HVAC Leak Detectors

[@HVACTIME]

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[@OramWerd]

Just started at a new company, and was told to pick out a new leak detector on Monday. This video couldn't have been at a more perfect time for me. Thank you!

[@OleRazzleDazzler]

get the fieldpiece stuff. elitech is great. but if they buyin get something nice from a supply house locally so that you can get the service for it in town withoht shipping yourself.

[@reaperinfinite8427]

Yep, leak detectors are good for sensing a leak, but bubbles are the real standard for pinpointing the exact location. Dye is a waste of money-messy and it will destroy digital manifolds. GREAT VID BROTHER- 26 year veteran in HVACR here

[@MrRealtalkME]

All my tools starting out was Eiltech and I must say I never had any issues with their products

[@czechmate6916]

I’m retired from this now. I use the H10pro on the non blends and the Fieldpiece infrared on blends. I noticed that it was a little too slow to pick up blends I have also done the tracer gas like you do. Stay safe keep up the great videos.

[@jasonjohnsonHVAC]

Why does ultra sonic go unnoticed so often. I have used heated diode, IR and ultra sonic. I find ultra sonic to be a fantastic choice. You have to be able to tune out the noise thats unwanted and tune your ears to what is the source. Yes certain lights can make noise, but you dont need trace gas at all, just nitrogen. Experience in proper techniques to understand the how, what and why goes a long way in finding a leak. Another great video. Thanks for your contributions to the trade. Many people value your videos and instructions.

[@HVACTIME]

I feel ultrasonic is a fascinating tech but still ahead of its time. MKBHD on KZbin did a video about that at one point. Products that are the future but the market isn't ready for them. While I support it I cant make a recommendation for it YET.

[@jasonjohnsonHVAC]

@@HVACTIME fair enough. I am going to buy one when i can afford to drop that kind of money on it.

[@caru3257]

I have one but I had better luck with a heated diode tester.

[@HeyChickens]

I would say that the disadvantage with ultrasonic would be in that you have to recover all the refrigerant and then put in nitrogen and then pull a vacuum afterwards. So I would think that ultrasonic would be advantageous for when you have already used heated diode or IR and you are not confident in the results. It would definitely be an excellent step two for when step one is not good enough.

[@AllTattedUp13]

​@@HeyChickensu must not be union lol. Got a leak, just dump nitro in and find the leak. Aint nobody reclaiming. Unless Osha is near 😂

[@AllTattedUp13]

No sniffer can beat a sonic ear. That things a life saver. I usually pull that out b4 i even grab my sniffer.

[@Talentman18]

About to buy a sonic one

[@bruhmandude555]

i have an infocon compas it seems to be set off by little trees

[@stevestadinko6045]

The Dtek Stratus is my go to. It even has an optional CO² sensor.

[@f1reguy587]

Im not sure what the hype is with the optional co2 sensor? What purpose are we using these for that im unaware of? Or is it literally just reaffirming the room air co2 levels in HVAC servicing monitoring public health type thing…

[@stevestadinko6045]

@@f1reguy587 Leak checking systems that use CO² as a refrigerant, and using CO² as a trace gas for finding leaks.

[@antonacity8276]

The interesting thing is heated diodes don’t necessarily detect fluorine or chlorine, they sense the absence of oxygen, just breath on the tip and you’ll see

[@ReliableHVACR]

awesome video man, great explanation

[@sterlingarcher46]

For us lot in the EU it's mind blowing that you guys are still using freon as a tracer gas . It's been a huge no no over here for a long time now . Instead we use Trace-a-gas which is 95% nitrogen and 5% hydrogen , and then we either use a hydrogen detector or nowadays some leak detectors also detect hydrogen so you don't need a dedicated one .

[@HVACTIME]

I find that interesting, its definitely not even an available practice here. EU has always been significantly ahead with regulations and practices though. Most of our tech is a decade behind yours.

[@sterlingarcher46]

@@HVACTIME Well I wouldn't say you guys are behind tech wise , because most of the new tools come from the States as well as most innovations and new tech in general . You should see the bullsh*t that's being sold in the supply houses over here it's horrific. Chiller technology for example , you guys are the world's leaders in that . EU is ahead as far as the DX VRF stuff , but that's not even European tech , that's Japanese technology . I think the biggest difference is that Europe is obsessed with "efficiency " and small savings in energy consumption, where the US are more about getting sh*t done and less regarding towards the costs , although with the current economy that seems to be shifting . To sum it up, EU is ahead is some aspects ( regulations and energy efficiency) but at the same time we're behind in other ways...

[@FrostHVAC]

@@HVACTIME I’ve actually heard this from a guy who has immigrated here to the US from the EU, and we’ve had this discussion bout how HVAC equipment there is more advanced. One big thing he told me was, it works great there, but the US is different as EU equipment tech wouldn’t work the greatest here. Which makes sense to me, we’re comparing continents and lots of different variables than what we face here. Though EU hvac will always pique my interest

[@toyinorodare4072]

Thank You for the honest opinion.

[@edwardgarza5104]

How many hours is recommended to replace the heated diode on the tec mate? Have used mine about 10 times and I feel like it's not picking up like it use 2? Ive changed the filters and fresh batteries.

[@HVACTIME]

100hrs of operation

[@DCVful]

H-10 pro are awesome to bulky though and they seem to have a battery charging issue over time they just won’t hold a charge, also one drop of any moisture and bye bye I have the sr-82 and I have my amazing days with it and my bad… however it will pinpoint unlike some other ir leak detectors

[@reaperinfinite8427]

Fieldpiece is a good option but when it comes to meters- Fluke is the standard over all for speed,accuracy and will for many years. Fluke 179 is the best meter, nothing comes close at any price. for example, when checking capacitors for deviation, take a fluke up against a field piece and watch which one reads faster and more accurate. The difference is night and day, even with the new field piece meters.

[@quintonh2063]

The elitech and hilmor infrared leak detector are exactly the same, all the way down to the uv light attachment. Im just curious who copied who or if hilmor is made in China by elitech?

[@briancarlisi2224]

I’ve been extremely pleased with my heated diode Elitech. Much more affordable than the other “top” brands. Thanks for reaffirming my purchase. Now watch their damn price go up, lmao!

[@MrJeromegon]

You are a good boss. My boss will never give a leak detector. He will make me borrow from a co worker a leak detector or a vacuum pump instead of getting one etc.😂😂😂😂

[@caru3257]

I used NAVAC with success heated diode.

[@MrJeromegon]

You mentioned on using R22 as a tracing gas to find leaks. That’s pretty smart. But my question is by adding R22 in a 410A system. Even not too much R22. Do you think the r22 oil will cost any damage on the 410A system?

[@AllTattedUp13]

I wouldn't do that, and who wastes r22 these days? Stuffs liquid gold.

[@derrickenbuenosaires]

You're right about fieldpiece, I was already working in the industry when fieldpiece was coming up. I remember finding the jaws of my amp meter broken on one of their hi-end meters they had on the market at the time and I was really dissapointed. My original fluke 902 from 10 yrs ago still going strong but I'm sure fieldpiece has grown alot more since. I'll be willing to try them again. As for elitech I don't think they're bad. Their on par with the "Value" brand from china I'd say.

[@shawnryan4795]

Infinicon hasn't failed me yet. Working tech for 5+years.

[@jakem117]

PGM-IR or H10-PRO That’s what I use. Personally owned, operated and serviced. I find all the leaks

[@hvacwiz7877]

20 years hvac have repaired 10,000 leaks. first off treat your leak detectors like its a newborn baby keep it in the case dont drop it et. so I got the The 55 dollar after coupon Elitech CPU-1G AC so far is the best leak detector I have ever used. it looks cheesy, sound super cheesy. and the cheesy money box it stores in is cheesy. it looks like a plastic toy that came out of a kids toy section. but it is the best effing leak detector i have ever used lol. the end results are legit. vastly better than the inficon. i know nothing of the other elitech leak detectors but theyre probly good too. elitech seems to be me making some real good stuff their digital gauges are phenomenal.

[@alfonsobenitez8574]

Excellent explanation.

[@f1reguy587]

So ive use the companys inficon dtek, its working for the guys just fine, i just dont like its feel, so ive been looking at the dr82, bit more rugged a build… cannot find anyone running it to assist my choice, my old boss has a slightly older heated diode, that worked fine, and i think “heated diode” meters are the most obvious way to find leaks in any gas, IR having that technique to constantly question as you look for some small leak… Theres also the newer fieldpiece dr56? Which is also a heated diode. I still cant really decide.

[@jman9296]

Do a video on lazer temp guns

[@CMN843HVAC]

Great vid learned something new. How do you feel about the yellow jacket heated diode detector? Seen it today at Trane. And yes I have the feildpiece infrared detector.

[@williamreick2669]

Yeah I use both the dtek select and the H10 pro

[@HVACTIME]

Which is your top pick?

[@williamreick2669]

@@HVACTIME Honestly, the DTEK select. My early days in the trade I learned on a halide detector working in refrigeration. Then as I became a mechanic I used Dtek heated diodes working in mission critical environments. Had a coworker turn me on to ultrasonic. Never purchased one due to no real reason of having a need. Plus was hard to use in data centers with a lot of white noise. Started working on large tonnage chillers and then moved to the H10. Had an old timer mechanic who swore by them. He was one of those guys who has forgotten more than I’ll ever learn so I purchased one. My go to is the Dtek.

[@sterlingarcher46]

By the way Holden , do techs over in the States have to buy their own leak detectors ? Over here the employer has to supply it so we don't get to choose which one we get , and also it has to be " checked for calibration " once a year by a third party company or organisation that will deliver a certificate of calibration which allows you to use it for one more year ... Money making scheme some will say , other say it's necessary so that companies keep their leak detectors in working order ...

[@HVACTIME]

Yes majority of companies do NOT supply detectors of any kind. I've recently learned that union shops do a lot of that but rarely on the non union side. We have a sharable detector for our techs who are working on getting their own. We definitely do not have ours test/inspected/certified at all.

[@Strictly4Defense]

Just recieved the ir200 at my door. Tested it in my shop I can't wait to try it out in the field

[@TamNguyen-ng1kw]

Thanks for sharing!

[@evasmechanical3902]

Great video.

[@medicinaljourney5505]

Great video man

[@realestateinfonet9041]

Very informative! Thanks!

[@DiegoRamirez-rd7kk]

Good Old soap water!!

[@HVACTIME]

Still has a place in my heart

[@jeffhall2958]

H-10 Pro, the only leak detector. Even in saturated environments. The rest are substandard.

[@mikebrattole]

Stratus is the new best IMO

[@Aldocello1]

H10 all day

[@bpscottland74]

Why isn't your company buy you a leak detector? In my 10 years of doing this I've never heard of a company that makes you buy your own leak detector

[@Strictly4Defense]

This is considered a tool in your arsenal. Just like manifold gauges, meters, basic tools. You provide your own shit. Company typically provides acetylene, nitrogen, vacuum pumps and recovery machines. The way the industry is today.

[@bpscottland74]

@@Strictly4Defense never had a company in the 10 years I've been doing this no provide a leak detector

[@Strictly4Defense]

@@bpscottland74 I said "the way the industry is today" but interesting. It was easy for you financially wise back then. Now we gotta spend our own money.

[@stephwaylonwells3218]

👍

[@mikev.1034]

👍🤙

[@SupremeRuleroftheWorld]

dumping R22 as a trace gas in a system is not cool. just use hydrogen if you have problems finding leaks. get with the times, using banned gases for tracing is just wasting time in the past. and hydrogen works considerably better.

[@erikholmes8069]

Lol, Dude relax. R22 is not “band” it’s just really expensive and they aren’t making it any more, There is plenty of refurbished R22 drum still being sold at most vendors in the United States. I try to get my customers to use alternative refrigerants like TDX20 is a good.

[@HVACTIME]

If I remember your in the EU, right? Y'all are setup very different and higher regulations than the US. We are not setup for the hydrogen testing even if we wanted to use it. Not saying we shouldn't be, just stating that's not our reality.

[@SupremeRuleroftheWorld]

@@HVACTIME yes, i am from the EU. but just because lax regulations "allow" stuff like R22 for tracing to be used does not mean you cant use something better, it requires a special detector yes but 2% hydrogen/nitrogen gas mix is even very common in the US and can be bought at every gas supplier for roughly the same amount a plain nitrogen bottle costs from what i see from 2 minutes of google-fu. and arguably it saves you money because its simply so fast to use (and r22 aint cheap), you just dump it in like nitrogen (pushing in a whole tank takes about a minute in a decently sized chiller) and the leak detector is just stupidly sensitive so you can trace out a whole system in just a few minutes as you will not get false readings because you bumped the sensor or because its windy or the insulation is outgassing wich slows you down, there is no such thing as false readings with hydrogen. my company also used regular tracing gases (even tried propane/R290) but the 2% hydrogen bottles just make so much quick work of it as you cant have false readings that its simply not economical to do so once you have the detector in your van. if you know someone with a hydrogen detector or can borrow one from a supply house for testing i dare you to try it, you might change your mind. its basically become the norm for difficult leak detection projects in the socialistic hellscape called europe. ps: our regulations are not that different from yours. kyoto and montreal are still the basis. europe just differs in procedures and some methods. the biggest differences are simply because american systems are just so far behind because of the lax regulations around efficiency. just to give an example, i have a heat pump heating my home (floor heating) and it gets a COP of around 6 on average (mind you my country is basically in canada from a american perspective) simply because it only needs to make 80F water even when its freezing 14F outside. those kinds of numbers are impossible for the single speed systems generally used in the US. its not a dig, its just a result of american hvac industry pushing your goverment to keep their margins high instead of pushing them to do better. as a result the rest of the world is sailing you (america as a whole) by and reaping the benefits of japanese made HVAC systems that are nearly double as efficient as whatever crap goodman is pushing out its factory these days for the american market, because the rest of the world aint buying them. come to think of it i doubt such a unit would even be allowed to sell here due to its poor performance.

[@realSamAndrew]

@@SupremeRuleroftheWorld are you saying that even if you have the tiniest of leaks, the most impossible to find, a hydrogen detector WILL find it, and fast?

[@christianroysdon9562]

No I do not use any leak detector. I wanna find the leak fast than any detector out there. I use my method. evacuate the whole system Then pump the system with a little R290 or R600 Then put the flame where you think the leak is and it'll show yourself.

[@Attest411]

Will the fluke ii910 make me a better tech?

[@turbojunkie971]

Great vid man