6 yo lennox leaking freon

Had a new lennox high eff ac installed 6 years ago. Had it serviced this year to clean the A coil. Week later the unit is out of freon. Called themback and said it was most likely the A coil leaking although he could not find the leak. Finally got a hold of the orig installer (diff co) and he came over and pump it up at n/c 9 pounds of freon and a day and half later the compressor shuts off due to low pressure (out of freon again). Both techs cannot find the leak.

Leaking that fast should'nt it be easy to find the leak? Far fetched ?, but could it leak on the pipe run from the compressor to the a coil somewhere due to a crazy vibration that wore a hole in the line?

2nd tech says he soaped the a coil and used his leak detector and could not find it leaking on the a coil.

What should I ask the tech to do to find the leak? Whats the proper procedure?

thanks.

Mango

Reply to
Muffy Links
Loading thread data ...

Call a different company, 9 lbs in two days is a pretty good leak. Could be leaking in the line set.

Reply to
Luca

They didn't check the hi-side line/connections for a leak?

He did this right after adding 9 lbs?

I guess you could call back, ask for their most experienced (certified) tech. Might wanna stop by the shop, talk to the svc. mngr. firsthand, see if -he- looks competent.

They rarely check everywhere. I had a nasty leak back in '94, nobody could find it. Finally a friend found the leak in the condensing coil: my male dog had been sneaking around, pissing on it (presumably) for about 10 years. Had to replace the coil. I now have only female dawgs. :-)

Good Luck, Puddin'

"Mit der Dummheit kaempfen Goetter selbst vergebens!" -Friedrich Schiller

Reply to
Puddin' Man

Might want to check the access fittings where he put the gages. Sometimes those leak.

Couple days to lose a charge? That's a serious big leak.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

As a followup, I went down stairs and traced the line coming out of the furnace back to the compressor and I notice some oily residue about two feet in under a finished room. I also noticed that the clip holding the line to the floor joists rusty. Would a leak of that size leave an oily residue?

thanks for everyone's help btw. Muffy

>
Reply to
Muffy Links

Hmmm, There is such things as Freeon sniffer or leaking indicating dye.

Reply to
Tony Hwang

yes

Reply to
Noon-Air

Refrigerant is mixed with lubricating oil. So, very often there is an oil spot where the leak is.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

Many techs can find leaks with beepers. Some dye can be mixed in with the lubricating oil. And then detected with eye sight, or ultraviolet light. If the system is under pressure, some folks use soapy bubbles.

I would tend to avoid technicians who use tarot cards, dead chickens, or salt shakers.

In my case, I've not tried dyes. However, I've had considerable luck with leak beeper, and soap bubbles.

Reply to
Stormin Mormon

With a leak that large...that damn thing should be hissing....

Reply to
daytona°

Yes.. You have more ability than the idiots they sent out. It would be fair to pay for the repair of the leak, but you should not have to pay for a re-charge because of the incompetence of the first tech. They should have followed the lines and found the leak the first time. The second charge should be on them. If they refuse, take them to small claims court and point out their lack of skills and ability that caused the second loss.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

You just need to find someone competent.

Reply to
Meat Plow

No shit!

Reply to
<kjpro

Hells Bells folks! There should be a severe lack of oxygen all around that area. I think you lads had best check to see if the neighborhood kids are freon whoofers. ;-p I went through that shit a few years back with a customer.

Reply to
Don Ocean

Funny you should mention that. My 1.5 year old Lennox is leaking there as we speak. The parts were ordered from Texas last week (still under warranty) but in the meanwhile I&#39;m sweating.

It was leaking from around the schrader valves where they hook up the gauges. You&#39;d think they could just swap out valves but apparently they intend to swap out the entire valve block.

Reply to
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

Sounds as if they&#39;re as competent at Chris.

While the parts are on order, why didn&#39;t they screw the caps on tight?

Reply to
<kjpro

just replace the schraders...nahhhh....makes too much sense and its too easy.

Reply to
Noon-Air

He did but he declined to refill the system while he was waiting to see what the landlord would do. I think he thought the landlord would balk at paying the exhorbitant price he said he thought it would cost. As it turned out, it was a warranty item. But in the meanwhile, I sit and sweat. With any luck the parts will be here tomorrow.

Reply to
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

I have these great ideas at work but get pooh poohed by the ignoramouses with the master&#39;s degrees all the time. What could I know about nursing? I&#39;ve only been at the bedside for 15 years... every bit of it in a hospital setting.

Anyway, we get stupid policies from on high all the time. What can you do?

Reply to
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

Yeah, it&#39;s to bad he doesn&#39;t stock the shrader valves on his service truck.

I guess he doesn&#39;t own the tools to change them without loosing the charge either.

Reply to
<kjpro

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.