A/C Leak Question

[GotToGo]

Hi All,

The A/C sprung a big leak, is completely empty, and won't hold pressure. Its been that way since last summer and I need to get on it. But the point of leakage isn't obvious. Any tips on how to track a big one down?

I was thinking compressed air. If I can figure out how to hook it up.

[ajhockey3]

give it a small charge, add dye. No better way

[aelfwyne]

Back in the day we used a halon leak detector. It's basically a black box you turn on, with a wand, and it sounds like a geiger counter. You wave it around various hoses and pipes. When the ticks get fast, you know you found your leak. I no longer have one, it went with all my dad's tools I was supposed to inherit when he passed but my cousins raided the toolboxes ...

[GotToGo]

Originally Posted by ajhockey3

give it a small charge, add dye. No better way

Yeah, tried that. It doesn't hold any pressure. And I couldn't find any dye.

[GotToGo]

Originally Posted by aelfwyne

Back in the day we used a halon leak detector. It's basically a black box you turn on, with a wand, and it sounds like a geiger counter. You wave it around various hoses and pipes. When the ticks get fast, you know you found your leak. I no longer have one, it went with all my dad's tools I was supposed to inherit when he passed but my cousins raided the toolboxes ...

I was hoping for a simpler method. Money is tight, time I got.

[bob2006]

Originally Posted by GotToGo

Hi All,

The A/C sprung a big leak, is completely empty, and won't hold pressure. Its been that way since last summer and I need to get on it. But the point of leakage isn't obvious. Any tips on how to track a big one down?

I was thinking compressed air. If I can figure out how to hook it up.

You need a fitting like this:




Hook the other end of the blue hose to your compressor hose with an improvised connector and a couple of hose clamps.
If it blows enough air through you can use the soapy water bubble test to look for leaks.
Only 2 drawbacks to this method:
1- It is going to take a pretty big compressor to keep the air flowing at a great enough rate to detect anything
2- It might be difficult to get the soapy water on every single part of the system. Using a spray bottle might help.

Good luck and let us know how you solve the problem.

[GotToGo]

Well, that's what I was thinking. Guess I'll hunt up a fitting and give it a go.

Thanks!