Leak Detection Mindset

HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs

Bryan Orr

Training, Careers, Airconditioning, Self-improvement, Hvac, Business, Education, Refrigeration, Heating, Ac, Apprenticeship

4.8 • 985 Ratings

🗓️ 23 January 2017

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, Bryan and Bert talk about properly stripping cables and leak detection best practices. Bert is a senior technician and self-proclaimed leak detection expert.

As a slight aside, Bert CAN'T STAND when technicians strip wires. Basically, his advice is NOT to cut around the wires or use a razor knife.

Leak detection starts when you walk up to a unit and confirm that the unit is low on refrigerant. Typically, you hook up gauges and check the five pillars. You will particularly check for low superheat and high subcool. However, your senses are also important during the confirmation process. Use your eyes before even grabbing a leak detector. You can typically spot corrosion on the line set, coil, or pipe fittings. Then, you can perform a bubble test to confirm the leak without a tool.

Bert starts with coil and checks for oil spots. He then feels brazing joints for oil (even though that sounds a little suspicious). Most importantly, if Bert suspects a leak, he does his bubble test BEFORE pulling out the electronic leak detector.

When Bert uses the leak detector, he turns it on and lets it stabilize for a little bit. He starts LOWER on the coil to get a hit and starts HIGHER to pinpoint the leak. And NEVER put your probe in water!

New coils can be tricky. Although they CAN leak, it's improbable. If your leak detector gets a hit on a brand new evaporator coil, it could be caused by the chase. You MUST confirm that the leak is on the coil; it's not good enough to say that there is a leak without knowing exactly where the leak is coming from.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of HVAC School is made possible by generous support from Testo and Carrier.
0:12.4	I'm excited to welcome Testo as a partner, not only because
0:15.7	Testo is a world leader in test instrumentation and measuring devices, but also because
0:20.5	Testo has shown a deep commitment to continuing to expand their HVAC line of instruments.
0:26.3	Which frankly is important if you're going to buy an expensive piece, a relatively expensive piece
0:30.9	of instrumentation for testing and diagnostic, you want to make sure that expensive piece of instrumentation for testing and diagnostic.
0:33.7	You want to make sure that that piece of equipment is going to continue to be supported for
0:36.8	years to come, and Testo has shown that they're not going any place anytime soon.
0:41.8	Now one new line of equipment that they have is their new line of
0:45.9	electrical diagnostic equipment and I just ordered the 770-3 and yes I did pay for it
0:51.6	they didn't give it to me for free and that multimeter is a new
0:55.5	multi that's their new line of electrical diagnostic equipment it's got an amp clamp
0:59.3	it has temperature reading capacitance microamps you testing, flame sensors, all that kind of stuff.
1:05.0	But then it also has a feature that I'm interested in, so it reads in Rush Amps, but it also, you can connect it up and read
1:11.0	wattage and power factor.
1:12.9	So I want to see how that particular feature works
1:15.2	once I get it in.
1:16.3	And then also it connects via Bluetooth
1:18.7	to the Smart Prob's app
1:20.4	so that you can monitor the electrical, you know, your electrical readings,
1:23.5	electrical data along with the refrigerant and air side all in one place on your
1:28.0	app screen. So once I get that and try it out, I will let you know and once again
	...

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