Houston

As summer approaches, it is time to begin thinking about our autos air conditioning technique and if it is operating correctly. One of the most typical problems with an A/C program is refrigerant leaks and locating them. Obtaining the source of the leak can be a tedious and time consuming. The leaking Freon could come literally anywhere in the program from tubing to a accumulator to a tiny pressure switch gone bad. The EPA has made it considerably far more stringent rules in dealing with refrigerant leaks. The days of topping off the air conditioner with a few cans of R12 are long over. Now even tiny leaks must discovered and corrected. Here comes technologies to the rescue. There are several techniques air conditioning repair shops employ to locate and repair refrigerant leaks. Each and every strategy has its pros and cons and their use depends on the situation. The three most generally used are a electronic refrigerant leak detector, ultraviolet dye leak detection kit, and ultrasonic leak detector units.

Electronic Refrigerant Leak Detectors

Electronic Refrigerant Leak Detectors are the quickest and easiest to use of the 3 approaches. Most of the time you will have no idea where the refrigerant is leaking and have to narrow down the possible areas. A electronic refrigerant leak detector can get you extremely close to the location of the leak and from there you can get far more precise. Some of the better models will enable to crank up the sensitivity when you get the region found. For quite tiny leaks you can wrap the suspected region in cling wrap or a rag to attempt and contain the refrigerant. When you unwrap the area, put in the refrigerant leak detector and see if you get a reading. Remember, refrigerant is heavier than air and it will sink to the ground. It is greatest to sniff below tubing and compartments when searching for it.

Ultrasonic Leak Detectors

These are state of the art leak detectors and are the newest tool to find refrigerant leaks. They operate on the principle of sound detection. Instead of sniffing for refrigerant gas they listen for the sound it makes as Freon escapes the system. To use an ultrasonic leak detector the system should be pressured in order for the refrigerant to leak out and make noise. Also, the operate location need to be totally silent. Remember it is looking for sound and no background noise is imperative. This is the main drawback to using an ultrasonic leak detector. Extremely handful of auto shops are quiet enough to use it successfully.

Ultraviolet Dye Leak Detectors

swamp cooler repair

This third strategy ultraviolet dye is injected into the air conditioning program and in theory ought to escape with the refrigerant. Typically, an auto shops have an ultraviolet leak detection kit that has all of the tools essential to full this job. Usually these kits come with ultraviolet lamp or ultraviolet flashlight, a dye injector, safety glasses and ultraviolet dye. This strategy is the most technically complex of the three and is the messiest. You have to inject the ultraviolet dye into the program and wait for it to leak out. The dye can be messy and get all over the spot. It gets in youre A/C method, your refrigerant manifold gauges and you. Even so as soon as you shine your ultraviolet flashlight and spot the leak, you normally can see exactly where it is.

Each and every strategy has its pro and cons. For the newbie, I would advise an electronic refrigerant leak detector and the skilled auto shop would be far better served with an ultraviolet leak detection kit.