A/C re=gassed again.

[AMGeed]

I found out last weekend when we had that warm weather that my S204 a/c is again blowing only warm air, despite being checked for leaks last year and re-gassed.
Fearing a holed condenser or duff compressor I got a mobile A/C guy round this morning to see what the problem was.
He emptied the system (almost empty of refrigerant) and put the system on an air test which held steady for 15 minutes without losing a single psi.
He was happy there were no leaks and refilled the system with R134a and added a little oil for £65 and left with the A/C blowing ice cold as it should.

I'll wait to see how long it blows cold, but I'm convinced something isn't right. I also had to use an a/c anti bacterial bomb as it had a pretty nasty smell after re-gassing.
Surely both a/c specialists can't be wrong about a leak?

 

[Blobcat]

I found out last weekend when we had that warm weather that my S204 a/c is again blowing only warm air, despite being checked for leaks last year and re-gassed.
Fearing a holed condenser or duff compressor I got a mobile A/C guy round this morning to see what the problem was.
He emptied the system (almost empty of refrigerant) and put the system on an air test which held steady for 15 minutes without losing a single psi.
He was happy there were no leaks and refilled the system with R134a and added a little oil for £65 and left with the A/C blowing ice cold as it should.

I'll wait to see how long it blows cold, but I'm convinced something isn't right. I also had to use an a/c anti bacterial bomb as it had a pretty nasty smell after re-gassing.
Surely both a/c specialists can't be wrong about a leak?

A lot of testers pull a vacuum, this can be enough to pull a “rust hole” closed so it passes the test.
Better to pressure test with nitrogen as it’s a more accurate representation of normal operation.

 

[AMGeed]

Ah, maybe that's what this guy did. I didn't think to ask at the time.

 

[star]

Or add a dye, where the gas escapes, it leaves a trace of dye too. We always add dye to the ac when re gassing.

 

[Doug1234]

Spray some soapy water over the high / low pressure port connections as sometimes the valves can leak slowly

 

[Malcolm Johnson]

As mentioned earlier ultraviolet dye, is the way forward, I had a fine leak which took 6 months to fail. Leak found by the dye/indie..

 

[AnthonyUK]

You do leave the AC on all the time right?

This is the best way I know of keeping it working well.

 

[Alastairp]

You do leave the AC on all the time right?

This is the best way I know of keeping it working well.

This is what I was told by my Indy.

Leaving it off allows the seals to dry out and gas to escape.

 

[AMGeed]

You do leave the AC on all the time right?

This is the best way I know of keeping it working well.
You do leave the AC on all the time right?

This is the best way I know of keeping it working well.

I do run the a/c all year round for that very reason.

I'll see how long it takes to run warm again and take it to an a/c specialist that can do a dye test.
I'll also try the soapy water on the valves trick tomorrow.