TRUST YOUR GUT | HVAC | inficon Stratus can’t find OBVIOUS leak

[@HVACGUY]

Stratus is shot. 👎

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

#1 supporter enters the chat 😳

[@key-sendo]

Curtis LOVES the stratus it is his all time favorite leak detector and he even dedicated multiple videos to it 😂

[@angrybeavers1175]

That's funny works fine for me I can find leaks barely visible with soap bubbles.

[@madeinusa1576]

@@angrybeavers1175what works for you don’t work for others 🤷‍♂️ kinda funny this thing couldn’t hit for shit from what he was checking.

[@angrybeavers1175]

​@madeinusa1576 I watched the video and have been in the field 22 years. The tool isn't being properly used. Super mode is for small leaks not ppm mode you also can't zero ppm mode zero is for manual mode? Are you even a tech bro? Stay in your lane.

[@SKaKies2228]

The stratus has never let me down, but I’m a commercial hvac/ refrigerant guy. When I did residential I had a cheap fieldpiece detector, didn’t need anything fancy until I started working in walk in’s and custom critical equipment.

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

I’ve always rocked the h-10, started with fieldpiece, and dabbled with the Yellowjacket. This POS on the other hand…. Satire 😂 but it’s actually been rock steady since Curt sent it to me. Hoping a charge will do, I have a spare sensor and also did change the filter. The redemption arc begins 💪

[@angrybeavers1175]

You residential guys crack me up, I've had this leak detector for over 5 years and I can find 410a leaks so small with it that I can barely see it with soap bubbles and I mean micro leaks.

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

🤔 har har, so what would you say this issue is here? Couldn’t find a quite obvious and apparent leak! You can’t say it didn’t miserably fail here

[@angrybeavers1175]

First off manual zero is a mode, you can't zero it out in ppm cloud hunt mode, it's auto zero for that. Secondly ppm mode is for large leaks, super is the most sensitive for small leaks.

[@angrybeavers1175]

Why would you drop it so medium in the video when super is the most sensitive and you were only picking up 22ppm with ppm mode lol

[@angrybeavers1175]

22 ppm is a small leak FYI

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

So let me learnt ya something. I’d like you to understand how this works, I record a video, generally non stop. In this case I was here for about 90 minutes. Which I recorded 68 minutes of and additional time was write up and talking with the customer. So notice the video is about 16 minutes with some fluff and bullshit in there, you tracking? So if you pay attention you’ll see there’s cuts in the video. Still tracking? Ok cool, so as I’m cycling through it’s just points where I’m communicating so there’s not the dead silence of me looking for a leak, I jump to when I say something show a quick sniff and boom nothing happens. Cycle to the next mode boom nothing happens. Still tracking? Ok awesome, so from there I splice the shit together to make it less boring and show this leak detector not picking up dick! I get you have some infatuation with this thing and it’s been good for you. But it blatantly. Can’t pick up a massive leak in any of the modes no matter what 🤷‍♂️ I recorded another video the following day and it couldn’t hold the h10s nut sack. So to act as if this is the high and mightiest leak detector… the video don’t lie

[@marvinsellers4457]

My Man great to see you again . Wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Later Hoss be safe

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Marvin 🫡 appreciate you as always brother!! Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and yours as well 🙏

[@franciscolara1546]

Those Goodman valve core coils tend to leak did a leak search on one about a week ago and it was indeed the valve core. Usually some nylog and a brass cap does the trick

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Definitely seemed like that would be the culprit. next time the bubbles come out. 🤦‍♂️ good call on the nylog

[@philltafolla]

Have the Fieldpiece SLR-8 hasn’t let me down 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Boom!! That was my first one and did me well, should’ve kept it 😂

[@30rdmaga]

Same here

[@helmsajr]

Jake that Inficon Stratus is hit or miss at best. Some people have good luck with them others do not. I'm still using the old fieldpiece works good for me. Great video Jake.

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Appreciate it!! Yeah I would primarily use my h-10 pro but once I received this one I wanted to see what it was all about!! The fieldpiece one was great, had for years but then took a dump that was my first, but I’ll say it was definitely “misused” 😂

[@Taylor-bx8op]

Been a great leak detector for me, looking for super small leaks I’ve found super mode works best. Cloud hunting mode you have to go SUPER slow. I only ever use cloud hunting mode looking for big blowers in the supermarkets.

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Things been very clutch for me past 6 months. So much so, I took my h-10 out the van and listed it on market place 😂 needless to say I took the listing down!

[@JeffsHVACAdventures]

I’ve had pretty good luck with my Stratus. Hopefully she stays good.

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Thing was clutch up until this job! Unfortunately this was the first time it failed, and so apparent is what sucks.

[@HVACRSurvival]

ppm mode is the slowest reacting mode. Super should’ve picked it up in a split second. That’s why I also have a test vile from Inficon, anytime I don’t think it’s working right I can scan it and make sure it’s working. Something may have malfunctioned get a hold of them and they’ll fix it. If you have a tool that doesn’t break then Market that sucker but you’re gonna have problems with anything if you use it a lot. I’ve have massive luck with mine.

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Yeah it’s been my primary for the past 6 months and this was the first time it just didn’t hit on something that was so apparent. I did change the filter and cycled power and went thru all the modes 🤷‍♂️ but I’ll see how she does after full charge, and I have the spare sensor. The beginning of “redemption Arcccc”

[@noahbaggett9037]

Love mine but it does miss some small leaks ! I’m over in Edgewater at our new shop running Volushia and brevard now ! Same truck , same calls just new shop

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Yoooo my man!! Crushing it per usual 🫡 be safe homie hope the holidays treat you and the fam right

[@bkluntz]

The Stratus need a shot of espresso ☕️ to wake up

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

😂 straight up hahaha

[@key-sendo]

On those Goodmans if somebody overheats the suction line at the ahu the shrader is almost always leaking with that plastic cap, always check at the bottom of that cap before removing it, especially is you have a bunch of oil in that spot. I pretty much only work on Goodman and have never seen that copper to aluminum joint leak, only on commercial package units and micro channels.

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

I think I’m going to end up going back to the job with the h-10. Good call on the shrader and heat, that joint at the coil did look pretty rough.

[@key-sendo]

@ yeah if that insulation is saturated in oil, you can bet it’s that shrader, seen over a hundred of those suckers leak over the years

[@vincentgelles3805]

I’ve had very good results with my D-Tek 3 which is basically the same detector without the ppm display. In fact it’s outperformed every other leak detector I’ve ever owned. The only issue I ever had was completely my fault because I sucked up water searching a wet evaporator coil. I sent it off for repair and haven’t had any issues since. Either there is something actually wrong with it, or I have a suspicion that everyone that has bad results with them just doesn’t know how to properly use a leak detector.

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

I’ve used this pretty heavy the past 6 months and it’s been clutch! I went through all the modes and cycled power a few times, changed the filter, still same result. I have a spare sensor so I’ll see how it does after a full charge, then if I have to swap the sensor. But it should have hit on something in with the amount of oil

[@denzelsmith1608]

The camera your using what's the name of it please

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Pocket 3 and action 5 🫡

[@pnajera3938]

We like to use dye. If it's leaking at evap or condenser it'll be visible

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Good call for sure! I’ve gone down the dye road a few times. Just recently got a kit from inficon at an A2L class recently, should’ve used 😂

[@jasonjohnsonHVAC]

My Stratus has never let me down and finds leaks other cant. Everyone has their own preferences though

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Your one of the lucky few 😅 😂 jk honestly bro this the first time since I’ve had it where it didn’t find such an apparent leak. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. It’ll stay in the van, but I’ll put the h10 back in also.

[@teeg3275]

I was going to buy one then I asked my buddy how his worked and he said it broke after like 6 months. Sounds like the ultrasonic seems like the best bet

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

I think I’m going to need to give one of those a go myself! This thing had been really clutch up until this point which sucks. Was really reliable. But the cost 😳 nah

[@teeknowstech]

Koolin wit krauss where do you get your hats made ? What company

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Yooo!! I’ll have to double check and I’ll respond back!

[@Qualityservicesbcs]

Yeah leak detectors are a pain Nice video

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Dude it’s like damned if you do or don’t 🫨

[@Qualityservicesbcs]

@ just give it a bath in some soapy bubbles hahahaha

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

@@Qualityservicesbcs💯😂

[@MariosACandRefrigeration]

soap is the # 1 leak detector.🤣

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

So true!! Slacking on my end 😂

[@tonyowens6622]

Valve core leak on coil…

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

I suspected it but didn’t get nothing on it or have any pressure. Then again stratus wasn’t working properly.

[@bkluntz]

My fieldpiece hasn’t let me down yet

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

I had the dr82 or 52 one of the them. And it was decent. My original fieldpiece was solid too

[@joeshearer1247]

Where did you hear that is no longer 15.2 seer for the tax credit? I don’t think that is the case

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Just did A2L class with Ruud and that’s what they said

[@joeshearer1247]

@@KoolinwithKrauss probably what they mean is their new units don’t hit the same ratings as the 410 units…. Not that the federal requirement have increased because I didn’t see anything about that

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

@ but they will still have the 15 seer lineups, their ratings aren’t changing. 🤔 imma hit up my rep today. Cuz when they said it during class I was like dayummmm

[@paramboytv7378]

dont want to be rude, but maybe if read the manual and setup it right, in super mode it will pinpoint that leak in a split second, hunting cloud is for of curse hunting a cloud! is usefull on large commercial evaporator, it can bring the leak close to you, then u use pinpoint mode, then a good dose of holy big blue liquid and you are good to go

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Couldn’t hit on the large amount of oil, no matter what mode. I have used this for 6 months no issues until this job but the fact it couldn’t even sniff that? Gotta admit thing failed miserably

[@Paul-IE-Repairs]

weak battery and a dirty filter, it never hurts to give it a test. Also when you did a manual zero it throws off the measurements

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

For sure! Good call, I did replace the filter and cycled power. Maybe a good recharge 👌 because it’s been pretty clutch for me

[@josemartinez-4570]

I just purchased one of those I guess $1000 down the drain

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

I’ve had great success with it, until here! There’s still hope 🙏 😂

[@JoseMartinez-kw3ob]

I hope so

[@erics9213]

You need a new sniffer.

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

I’ll have to put the h10 back in the van 😅

[@markcotter2355]

That detector is not working but you are not going to get anything on the insulation dude. go to the old soap bubbles. I use DR58 field piece.

[@gtpforever]

Wait you have oil under the lineset insulation on the inside and outside and you're blaming the stratus for not finding a leak? Haven't watched the whole video yet so maybe it changes. But just the inside and outside observation immediately makes me think we have pinholes in the lineset. Lol

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

If the stratus was able accurately detect the leak, I’d be able to potentially pin point it and patch it! I’ve had success with it in the past doing that. Point of it is, it couldn’t trace an obvious leak which is frustrating.

[@gtpforever]

@KoolinwithKrauss hmmm

[@Eddy63]

Nice vid despite that POS leak detector Thx

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Yeah that thing is hit or miss for sure 😂

[@austindavidson3357]

I went through two of them junk using fieldpiece hasn’t let me down 💪🏼

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Dannnng 2?? That’s no bueno, at least you found one that works!!

[@30rdmaga]

90% of problems come from shitty installs

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Preach 🙌

[@kingofthecrease30]

inficon has always been a mediocre leak detector....20 years ago we had the original Dtek ones and they were crap...they never lasted more than a year...$1100 for this stratus and it cant find a leak ? that is why i stick with old reliable...the H10 Pro...never let me down yet...nor cal dave will also agree 👍

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

So far this thing has been pretty solid for me! I wouldn’t spend that kind of money net to be honest but Curt (hvac guy) sent it to me and wanted to give it a shot. But you ain’t lying I’m bring my h-10 back into the van. I prefer Dave’s D-O ng that looked solid 😳 😂

[@MTHVAC916]

d tek sucks

[@KoolinwithKrauss]

Boom 😳 😂