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During my second year in HVAC, the company I worked for was hired to fix some poor work that was done on a multi-head inverter system. The system used flare connections, and many of them were leaking. The system also had a branch box, which meant there were even MORE flares. So we pumped all the refrigerant down into the condenser, remade all the flares on the system, and began a pressure test. Using soap bubbles, we found quite a few flares we needed to tighten.
After that, we watched the gauges and could see that the pressure in the system was still dropping. We checked everything again and could find no problems. It took us a couple of hours to realize that the nitrogen was leaking back through the service valves and into the low side of the condenser.
Service valves are valves that separate the condenser from the rest of the system. Here&#;s a great video with some cutaways of the inside of the valve so you can better understand how they work. Once nitrogen has leaked into the condenser, the refrigerant needs to be recovered and disposed of because it is now blended with nitrogen and no longer pure.
This is not the only time this has happened to me. This last summer, I was replacing a TXV and realized during my vacuum that my service valves were leaking back into the condenser. I had to recover the charge and pull a vacuum on the condenser as well as the lineset and evaporator coil. Pumping down a system can be a great time saver, but is it always the best idea?
When deciding whether to pump down or recover the refrigerant, there are multiple factors to consider. These are my thoughts on the matter, but they&#;re not intended to be comprehensive.
Age of the System: I would be less inclined, now that I have run into problems several times, to pump down an older system with expensive refrigerant. If nitrogen leaks back and mixes with several pounds of R22 that you didn&#;t charge for, you could be out a considerable amount of money. The downside is that you now have to pull a vacuum on all the old oil in the system, which can take a long time.
Type of Refrigerant: I may be more inclined to take a chance on a condenser full of 410A, which is relatively cheap, than a condenser full of R22. Just my own opinion.
Amount of Refrigerant: How large of a charge do you have? If you contaminate 20 lbs of R22 with nitrogen, you are going to have a bad day. If it&#;s a 5 lb system, the risk is lower.
Location of the Filter Drier: if the filter drier is inside the condenser, I have always recovered the refrigerant and replaced the filter drier. I am not 100% sure this is required, but it seems to be best practice.
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Overall, I am becoming more convinced that recovering refrigerant on middle-aged to older systems is a good practice. It prevents expensive and time-consuming mistakes, even if it adds precious time to your vacuum procedure.
&#;Matt Bruner
Summertime in Champaign-Urbana, IL means plenty of heat and humidity. You&#;ll depend on your air conditioner to maintain a cool, comfortable home. Air conditioners require a refrigerant to absorb heat from your home&#;s air and transfer it to the outdoors. Let&#;s take a look at why your cooling system needs a proper AC refrigerant charge and what could happen if the charge is too high or too low.
Each make and model of air conditioner needs a slightly different amount of AC refrigerant. According to PG&E, most central air conditioning systems use two to four pounds of refrigerant per ton of cooling capacity. A three-ton air conditioner would typically have six to 12 pounds of refrigerant for a proper charge. During the installation of a central air conditioning system, technicians carefully measure the refrigerant level and test the system. Air conditioners have safety systems that prevent overcharging.
A low refrigerant level is a much more common problem than a high refrigerant level in an air conditioner. When the AC refrigerant level is too low, the unit will not effectively cool your home&#;s air. You might notice warm air blowing from the vents. The air conditioner may cycle constantly in an effort to reach the temperature setting on your thermostat. You may notice frost or ice on the outdoor unit or a puddle of water near the indoor unit. Other symptoms of low refrigerant include high electricity bills, short-cycling, and low airflow. If you hear a hissing or bubbling sound, your air conditioner may have an active refrigerant leak.
Using your air conditioner with an improper AC refrigerant charge will cause extra stress, wear, and tear on the system. This leads to a shorter lifespan and increased utility costs. The unit may overheat from the constant cycling, which could ruin its electronics and motor. Ice buildup may cause the coil to crack. A blown motor or cracked coil usually requires a complete replacement of the AC system.
When your air conditioner has the proper level of refrigerant, it efficiently cools your home. The air blowing out of your vents will feel cool. A proper refrigerant charge also helps the unit remove excess moisture from your home&#;s air. Maintaining an indoor humidity level of around 40% helps you feel more comfortable. Properly charged air conditioners last longer, don&#;t cycle as often, and use less electricity.
The best way to find out if your AC has the right refrigerant level is through an annual tune-up. We recommend a springtime tune-up of your cooling system. However, it&#;s never too late for AC maintenance. During a tune-up, the technician uses specialized instruments to measure the refrigerant level. If the level is lower than what the manufacturer of the unit recommends, the technician will first check for signs of a leak. The refrigerant leak must be repaired before the unit is recharged. Once the leak is identified and fixed, the technician will recharge the system.
If your air conditioner was manufactured before , it may use R-22 as its refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer produced for air conditioners because it depletes the ozone layer and pollutes the environment. These systems will not work with newer refrigerants, so you might need to replace the old AC unit if R-22 is not available. Newer units use R-410A as the refrigerant. R-410A is available for achieving the proper refrigerant charge in air conditioners manufactured in or later. Switching to a new cooling system that uses R-410A as the refrigerant and has a seasonal energy efficiency ratio of 15 or higher could lower your cooling costs by as much as 50%, notes the Department of Energy.
To learn more about the need for proper AC refrigerant charge, take a look at Lanz Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc.&#;s air conditioner repairs, or contact us today.
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