DrZarkloff haha LOL!! i don't think it will.

[eggman9713]

I've heard just as many techs say that Zerol Ice is voodoo as those that say its good stuff. I don't know what to think about it. Be interested to see what other techs here think about it.

[DrZarkloff]

@eggman9713 Thanks. It's so hard to say what's snake oil and what isn't.

[eggman9713]

@DrZarkloff I would like to think as normal refrigeration oil as sometimes being snake oil. A scroll compressor's innards do look like coiled up snakes. Thanks, folks, I am here *ducks a tomato* all week.