HVAC Leak Detection

[jetpilotdds]

the low pressure service valve has a leak aroung the gasket 5/16". I have a new parker valve on the way, a small amount of oil is visible at the bottom of the valve on the inside, is this normal do you have a video on replacing the service valve?

[DrZarkloff]

@jetpilotdds Sorry, I don't have any service valve replacement videos.

[jetpilotdds]

will the leak detector detect all types of refrigerant and will it detect nitrogen?

[DrZarkloff]

@jetpilotdds Many newer leak detectors will detect all refrigerants and nitrogen.

[jetpilotdds]

Thanks for the video doc. After I pressurized my system with nitrogen I was able to find the leak in the low pressure service valve, it was around the piston that isolates the system. I took the ring washer off and found that it looked fine. The washer seemed to be intact but could that the source of the leak, ie can I get a new washer( I don't even know if a washer is obtainable) or should I replace the valve entirely?

[DrZarkloff]

@jetpilotdds I think that you're pretty much stuck having to replace the entire service valve.

[DrZarkloff]

@water4fuelh20 Yes.

[DrZarkloff]

@Rcb2875 Thanks for watching.

[WaterfrontBoss]

BEST VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE THANKS

[DrZarkloff]

@WaterfrontBoss Thanks for watching.

[Smarcum89]

This is a great basic service tech leak detection video, hats off to Mr. Zarkloff but I have not had alot of great experience with the CPS eliminator and wound up purchasing the Inficon DTEK-select which I have had nothing but amazing results from it deff. pays for its self which is important for me sense I am an hourly paid tech in NOVA.

[DrZarkloff]

@Smarcum89 I have a small tools budget. I'm sure that the DTEK is a great sniffer.

[frankluis1000]

as it repairs a Leak Detection of gas in the system…. and as and repairs with sisitema on to it off

[frankluis1000]

Dr. Zarkloff when to use ammeter and when to use multi-putting

[ishaq300]

thanks DrZarklo well all your vidios are very much useful

and i am a new learner.wish you all the best you are intouch with

Ishaq

[DrZarkloff]

@ishaq300 Thanks for watching.

[Prozackityzac]

good video by the way

[DrZarkloff]

@Prozackityzac Thanks for watching.

[Prozackityzac]

Man I hate the CPS detector, but it does take regular batteries so that's good.

[ishaq300]

WELL Dr .Z i am a new learner in this field but like say i learned a lot from your vidios

on you tube .I belive you are a kind heart.

THANK YOU

[DrZarkloff]

@ishaq300 Thanks for watching.

[THEHVACTECH101]

Queston,i just brought a halogenated leak detector from rapco and i was wondering what was the diference between the halogenated and the halide leak detectors.Can the halogenated one be used for R22 and 410a refrigerants????

[aalfone1]

do you know why this dummy is in the passenger seat of the truck. Its because hes a helper. you dont have to be a licensed contractor to hear a leak. CPS is a garbage brand, used by red necks down south. how about pressure testing with nitrogen. or better yet what about adding a florescent dye to the system to see where its leaking from. and to prove this guy is a glorified helper he has a gate valve on a refrigerant system, gate valves are for plumbing.

[IcechickenSr]

@aalfone1 Common man DrZ couldn't possibly sum up his.... how many Dr.Z? 10-20-30 years of HVAC engineering, in one 10 min video now could he? Shit mate, theres so many ways people like to do things and explain them that it couldn't all fit in 10 mins of video. I'm more than sure he is aware of how to find a bloody leak in a system, thats Refrigeration 101, my daughter helped me find a leak on her own. Listen to him talk tech in other vids, you will find he knows his stuff end of story. Cheers.

[aalfone1]

do you know why this dummy is in the passenger seat of the truck. Its because hes a helper. you dont have to be a licensed contractor to hear a leak. CPS is a garbage brand, used by red necks down south. how about pressure testing with nitrogen. or better yet what about adding a florescent dye to the system to see where its leaking from. and to prove this guy is a glorified helper he has a gate valve on a refrigerant system, gate valves are for plumbing.

[KevinCarrollCoyle]

Thanks so much for posting . I have watched many of your videos thye have helped me a lot! Need to know if LEAK STOP pumped into teh systems works and isa good idea , if so what is the procedure ? Thanks so much cant wait to hear from you!

[DrZarkloff]

@KevinCarrollCoyle I've used Leak Stop a couple of times on old package units that I needed to squeak out a couple more years of service. You can inject it through the suction side while the system is running.

[cristianed85]

Hello Dr,

What about ultrasonic leak detector? Are they good? What about the next generation (kind of infrared} Inficon Leak detector?

[DrZarkloff]

I wish that I could afford to carry every type of leak detector.

[aalfone1]

@DrZarkloff then you dont charge enough for you services. your not in the welfare department

[TheDeda35]

Hello, my man, can I use regular shampoo for leak detection??

[DrZarkloff]

I don't think that it would work as good as as the store bought leak detection soap. It's specially made to stick around in case of a slow leak.

[rolando7120]

great

[cud123456]

if u cant find the leak dial in some more nitro... if u still cant find it dial a bit more in........... if u sill cant find it really dial it in................... u will soon find a leak even if it wasnt in the area of ur first leak. lol

[fyi4021]

Hi, dr. Z. I am a student of HVAC. Recently I have found a leak in my a/c units, I can hear hissing sound out from the air handler, and I like to try repairing this leak myself. I can evacuate the remaining refrigerant out and it is the first step. what should i do to stop the air that will be sucked in? is the remaining refrigerant render useless? Appreciate your comment.

[DrZarkloff]

After you recover the refrigerant, you should break the vacuum with nitrogen.

[murrmann7234]

Dr. Z, I want to buy a good and durable multimeter that reads temperature with the temp. probe. What is a good brand to buy

[DrZarkloff]

The Fieldpiece HS36 would be a great choice. I've been told that Fluke makes theirs indestructible. I don't know first hand because I've never owned a Fluke. Fieldpiece is the only brand that I've ever had.

[murrmann7234]

How much is an average bottle of R-22 now.

[DrZarkloff]

It's about $180 for a 30 pound bottle.

[mechacc2000]

Folks don't forget to go to Refrigeration Technologies web site and down load the Big Blue Leak Detection Manual. It has lots of good information on leak detection. If you are an instructor or are going to conduct your own leak detection seminar they will send you hard copies.

[duckbac]

Dr Z, have you installed a lot of 410A systems. A salesmen told me their company will end production of 22 systems this summer.

[DrZarkloff]

I've installed only a few 410a systems. Yes, it's true. 2010 is the dead line for new R-22 systems.

[2uberu]

Did you find the leak and if so how?

[DrZarkloff]

There were no leaks in the machines that I used in this video.

[vengencemonger]

Whats youropinion of ultrasonic leak detectors?

[DrZarkloff]

Unfortunately, I have no opinion. The school board won't buy them because they're too expensive.

[mechacc2000]

Ultrasonics can be a useful tool. They are very good for localizing a leak in an area when the levels of refrigerant overwhelm an electronic leak detector. They will not locate microleaks that form microbubbles. They are also useful in locating compressed air leaks, leaks through shutoff valves, steam trap failures, motor bearing failures, circuit breaker arcing and more.One thing to remember about ultrasonics or any test equipment is that there are differing qualities so do your research first.

[tstatech]

I use my less expensive heated diode detector for everything except R410A, for that I use my infrared detector.

I hate dye and everyone who uses it. The only reason to use that crap is so that you can leave and come back. You had better plan to come back at night. I am glad to see that Dr. Z didn't even mention that stuff.

I used to use a halide torch before I could afford an electronic detector. The old Mars or GE is still one of the best out there. Im currently using Infocon's tools.

[DrZarkloff]

I loathe dye. I don't trust the long term effects and it just makes a mess of everything.

[Hungry2Play]

hey dr z what type of cleaning products do u use to clean an air conditioner?

[DrZarkloff]

I use an alkaline based foamer to clean coils.

[Hungry2Play]

do u use a specific namebrand? or just any that is alkaline based?

[DrZarkloff]

I'm not partial to any name brand.

[FieldpieceProducts]

Dr. Z. You gotta check out our 2 new leak detectors. The SRL2 infrared and the SRL2 heated diode. We will take the pepsi challenge on any other refrigerant leak detector.

[DrZarkloff]

Hmmm... It sounds like I need to check them out. Which do you recommend to be the mostest for the leastest.

[mechacc2000]

Recently conducted a leak detection seminar for our RSES Chapter. We had 7 different electronic leak detectors. Unfortunately we could not get access to the Fieldpiece units for the seminar. The TIF ZX-1 seemed more sensitive than the 3 different Inficons, Sensit, Yellow Jacket and Yokogawa H10

[jaktube9]

Very Nice of you to do all these videos. They help me a lot. Question, The AC tech. just refilled 6 lb of freon on my Trane XE800 and after he's done he told me I have a leak underneath the cooling unit. Is that a repairable? Of course, he told me to buy a new unit.

[DrZarkloff]

Where exactly is the leak? You can email me pictures of where the leak was found if you like.

[jaktube9]

I can only hear th hissing sound at the bottom inside by the freon filler caps. I sent you the picture in the email from your website.

[mikie2501]

I hate looking for leaks, would rather chew my arm off! That and looking for low voltage shorts :>

[DrZarkloff]

I'm with you, Michael. I really hate it when the leak turns out to be underground in the line set.

[mikie2501]

We had one like that not too long back, looked all over and pulled my hair out. The guys went back and did a standing pressure test and turned out to be a burried line in the dirt :/ lol.

[DrZarkloff]

I loathe underground line sets. I realize that sometimes there is no other choice, but damn.

[hvac809]

whats your opinion about making your own soap bubbles to find a leak?

[DrZarkloff]

The store bought soap bubbles are inexpensive. Homemade bubbles just doesn't make cents.

[sockmess]

how you fix a leak coming from a valve?

[DrZarkloff]

It depends on the type of valve. If it's the POS that I showed in this video, I just replace it with a schrader.

[V8Jagnut]

cool vid. could you do some random vids of you doing you every day job?

[DrZarkloff]

My job is really hectic and I really can't put other people in my videos. Good idea, though.

[hvacman77]

Don't forget the Nitrogen

[DrZarkloff]

Thanks. I had some already in the system.