dye for r22
#1
06-08-07, 12:18 PM
dye for r22
i have a leak that no one can find. every year both units need to be recharged. last year the unit in the attic was replace because they said they finally found a small leak in it. (that unit was only 10yrs old)
once again both units are out of freon.
so the question is, is their a uv type dye for use in r22?
i have had this problem for the last 7 yrs and no one can seem to find the leak.
thanks
inc
once again both units are out of freon.
so the question is, is their a uv type dye for use in r22?
i have had this problem for the last 7 yrs and no one can seem to find the leak.
thanks
inc
#2
06-08-07, 12:55 PM
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Ok. 10 years is considered old for air conditioning equipment, especially for evaporator coils.
A good tech should be able to find the leak(s). One such method is a uv dye test. The tech injects the dye with the freon. The system is then run normally from several hours to several days or more. This has more to do with the tech being able to schedule a return visit and the size of the leak. On return, a black light is used to find the leak. Leaking areas become very evident under this light.
It is very likely your tech found a leak. But, it is not unusual to have more than one, especially with older systems.
There are many ways to find leaks and every tech has his/her favorite.
If you really want to know precisely where the leak is, you need to tell your technician and be prepared to pay for extra services. All too often, we just add freon because the customer wants it running NOW at minimal cost and doesn't want to spend money on leak detection.
A good tech should be able to find the leak(s). One such method is a uv dye test. The tech injects the dye with the freon. The system is then run normally from several hours to several days or more. This has more to do with the tech being able to schedule a return visit and the size of the leak. On return, a black light is used to find the leak. Leaking areas become very evident under this light.
It is very likely your tech found a leak. But, it is not unusual to have more than one, especially with older systems.
There are many ways to find leaks and every tech has his/her favorite.
If you really want to know precisely where the leak is, you need to tell your technician and be prepared to pay for extra services. All too often, we just add freon because the customer wants it running NOW at minimal cost and doesn't want to spend money on leak detection.
#3
06-08-07, 02:02 PM
I love dye
Personally I use Spectroline dye, but YellowJacket makes dye also. I'm not sure if there are any other suppliers who also make it. Try a search.
Many times you find a system that is low, and of course there must be a leak, either allowable or just a plain leak. But after going over the whole system with an electronic detector, soap bubbles, or even nitrogen pressure, it can't be found.
Shoot some dye in the system and return a week or so later with the UV light and there is a bright green spot where the leak is.
But, try this simple test. Lots of times a tech will have his gauges on a system looking for a leak and spend hours looking. Not realizing that by attaching his gauges he has sealed the leak.
Take the caps off of the service valves at your units and squirt a drop of dishwashing liquid on them (looks just like the valve on your car tire, except metal). See any bubbles?
Many times you find a system that is low, and of course there must be a leak, either allowable or just a plain leak. But after going over the whole system with an electronic detector, soap bubbles, or even nitrogen pressure, it can't be found.
Shoot some dye in the system and return a week or so later with the UV light and there is a bright green spot where the leak is.
But, try this simple test. Lots of times a tech will have his gauges on a system looking for a leak and spend hours looking. Not realizing that by attaching his gauges he has sealed the leak.
Take the caps off of the service valves at your units and squirt a drop of dishwashing liquid on them (looks just like the valve on your car tire, except metal). See any bubbles?
#4
06-08-07, 05:10 PM
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Voice of experience
CiiTech speaks with the voice of experience. Yep, been there, done that. I too use the Spectroline dye & have found numerous leaks I couldn't with other methods. Something customers like is, when you shine that light on the coil & there is that bright yellow or green spot, they know you aren't making it up. "Right there is the leak"
#5
06-08-07, 06:40 PM
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Yes, the spectroline product is great. We have had a 100% success rate with it. We frequently suspect that old evaporator coil, but don't want to spend hours trying to prove it. With the dye, confirmation can be made quickly on the next visit.
#6
06-11-07, 08:09 AM
ok so where can i find the dye? the techs out in the country(where i live) are limited in their diagnostics, but they are the only ones within 65 miles. and yes i have ck the service ports.
#7
06-11-07, 02:20 PM
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Dye
All of the HVAC supply houses around here carry it. For a one shot deal, they would need either a GS-3 or GS-3E but if they don't have the light, the dye will do no good.
#8
06-11-07, 03:40 PM
The light is the key
I used to use the GS-3 (ARO-GLO back then) and then bought the UV Blue light. Dye failed me because (according to Spectroline) I had the wrong light for the dye I was using. They said sometimes it shows, sometimes not.
Since then I only use GS-3E for universal oils and have not been disappointed in almost 10 years.
ikenchute you need to get your service company sold on dye as the light is expensive and you'll only need it once.
Since then I only use GS-3E for universal oils and have not been disappointed in almost 10 years.
ikenchute you need to get your service company sold on dye as the light is expensive and you'll only need it once.
#9
06-11-07, 07:43 PM
The UV lights that work with the dye can be purchased at any automotive store. They sell "professional" kits for A/C systems that come with very nice, powerful lights. If you want to be sure that they will work with your dye, simply buy one, be careful not to destroy the packaging, and take your dye into a dark closet (still in the bottle) and shine your light on it.. If it glows, you are good to go! If it does not glow, then take the dye back, or the light back.
#11
06-12-07, 02:06 PM
That's what I found
in the only instance dye has ever failed me. I found the leak with nitrogen (400#) and called Spectroline pretty ticked off about it.
They said the light I had was for a different dye than I was using at the time. That it may or may not show. So I switched dye's and have never had a problem.
They said the light I had was for a different dye than I was using at the time. That it may or may not show. So I switched dye's and have never had a problem.
