Rheem Central AC Condenser Not Coming On 21 Error Explained How to Add Sealant to System

9 year old Rheem Prestige central AC system, outdoor unit not coming on. ICC board error L21 explained. Low Pressure and How to Add Sealant to the central ac system and charge system to 10 degrees of sub cooling.
Thoughts and feedback appreciated. Closest to honestly guess pounds of R410A to the system will win the #giveaway of a 2022 Pipe Doctor/Bosch Summer Tee-Shirt and a Pipe Doctor Flexfit hat!
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[@walterbordett2023]

I like that you gave her the options and explained them well. Informed customers make better decisions, and that brings trust, loyalty, and repeat business.

[@navyspook79]

Great job Mike. There are so many that would have just said you need a new system. You are a rare soul in this type business. Keep it up.

[@michaelmcewan5074]

Great job Mikey, I like giving her options. I typically will perform an electronic leak search search on the system, then if I’m able to easily find the leak with an electronic leak detector I’ll have a more definitive answer for the homeowner as to how to proceed. Either way she’s going to proceed with your repair or replacement recommendations because she trusts you. Just helps to save you on a return trip half way through summer. 95% chance the leak is in that evaporator coil as you mentioned. Providing a free 30 minute leak search has helped my company and myself profit from repairs and replacements. Love the videos my man!

[@carlmasi1063]

I Am proud of you you are so honest i am glad you did not rip that customer off i love watching your video keep up the good work god bless you and your family

[@richritchie5434]

Great job Mikey you handled this perfectly as a business owner. It’s harder when u have a good customer and longtime relationship with the customer and ur the original installer of equipment. that not only failed the customer but also failed you. But as wise man once Quote “ Oh Mamma we have a leaker momma, we have a leaker momma!!!!

[@dianederenzis2668]

Thank you for this video , I have a repairman coming this week and now I might have some knowledge. Much appreciated.

[@jasonburgos5107]

Thank you Mikey for posting this right now lol, now i have something to watch while stuck at this god damn geothermal service call

[@alannewsome1729]

Mikey I thought you were very professional and straight forward with her. You weren’t trying to just sell her a new system you gave her options and a honest opinion. That’s the way you are suppose to it great job as always brother!

[@paulbibbee853]

Happy Birthday Mrs.Pipes ! 🎊🎉🎊

[@bobbydisano7293]

At the end of the day, the customer is paying your bills! Whatever they choose to do is on them you can only give your professional opinion! You gave her all of her options from the cya “cover your ass” form and that’s all you could do, good job Mikey!

[@adamedwards2435]

Pipes has incredible customer service skills! 👍

[@scottmaz4063]

Happy birthday Mrs Pipes

[@jochemsluis8834]

In my country we cannot top up a charge without making steps to find/repair leak. We find ourselves at a cost vs price dilemma. I have charged a system with dye and a sealant dye if I haven't found a leak with the electronic ( usually evaporator slow leak). You know the coil is leaking and hope the sealant repairs it but the coil is already corroding. This means you need to top off the charge until the leaks are sealed as the sealant requires the gas/oil to escape to seal the leak to the air/moisture. This postponed the cost but gave them air for the short term. In the long term it will cost them more but deference of payment is better for the immediate. You explained it well to the home owner. 👍👍👍👌

[@eddiew.6485]

Gosh…..”Sandy” is coming up on 10 years ago, already! Anyway, what a gracious, appreciative customer. You hate to break bad news to those who value you as to what you do and the service you provide. Great work as always, Mikey 👍

[@mattbauckman9907]

I have a customer with 3 of these systems,RUUD branded, same vintage, in their house. I just replaced an evap coil in one last year and I suspect another leaky evap although I have failed twice to actually locate the leak. I added sealer with uv dye and will hope for the best. That L21 code keeps haunting me haha 😛. Also gotta be careful with the sealant, too much will ruin the compressor. I have been using Easy Seal with limited success but have also killed 2 compressors. Very small systems like a 12,000 btu water source heat pump do not like that stuff. In any case I would have done the same thing Mikey. 👍

[@Shawnsullivan7]

I guessed 3.5 pounds. You did the best with the information you had at the time. Had you known prior to charging it was 4.7 pounds low you probably would have searched for a leak. It is easy for the keyboard warriors to comment after the job is already done. Keep up the great videos!

[@Chris_In_Texas]

I would give a recommendation to use gaffer tape on your tools. Either florescent green or pink works best. Put a few wraps around each tool and it will stand out like a sore thumb if you lose or leave tools from time to time. Quick scan and see a florescent pink tool and you know! Also you can use different colors for the different techs, so when you are all working together you can get the right tools back to the right person. I use it for all my camera gear and works great. Black lens and gear tends to blend in, but not when there is a band of tape on them brightly colored. Just a little helpful hint for managing all the tools. 👍😎

[@hozerhvac4406]

Tough call, not sure how old she was, sometimes it’s best to offer some solutions as you did. Hopefully the sealant works and it gets her 3-5 years. Than she can decide than. Another option would have been quick sniff test with a sniffer, she goes off in the Evap than quote her the Evap replacement. I am a Lennox dealer usually the coils are 10 years parts. So I would have swapped that coil. I would have also checked for warranty

[@Joe-xu8sk]

perfect, give it a shot on a repair with good customer without a total replacement.

[@tphvac87]

We worked on the same rheem unit today Mikey had an error code 21 low pressure, it was 11 years old, time to replace it, R-22 unit had only 49 psi in the system! Yikes!! Just saw the snippet in the beginning and I was like just worked on that one!! Keep up the content mike!

[@tphvac87]

We got a comfort consultant to go over there tomorrow to give an estimate to replace coil and condenser!

[@tphvac87]

Error code 21 mike 🙄 come on 😂 just playing

[@devman8youtube908]

First off, perfectly done again Mike. A question I have for you is can this leak sealer be used for any refrigerant in any system including refrigeration or only AC with 410A or R22? I am not a technician but I am enjoying learning HVAC by both you and my teacher at my local tech school. I’m gonna say 6LB 0.46OZ for the charge of the system.

[@brianmcdermott2430]

You did just fine. Good job.

[@Eddy63]

Great service call ... That's how you do it ... Thx ...

[@charliewest5377]

absolutely stunning post Wow

[@brian2359]

Great advice! As a homeowner, I’d appreciate the cheaper option knowing damn well I’d be replacing it within a year

[@beverlydentdent2860]

Breathtaking 💖💖

[@kyndalldecker9115]

So excited ! For This Post

[@alayahcoleman9993]

Ur my new inspiration!!!

[@andrewludwig9251]

Mikey, I would’ve did exactly what you did. The unit definitely has some life left in it but it’s almost 10 years old. You did the most cost effective solution to get her going again and if later on down the road you need to replace it then you replace it. I’m not sure how close this house is to the water but being near salt water is not good for AC units. I guess it’s worse in some areas more than others.

[@Jon-hx7pe]

10 years is young to middle aged, not old.

[@andrewludwig9251]

@@Jon-hx7pe When you are near saltwater, 10 years is a long time

[@arthouston7361]

We stopped using sealer about 10 years ago. I'd be looking at the evap with my sniffer.

[@Samlol23_drrich]

I suggest getting on your knees when you meet a new client…….but seriously what you said was smart advice most don’t consider.

[@carolynfreed5312]

Happy Birthday to your wife!! Hope that she is having a wonderful day!! My birthday on the 27. My wedding anniversary is May 26. 😊

[@carolynfreed5312]

Tell her that I said Thank you for the wedding anniversary wishes. 😊

[@timshields5308]

On low systems, I get the leak detector out an go over the system with it, less then a hour normally. Then when found let the customer know if it's repairable or not, an see what they wanna do from there. While watching this I was wondering if you have a leak detector an if you use them? Don't recall seeing you use before.

[@rebeccacarlisle2665]

I Love the look

[@isabellescott7493]

It's very interesting!

[@Berzerk29]

I've heard conflicting reports on that leak sealer/UV dye injection. My question, is the actual leak sealing material condensable and is it bad for the compressor. I've been hesitant to try this leak sealing method. Every time I'm at the supply house I contemplate buying some to try it out.

[@nancysullivan7329]

Super unbelievable Friend

[@phillipjoy1305]

Good videos 😜

[@willardpinson1197]

Good job i would do it to that stuff works

[@lilliandecker2890]

Nothing can stop you 😍😘❤️️

[@elliecrawford2392]

splendid 🙂✌️❤️️

[@gregoryscheihing6713]

Happy Birthday Mrs. D 💐-how do you put up with this guy Mikey?? Hope you have a great day 🎂

[@laker3]

After putting that much refrigerant in the system I would have definitely looked for a leak. With that amount of refrigerant loss you should have been able to locate the leak easily.

[@mattbauckman9907]

You would think so, but I’ve had some that were impossible. I’ve gone as far as isolating both coils AND the line set and STILL couldn’t find the leak. Checked service valves, schraders and nope. I had an old Trane system once that had a leak at the txv only when it was running.

[@jamestoy426]

I’m not a fan of stop leak but you did explain her options i like that you are honest I appreciate that i would go for the leak search thank you for the video

[@demijenkins9486]

Dam I Love it Very much

[@dalehargreaves5196]

I guessed two pounds but there was a time during the switch from 22 to 410 and copper to aluminum that manufacturers had a big problem with leaks, hens the major shift from five to ten year warranty. Leak stop is a bandaid if it works all like putting fix a flat in your tire, just more gunk to deal with when you fix the problem. Dye is much more effective at finding the cause of the problem if you want to fix the real cause of the problem find the leak. If it's a ten year leak just charge and go. So I'm a stand up guy and I want to give an unsopecting client a number of options which they don't even have the knowledge to discern...

[@Dicofol1]

I have a basic question : Can you use the same refrigerant gauges for all refrigerant systems or you must use a different set of gauges to prevent oils from cross-contaminating?

[@natew48]

You can as they are not the cheapest things to buy. I have a set of digital gauges and use them for both 410 and r22. You just purge the old refrigerant out of them before hooking up to a different one. If you can afford separate gauges, that would be the way to go

[@marty0715yt]

OUGHHHHH Water Swirling!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice MP!!

[@peterking1134]

I recall when Freon 30# cylinders were about $1.00 a pound

[@oldskool1979]

Domt all A/C systems in car and home leak ever so slightly through the compressor ? They do require recharge every 5-7 years to get it back to proper capacity...

[@markbaker1969]

What kind of sealant do you use?

[@alexg3855]

My guess is 4lb 3 oz I had a similar unit last week and I added 3lbs 14.5 oz

[@philltafolla]

Good Ol’ man once said Only thing that should be Inside those copper pipes is refrigerant and refrigerant only 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@38mullet]

we charge 125 per pound for 410a rheem sucks i would push placement havent had much luck with sealant dont even offer it anymore in orlando fl thanks for feeding me

[@emmagriffiths6066]

You 👍 should be proud of yourself

[@ignacio8597]

My only gripe is that you said you'd have to put nitro in it to leak search. Why couldn't you do a visual, then electronic leak search, and finally pinpoint it with some bubbles?

[@devman8youtube908]

Nevermind I finished watching the video after I guessed. I’m gonna give it another go. 8LB 0.86OZ

[@michaelsannuti270]

I think u gotta charge more for 410a. It cost $500 a bottle in Philly now.

[@patelshopify9733]

What kind of software do you use

[@Thescreenpeaker99]

How well does that sealant work? Went to an almost identical call yesterday. I was planning on coming back due to rain and performing a leak search. I wonder if its more cost effective to just add a sealant.

[@greghasseld9683]

Your wife must be a SAINT WIFEY!!!!

[@iggymac3473]

last time i trush your guess Mikey lol

[@CoffeeQuilava]

Hey Mikey why don't manufacturers put the dye in the oil begin with? I know most car manufacturers have dye in their systems from the factory. Ps love the videos 2.5 lb

[@stephwaylonwells3218]

3Lb 8oz 👍

[@jasonjohnsonHVAC]

Im not a fan of leak sealant.....but i also see its place in the trade. As long as the customer is aware that it isn't guaranteed and has no warranty.....then by all means...fire away. Residential customers seem to always want the cheapest route. In commercial/ industrial, its find the leak. I've had some leaks that were absolutely horrible to find and took a long time to find, but i found it. I also understand in residential the work load is and can get unbearably high with tons of calls. My buddy last summer called me up and told me they had 17 calls scheduled on him for one day. Hell to the naw. I do a max of 4 calls a day and usually 2-3 calls a day.

[@careydecker4427]

O M G💜

[@tphvac87]

Those rheem outdoor coils always get dirty especially in the service valve compartment, not too sure why 😂

[@tphvac87]

Do you like that sealant mike? My company won’t let me use it but I’ve had success with it before…what’s the brand name of that? I personally would’ve done a leak search, I know it’s time consuming; yes but at least open the evaporator and take a look…but at the end of the day it’s 9 years old ehhhh maybe replace the evaporator cause that’s where 80-90% of the leaks occur in my experience.

[@Gregking75]

what happened to the partnership with that other company

[@compactc9]

WOW! That one was half empty!

[@ruttworksfabrication1954]

50K Subscribers Coming soon!

[@idacarls851]

Superlike 💞

[@two5246]

my company policy is this, if the leak is greater than 30% of the systems total charge we perform a leak search. Does that always happen? Probably not, I think presenting the homeowner with options and guiding them towards a decision is a great move, ultimately you let them decide and they take responsibility for their choice.

[@courtneywalsh446]

👍Ideal

[@brians8664]

On one hand, 4.7lbs is a lot of refrigerant. It’s pretty likely that system lost the charge pretty quickly. On the other hand, it could be a slow leak and the customer could have just dealt with the high electricity bills & poor performance. The system might have just gotten to the point that it stopped running because of low charge. It’s a crapshoot. I think the sealant & UV is a good move. I’ve seen that stuff stop a leak for a few years. Worst case scenario, the sealant/uv makes it a bit easier to find the leak most of the time.

[@TermitesRGood1]

just because the Manufacture date is 2012 means nothing when did she buy it? Mine says 2015 but bought it 2016...

[@Jamesmoore-km3me]

4.5

[@abbiehenderson3814]

Qué hermosa😍❣️💗💜

[@gilgonzalez4104]

I did the same thing the other day cross hoses. Lol

[@kevinpoore5626]

I do like the way you cover your own butt especially with the script that your employees and you are required to follow I've had to do that before working for other people and I kind of got my own for me but I work by myself so I don't have to tell nobody else that LOL :-) :-) I hope you keeping your boots dry LOL

[@jamiescherer4018]

So gorgeous and strong

[@russfranzen3970]

2.6

[@davedube1148]

70F....That is COLD!!! I keep mine at 76 but I am a male......LOL.

[@craigstruble5062]

Still never received shirt from last contest , 9.5 Gallons.

[@richbrockmeier3922]

OMG refrigerant is EXPENSIVE in the US. 😳 Here in the Philippines we pay about $110 USD for 11kg tank of either r22, r32, or r410a.

[@eliaslemus4037]

U gift life time warranty?

[@jimfiedlerRR-546]

All the manufacturers used crap metal, thinner tubing for better heat transfer, & a refrigerant that runs 2.5 times greater pressure. Like Steve Lav says NEVER A DULL MOMENT!

[@MariosACandRefrigeration]

You will feel bad next time you go and the coil is out of warranty.happy birthday.

[@myrasonger8423]

😊

[@lukefulcher3277]

electric leak detector would probably pick up thst leak and in my experience they are very quick on leaks that large

[@araina3508]

1.7

[@garrettrush1467]

5.85lbs

[@davidwidmann3377]

2lb 5oz

[@williamhughes6051]

1.76 lb

[@allstarheatingandcooling113]

4lb 9 Oz

[@steveo7624]

One and a half pounds of our 410

[@jevianfe]

5.8 lb

[@robertengel2635]

3.2lbs

[@tphvac87]

2.7 lbs i was 2 lbs off 😞 on the nose

[@daddygc5814]

Put in a new evap. Coil ,charge with 427a its good to go .a 10 year old unit is not old enough to throw out

[@daddygc5814]

Wait that was 410a ? Then I would diffently replaced evap coil .

[@dannykeane6565]

1.96