Step by Step Guide: How to Locate and Repair Refrigerant Leak on Heat Pump Outdoor Unit

In this comprehensive step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of locating and repairing refrigerant leaks on your heat pump outdoor unit. If you've been experiencing performance issues or loss of cooling/heating efficiency, a refrigerant leak could be the culprit. By following our expert advice, you'll be able to identify the source of the leak and confidently fix it yourself, saving time and money on professional repairs. Got refrigerant leaks on a heat pump or central AC system? During this video we use 2 methods - leak detector solution & ultra sonic. Completed repair and finished with a check of temperatures.
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[@Lewdacris916]

Donated to your charity fund Mikey, i think thats fucking amazing what your doing. Keep it up!

[@audreyhamel7604]

Thé videos must make the time on site longer so more money for hourly work. Nice little thing u got

[@johnpeterson2150]

you need a coremax tool to remove those fittings its not a regular schrader pin mostly seen in commercial hvac.

[@replagaming8926]

It's nice to see that they also check the temperatures after the repair to ensure everything is working properly

[@xX_Kryptis_Xx]

When you call mike, you know it's done right!

[@ardaecdar9009]

I love that they have a philanthropic aspect to their channel and website Giving back to the community is important

[@EliteAireServicesLLC]

Hey Mike, the reason why you couldnt use the core removal tool is because thats a fitting called coremax. Theres a special remover for it thats like $600-700 dollars. Trane and Carrier uses them on their commercial RTU and some residential equipment

[@EliteAireServicesLLC]

@@PipeDoctor no problem! They are notorious for leaking. I usually cut them out and put in braze type access tees.

[@throttlebottle5906]

you have to replace the whole body on them. I believe their idea was large passageway when open, which is good for service work, but they were total junk from day one and leak the same or worse than standard schrader cores *in my opinion*. (not that I care who's wheaties I whizz in.) 🤣🤣

[@ChrisTopher284765490]

Not only having a great team behind you doing their job professionally and making Pipe Doctor successful, I think your youtube is the cherry on top ! Great Job Mike.

[@Infowarrior-45]

Those cores are the Carrier type flo maxx Schrader cores. They make a core tool for it, which is like $600-$800, which is nuts. They also sale the new cores, which is the whole body, with new seals, and not just the core itself. It's kinda crazy. I can't say with 100% confidence that you can pull a vacuum using the core maxx removal tool, or if it's just for swapping cores. Also, if I'm having trouble pulling a vacuum, I sometimes break my vacuum using a little refrigerant, rather than nitrogen, just because it seems to remove moisture a little better. I can't say that's scientifically proven, but it seems to work when I'm struggling to get the vacuum down below 400 microns. Another thing I've learned is that if I'm struggling to get a vacuum pulled, it can sometimes be because the drier is holding moisture. Love the videos! Keep up the great work!

[@josegonzalez5361]

He's correct that's a core max valve alot trane package units have that but you could Crack those with a speed wrench or a smal adjustable wrench.

[@zacharypalczynski8450]

New driers and Nitro blast was needed , but non the less always doing a good job 🤙🏼🙏🏼

[@selin3063]

It's great that they're emphasizing saving time and money on professional repairs

[@TomHolcombe-fh1kv]

When I used the stay, bright eight, I was called a rogue installer.

[@ahmettalhacelep140]

The use of a leak detector solution and ultra sonic method sounds interesting Can't wait to see how it's done

[@derekmc9580]

Big blu is the best leak detector bubbles on the market period.

[@chris66b55]

Mikey, Big Blu needs the valve opened up to get a full stream, closed down with all those bubbles makes it pretty hard to see true micro bubbles.

[@Pubgoyuncusu66]

This guide seems really helpful for people who are experiencing refrigerant leaks in their heat pump outdoor unit

[@colinyoung5971]

i did a repair recently on the exact system (leak was on distributor of metering device) I had the same issue with shrader cores and vacuum set up. In the end i hooked my micron gauge to the high side which gave me a more accurate reading on the micron gauge (further away from pump), also eliminated a couple fittings.

[@TomHolcombe-fh1kv]

I have that same tool ultrasonic leak detector. They’re great.

[@dimaslespier2688]

Purge Mikey purge. And the drier should have definitely been replaced.

[@97Napkins]

Dryers are over rated.. I like them as screens before the metering devices tho 🤔

[@norfolkngood8960]

Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen

[@wo0dzm3n]

It is a coremax as some have said. If you pull the high and low pressure switches, you can pull the cores n pull a vacuum

[@newedgemadness6502]

You need a core max tool for that hi flow core they are about $500 that’s all carrier uses on their package units

[@lnesmith3]

The fitting a big scrader you need Coremax scrader tool to remove Carrier uses the hell out of them in commercial units. It was about $400 several years ago 16:29

[@PipeDoctor]

Yeah I heard. F that. I ain’t buying it

[@derekmc9580]

That low loss 90 fitting that’s in between the machine and the vacuum shutoff valve isn’t vacuum rated and that’s probably whats killing the vacuum . Could be moisture but having that connected you never would be able to tell.

[@brianlutzak]

you should have brazed in a different service port while the system had no charge to make it easier on yourself to pull a vacuum. Like servicing a r290 commercial fridge

[@dimaslespier2688]

Mike. What’s the water temp inside the condenser?

[@everettstevenson2111]

@@PipeDoctor optimus prime, autobots, transform......

[@jamest-mk4qu]

There are many comments. I have question my AC service person refused to answer. Is a $200-350 soft start worth the price?

[@ExtremeBlastoise]

Next time bang on the compressor shell and watch the micron gauge spike, helps get stuff out the oil.

[@TomHolcombe-fh1kv]

Stay bright eight do you like using it? I have had people talk bad about it here in Seattle.

[@TomHolcombe-fh1kv]

@@PipeDoctor we stopped using it at our shop also

[@igorc3989]

If you suspect a contaminated 410a system with Poe oil charge you change filter driers and that very hydroscopic oil in the compressor. That is the proper approach. Running a vacuum pump for a week will not pull the moisture out of the oil, because It’s a chemical bond at this point.

[@throttlebottle5906]

you pretty much "replace" the compressor in those situations, because you'll never replace enough of the oil to decontaminate and have it last for long. the damage is/was already done.

[@captaintroll6802]

What was causing the staybrite 8 too leak??

[@shapedstones]

One of those "filter driers" is probably a muffler is what they call them. They just inhibit some sound from the compressor so it's quieter for customers to enjoy the pool. You see them in some bigger systems. Generally heat pumps, but still not common

[@josegonzalez5361]

You should've cut that out and use a Braze tee access valve you could pick them up from United Refrigeration

[@scottmaz4063]

Smashed it

[@everettstevenson2111]

@@PipeDoctor optimus prime, autobots, transform......

[@edgardpb1]

Coremax look s like service port

[@Tax-cattle]

Purge on the high side and let it blow out the low. The valves in the compressor will keep it from going backwards.

[@Tax-cattle]

It’s really the only asset you have when there’s no isolation valves.

[@johnd1561]

Sure looks like there's another leak, and why didn't you replace dryer?

[@johnd1561]

@@PipeDoctor So tough luck on customer who called you? Nice!

[@th-wt5pn]

Mike u cant respond to everything u are working in the field u are not at a desk all day lol keep the videos coming…. HVAC life is real stay hydrated

[@dbausa5]

Where peterpan?

[@reyrey9634]

Hes With Latinas chicas

[@everettstevenson2111]

@@PipeDoctor optimus prime, autobots, transform....

[@utubepro7742]

Mice chewed a few thermistor wires on my same pool heater Little raskles

[@PipeDoctor]

Deport the mice

[@charlescernosek]

Pool heat pumps are 300% to 700% efficient!!!

[@throttlebottle5906]

sure if you consider owning, maintaining and heating a pool starts off at negative 3000%+ efficiency 🤣 either a good troll or government accountant in the wind/wave/solar energy sections 🥳🥳

[@97Napkins]

If those dryers had moisture captured then surely the time it took makes sense to me. Vaccum to 500 is over-rated anyways. They're more useful for metering device screens 😊

[@everettstevenson2111]

optimus prime, autobots, transform......

[@throttlebottle5906]

10:52 did they try to silver solder overtop a brazed joint? yikes, it sure looked that way. clean bare copper, with snug fitting sockets fully inserted are needed for silver solder. NO bridging gaps, covering holes, repairing brazed joints, butt joints, shallow sockets or other leak repairs, etc. the same problem occurs with many braze joints, lack of socket depth, lack of the braze actually being into the joints, rim soldered and bird poo piles are really never the right way. which includes may of those factory joints of pressure switch stubs, service ports and more. they know it's not right and do it anyway. 🙄

[@TemperatureProfessionals]

shes a leaker mama

[@VeryPersian]

That’s not ultrasound btw

[@HonshuHigamori]

>2 hours estimate when you have to whip out the vacuum pump Lol cmon Mikey...

[@johnwalker890]

Hey Mike, can you turn over your credit card, next time so I can copy down your numbers on the back of the card, Haha just kidding, not into theft but if you want to donate to my fund. But anyway good job, I thought the customer was going to try and scam you about the welds, and say you did the weld last time, Total BS.

[@throttlebottle5906]

....nothing worse than having and swimming in a pool.... go to the local, lake, pond, ocean, sea. 😏

[@MrFixIt79]

Is this channel a joke?

[@kevinlewis998]

Measurequick has a pressure/temp compensated test

[@HonshuHigamori]

They also charge you $5 for taking a fucking screencap of your phone screen Fuck measurequick

[@kens.3729]

HACKS Bring you BIG STACKS of CASH.💰 What is the Average Number of Years that a TRUE HACK 🤪 stays in Bidnez before Customers Come to their Senses ? 🤪👎

[@Mridgwell]

Indefinitely hacks live forever