Thread: Finding leaks in ref system

When i worked at Montgomery Ward as a tech. I used to see alot of leaks and we would use an electronic leak detector and a bottle of that gas leak liquid, that forms tiny bubbles when a leak is present on the copper or steal lines.

But at Sears, i hardly ran into any leaks.

We did have a Frigidaire top freezer that was giving us trouble, we replaced the heat exchanger and evaporator, and it worked fine after that.

Jake

Thanks for the input , I found the leak on one of the units today it was in the evaporator.Replaced the evaporator and its working great. The other unit I left it under 150 psi and came back in a couple hours and it had lost about 25 psi. I use nitrogen to pressure up the system. I have a variety of leak detectors but none of them are very effective on these small leaks the bubble leak is about as effective as the high dollar electronic jobs.Do you know of anyone that has tried the florecent dye and black light ??

No, I sure don't know anyone who has used the florescent dye and black light. I have always heard of this being done to check for leaks, but don't know of any tech. that I worked with that has done this.

Jake

Hi,

Have read and heard about the 134A gas being a micro molicule gas which means the molicules are smaller than the older R12 gas was....which would mean a smaller leak could occur ( maybe even undetectable ) on a 134A system but would not leak on an R12 system. With a leak I cannot find, I usually err on the side of cuation and go with the low side ( softer metals ) and change the evap and HE.

JMO!

jeff.

i get plenty of leaks many seem be into the yodder /door loop in the older appliances with R134a and in the uk we see lots of R600 systems and they are sometimes inpossible to locate leeks on due the the low presure the run at..

Worked for a company that swore by the dye test. To me it is garbage, gets all over every thing.
Best is nitrogen with R-22 as it is a denser gas. Then use an electronic leak detector. Tif ZX1 the best one next to the H-10. After-all you are going to evacuate the system.