[zadam123]

Last year I bought a new HP AC unit and I've already had to put freon in it twice. The guy who installed it said I must have a leak in the wall and there really is no way to test it so wants to rip everything apart is that true? Is there a tester that can see exactly where the leak is with a small hole? He said he can put in stop leak which usually works about three years is this something I should consider? Is there a better stop leak product that may last longer? Thanks for your help

 

[Bazooka Joe]

How did the original one work before the change out. Did you replace both section at the same time.

You can check the lineset in the wall, by isolating the outdoor unit from the lineset and coil, or cut the lineset lines from both sections. Your Tech. should know this. May get a little pricy thou?

Didn’t he leak test the lineset and new coil, after installing system and before he opened the service valves, to prove no leaks?

Did he or you register your equipment at install, as manufacturers warranty decreases significantly if system never got registered.

 

[KB Cool]

Don't put stop leak in a brand new unit, under warranty! Geeze!

 

[ammoniadog]

To verify that the leak is inside of the wall the tech would have to cut the pipes before and after they disappear into the wall, braze in some fittings, and pressurize the pipes with nitrogen and come back in a day or so to see if the pressure has dropped any. Usually if doing this they would do the same thing to the indoor and outdoor coils to find out for sure which section has the leak. It can be a time consuming process.

Nobody really recommends stop-leak, but it's sometimes worth it as a Hail Mary pass. It might work, it might not work, or it might clog something up inside and completely wreck everything so that you'll need to start over from scratch anyways. As long as you understand the risks, if you still want to roll the dice (and are willing to pay the price either way) that's up to you.

 

[zadam123]

I registered the unit after he installed it when he installed in he hooked up some gauges to it and said it didn't appear that it was leaking. I am very hesitant to use the stop leak for the reasons mentioned before as it make log something to make it even worse. Someone told me there's an electronic sniffer that can sniff out Freon if you drill a small hole in the wall at the bottom it can tell you where the leak is Has anyone used this will heard of it

 

[pecmsg]

If he haven’t isolated the indoor and outdoor units why is he focused on the line set.
Installed last year they should be somewhat responsible

 

[KB Cool]

Oh yeah, i forget to mention brand new evaporator coils can leak, It happened to me, replaced leaking evap under warranty on a 3 yr old system, few months later leaking again, My first reaction was. He must have a hole in the lineset. But, nope just another leaky coil from the manufacturer,

 

[zadam123]

I registered the unit. He said he pressure-tested the machine after install and it was holding up fine. I replace the outside unit and the inside at the same time. My old unit when I went to turn on in the summer was blowing out warm I had somebody come and check it and they said that the unit was leaking outside and then he talks to wires and blew the compressor so I needed a new unit

 

[Pnasty]

I registered the unit. He said he pressure-tested the machine after install and it was holding up fine. I replace the outside unit and the inside at the same time. My old unit when I went to turn on in the summer was blowing out warm I had somebody come and check it and they said that the unit was leaking outside and then he talks to wires and blew the compressor so I needed a new unit

I don’t think they found all the leaks

 

[zadam123]

So what is the best way to test for leaks in the wall? My AC unit is downstairs I live on a three-story townhouse and my heating and AC unit is on the second floor I don't want to rip all the walls from the first floor to the second floor open so what would be the best test?

 

[pecmsg]

Cut the line set. Pressurize the line set. Pressurize the evaporator coil.

 

[zadam123]

just curious if i buy a hvac leak detector do you think if it is the evaporator coil i can find it with that or would i need to pressure test it? is the evap coil easy to get to?

 

[zadam123]

how much should a nitrogen test cost?

 

[pecmsg]

You waited 20 months to reply?

What has your service provider done?

 

[zadam123]

You waited 20 months to reply?

What has your service provider done?

sorry its been a crazy year and put it off since i didnt need ac in the winter and covid issues
nothing has been done my heat in the unit worked fine