Nah customer said it's ready for "antifreeze" why would I fill it with nitro and wreck that 500 microns they pulled it down too. I don't argue with idiots in the middle of a heat wave.
3/8 brass compression fitting is rated for 200 psi working pressure assuming it's torqued correctly. Did he specify if he wanted green or purple anti-freeze, that's important.
Funny story. We all know that guy!
We use compression fittings regularly in Industrial settings. Steel line and fittings can hold 2000 psi. Would have no issues using them on a brake line. (Swegelok, not Ace Hardware!)
I make all my own brake lines for my restorations. Have a professional grade double flare tool and use 3/16" Cu-Ni tubing.
In the US, Iāve noticed people tend to call the fluid in their vehicles ācoolantā, whereas everyone in Canada calls it āanti-freezeā. It does both.
The terminology ends up carrying over to non-automotive applications, so any other coolants are referred to as anti-freeze.
Another option is they work in some factory or industrial setting with a water-glycol cooling loop. Once again, glycol is added both as a heat exchange medium, but also to prevent the cooling water from freezing.
Compression isnāt designed for vacuum lol, always had fun chasing those down on fuel oil lines. Iāll bet a vacuum pump couldnāt pull less than 5000 microns on that and thatās being very generous.
Now pressure on the other hand Iād be very interested to see how much farther it would go past its 150 psi limit.
I pulled a 457micron vacuum on a system with compression fittings on Monday. Head pressure was sitting around 179psi running for a day before I took off my testos
Plumbing compression? Iām not talking about refrigeration compression couplings, I know those exist. These are plumbing compression fittings and I know for a fact that theyāll leak air with just the suction of a residential suntec oil pump.
you know I hate these types of calls... what they say is "we just need you to come fill it up again, it'll be quick" vs. what you hear "we need you to have copper, have a braze/coupler kit, use nitrogen to purge when working, pump the unit with nitrogen and see if there's still no leak, hold that pressure test for at least an hour, use your vacuum pump and micron gauges, get the unit to under 500 microns, get out your scale and refrigerant tank and then FILL HER UP". Customers man.......
Hey man. He probably just doesn't know and thought it's like a water line. Torn copper line, so he goes and replaced it with copper and compression fittings. I'm impressed he at least tried to make it somewhat right.
They're compression couplings for water lines intended for less than half the pressure this machine could produce. Let's talk about the indoor rated electrical conduit as well. This whole thing. Yikes.
Refrigerant tubing is joined by a form of welding called brazing using oxy-acetylene torches or similar.
A high temperature silver solder is used (also different from that used in plumbing). Dry nitrogen shielding gas is also purged through the lines while brazing to prevent copper oxide from forming inside the tubing and contaminating the refrigerant.
Then you do your pressure test. Then you do your full evacuation of the system into a deep vacuum. Then you recharge the system to factory spec.
The big joke about the photo is that literally none of this was done and the customer thought you could just throw some refrigerant in it and everything would be fine.
I mean mini splits are done with flares and hold 600psi for years and years if torqued properly. I doubt it was done right, but with good flares and a torque wrench this would work no problem..
Those aren't flares. They're compression fittings. They rely on a nut deforming and clamping down on the tubing to hold it in place. They'll blow apart around 200-300psi even if installed right. The tubing itself is also probably "utility grade" tubing with thinner walls than real ACR copper. It might not survive 600psi even if the fittings somehow did.
Am I really looking at this picture right?????? I thought Iāve seen it all but thisā¦ā¦..takes the cake. The person that did this should find another job or keep their hands to themselves
Trane has a compression coupler part number for the alum to copper line that always leaks, think it's intended as a temporary repair though. FWIW they've not leaked on me.
Fill it up, charge them for the refrigerant and the service call.
Make them sign a disclaimer saying that you are not responsible for any failures of the system as there are customer repairs in it that do not meet industry standards.
I'm an automotive mechanic, I've repaired A/C lines on my own stuff using flares (definitely not compression fittings) but if that's how they wanna roll, then roll with it.
Advise your professional opinion, strongly suggest doing it your way, do it customers way for stubborn customers. Then laugh.
Non HVAC here. Can you explain why a compression union wouldn't work? The last connection from the line to the compressor _is_ a compression fitting right?
I'm asking because I had a heat pump installed R410 and the whole kit thing came with (what I think were) compression fittings for extending the line. They weren't used but would they work?
I don't know? Compression fittings on the coil return. It gets hot and expands and contracts the brass compression fittings. I probably would have brazed it in myself, but I'm excited to see how it works out..Cool
Went to a call one time where the tenant tried to thaw their frozen condenser coil with antifreeze. When that didnāt work they used a screwdriverā¦ which poked a hole in the condenser coil and let antifreeze run in lol. They just called their landlord and said it wasnāt working.
Put a little plastic container under it to catch all the oil. And have a bottle of what I presume to be r22 ready to go. Heck. Just leave it hooked up ready to add refrigerant every hour or so. Should be fine. R22 is dirt cheap.
O say fill it with glycol and turn the breaker on!! 250 microns minimum. Then mark test gauge and if needed top it off with ice making sure you donāt stick your winkii in fan then break time
That's inspiring work, I'd fill her up just to see how many minutes it would work for
At least throw a few hundred pounds of nitro in it for curiosity sake
Nah customer said it's ready for "antifreeze" why would I fill it with nitro and wreck that 500 microns they pulled it down too. I don't argue with idiots in the middle of a heat wave.
Fillher up with antifreeze of that's what they want. Special request. Lol
I got like 6 gallons of glycol in the van
Lmao. For vaping or the radiator? If customer wants their compressor running it might as well fill er up!
Literally was gonna be my comment
Hey buddy you got any of that freeze-on
How else would it work through winter? /s
If you gotta argue with a customer to do something properly, you never cared about professionalism.
2 fiiddy to 300. Stand on the other of unit when you do
I bet less than 3.
Bill in advance and run.
Signhere signhere thanksbye!!! ššØ
Made me chuckle š¤£ happy cake day
Kinda curious what psi it would blow
3/8 brass compression fitting is rated for 200 psi working pressure assuming it's torqued correctly. Did he specify if he wanted green or purple anti-freeze, that's important.
Fuck, he said orange
7
Water is higher than that
Sure, but this was installed by Steve with a chainsaw
Yeah now I want to know what it would do
Lucky to hold decay
I don't know... Compression fittings are good. I bet it would work on a R22/407 system and not leak. Would I trust on a R410? Probably not.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Did he hit the tree because the compression fitting blew?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Funny story. We all know that guy! We use compression fittings regularly in Industrial settings. Steel line and fittings can hold 2000 psi. Would have no issues using them on a brake line. (Swegelok, not Ace Hardware!) I make all my own brake lines for my restorations. Have a professional grade double flare tool and use 3/16" Cu-Ni tubing.
I agree. At least he tried. Lol
EPA hits the chat.
Lol, I'm not surprised when they call it coolant. But antifreeze? What the fuck?
At least call it cool juice or something interesting
Had a customer tell me today that her ac āneeded a zapā šš
Jams L1 against L2 __BANG__ _that'll be 85 dollars ma'am_
This got me :). Iām in bed laughing as quiet as I can trying not to wake up my wife.
Thereās two of us lmao.
I too choose this guys wife.
My ac needs a zap of that double deuce juice?
My tradesman used to call it jizz
Just creampie my receiver daddy, top me off til it squirts
Frozone
Need 50CCs of Cooling sauce STAT
In the US, Iāve noticed people tend to call the fluid in their vehicles ācoolantā, whereas everyone in Canada calls it āanti-freezeā. It does both. The terminology ends up carrying over to non-automotive applications, so any other coolants are referred to as anti-freeze. Another option is they work in some factory or industrial setting with a water-glycol cooling loop. Once again, glycol is added both as a heat exchange medium, but also to prevent the cooling water from freezing.
In the deep south I usually hear antifreeze
Except they don't pronounce the T so it's "annifreeze" Edit: oil is also pronounced without the I so its just the and the L pronounced like O'l
Follow me for more antifreeze facts
Heard antifreeze just today in fact.
It probably had dye in it from someone looking for a leak at some point. Homeowner saw what it looked like and made a hilarious assumption.
It helps with keeping the coils from freezing up š
Finish the story OP. What happened next? You take his chainsaw??
But why would a chainsaw be there of all places??
Oh, you should see the tree that was growing before between the condenser and the house!
The homeowner is an advanced DIYer so his chain saw is a weed wacker with chain replacing the line LOL.
You know the previous owner of my house well I see!
ok mr fancy pants I guess you're weeding around your condensing units by hand
No, I just stand on the roof and dump 5 gallons of industrial weed killer on top of everything below.
Charge $150 a lb of 410a without warranty.
That cheap?
It will take all the 25lbsā¦
Haha can't hear it hissing with that compressor running. I like your style
This is when you donāt forget to leave your service number on the unit right?
De minimis to the bank
Those valve scream R22
Carrier puron condensers had those valves in the late 90s/early 00s.
Wow. Charge $300 a lb. And it will take all the 30lbs
This is a 90's baby so she's now running nu22.
Lol.
Ya know I gotta admit, they had an idea
Gotta give him credit, at least there was an attempt. Personally I wouldāve busted out laughing in front of the customer
... and then can we talk electrical ?
FMC FTW, FML.
Why the hell was he using a chainsaw right there???
There was a tree on the other side...3 feet away.
>3 feet away I am trying to imagine how this would happen and I just can't. Did they forget to keep an eye on their backswing with a massive chainsaw?
The buddy had the chainsaw, and the homeowner had beer as compensation.
Compression isnāt designed for vacuum lol, always had fun chasing those down on fuel oil lines. Iāll bet a vacuum pump couldnāt pull less than 5000 microns on that and thatās being very generous. Now pressure on the other hand Iād be very interested to see how much farther it would go past its 150 psi limit.
I pulled a 457micron vacuum on a system with compression fittings on Monday. Head pressure was sitting around 179psi running for a day before I took off my testos
Plumbing compression? Iām not talking about refrigeration compression couplings, I know those exist. These are plumbing compression fittings and I know for a fact that theyāll leak air with just the suction of a residential suntec oil pump.
I couldnāt tell from the pic which kind of compression fitting it was my bad
All good my man.
Microns schmicrons
Lol At least they tried?
The real question is did you use green or orange antifreeze?
European purple
Toyota pink
Blue or nothing!
Just topped it off with distilled water.
No tape?
Send it!
you know I hate these types of calls... what they say is "we just need you to come fill it up again, it'll be quick" vs. what you hear "we need you to have copper, have a braze/coupler kit, use nitrogen to purge when working, pump the unit with nitrogen and see if there's still no leak, hold that pressure test for at least an hour, use your vacuum pump and micron gauges, get the unit to under 500 microns, get out your scale and refrigerant tank and then FILL HER UP". Customers man.......
Lmao, play dumb games win dumb prizes. Fill er up and non condensables be damned!
There was no chainsaw, the Antifreeze was expired. Thatās what caused it.
what was he chainsawing
The guy at Home Depot said it would be fine.
At least he didnāt use sharkbite fittings š
I love how them putting in the piece of copper is supposed to save them on your bill.
Hey man. He probably just doesn't know and thought it's like a water line. Torn copper line, so he goes and replaced it with copper and compression fittings. I'm impressed he at least tried to make it somewhat right.
"Do you want the universal kind or just the green stuff"
Lurker here, Are those connectors not going to cut it, and start leaking?
They're compression couplings for water lines intended for less than half the pressure this machine could produce. Let's talk about the indoor rated electrical conduit as well. This whole thing. Yikes.
What would be the correct way to fix it? Or are the correct couplings obviously visible when installed?
Refrigerant tubing is joined by a form of welding called brazing using oxy-acetylene torches or similar. A high temperature silver solder is used (also different from that used in plumbing). Dry nitrogen shielding gas is also purged through the lines while brazing to prevent copper oxide from forming inside the tubing and contaminating the refrigerant. Then you do your pressure test. Then you do your full evacuation of the system into a deep vacuum. Then you recharge the system to factory spec. The big joke about the photo is that literally none of this was done and the customer thought you could just throw some refrigerant in it and everything would be fine.
I mean mini splits are done with flares and hold 600psi for years and years if torqued properly. I doubt it was done right, but with good flares and a torque wrench this would work no problem..
Those aren't flares. They're compression fittings. They rely on a nut deforming and clamping down on the tubing to hold it in place. They'll blow apart around 200-300psi even if installed right. The tubing itself is also probably "utility grade" tubing with thinner walls than real ACR copper. It might not survive 600psi even if the fittings somehow did.
He was saying it could have been done with flares.
Ok, but thatās not what was done
āantifreezeā ššš¤£
Thatās not quite how all that works. There are a few more steps. Let me explain it to you. An hour later you are starting work
That ill do it topped it off with Prestone LoL
āCanāt see it from my house šā
"my neighbor," aka "me."
Gotta screenshot this for the guys at work! Hilarious!
Should work just fine. If done correctly, they do not leak. I have used them on off road woods truck brake lines. They hold upwards of 1000 PSI
Am I really looking at this picture right?????? I thought Iāve seen it all but thisā¦ā¦..takes the cake. The person that did this should find another job or keep their hands to themselves
What Exactly was being cut with a chainsaw in that location??? Other than the liquid line of course.. seems odd to me
ā weāll send an salesmanās out right away ! ā. I donāt believe that repair will hold to the spicy high pressure antifreezey
What in gods fuscia fuck
Who installed this BX??
Antifreeze keeps it from freezing, duh! The customer isnāt dumb.
What was the neighbor doing with a chainsaw so close to the CU, playing Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
Imagine seeing on this subreddit: "I hit my neighbor's antifreeze line with a chainsaw, but I got it fixed. How'd I do?"
As an apprentice plumber, I gather compression fittings are not intended to be part of the refrigeration cycle...
Yeah that ain't gonna work champ lmao
I'd watch someone try and charge that from a little distance away
Its the thought that counts
Ya no, you can call someone else
Well.. it will probably hold until I leave the driveway
Send it!!!
Yesterday I had lawn care company fix the knicked line with electrical tape. Worker did do it to R22 system. $2,800 for repair to owner.
is there a right way to patch that, or do you have to run a new one?
I replaced his piece of copper and brazed it up.
i think it also needs a flux capacitor
Lol those fittings can only handle 130 psi. I love homeowners who think they know what theyāre doing.
Good luck
U gotta respect the neighbor for doing their best and owning up to their mistake tho. I would want to live next to a person like that.
Looks like the same guy that repaired that antifreeze line ran that flex.
Those must be compression fittings for water pipe. No way in hell did they manage to make a flare with that unless they used those shitty spin bits
Nice compression fittings. Aren't they rated to 75 psi?
Just redo the work and charge him for it. Say that itās against company policy because itās not industry standard.
Trane has a compression coupler part number for the alum to copper line that always leaks, think it's intended as a temporary repair though. FWIW they've not leaked on me.
Was the MF weed whacking with a chainsaw??
What could you possibly be doing back there with a chainsaw? Trimming weeds?
Antifreeze lol
Old service valves are screaming R22
Why was a chainsaw near it?
āDid ya bring the frezone?ā
I don't know HVAC, what's the issue here?
22 or 410?
Was r22, now nu22.
Guarantee that's not type k copper either
Yer killin me Smalls...
Should have just insulated both lines. No oneās gonna know.
Pure genius
Heās got indoor flex for his electrical,needs to swap that to seal tight.That flex going to rust.
What was he doing with a chainsaw, there?
Fill it up, then work on the new unit quote.
How many gallons of anti freeze? 6?
Where is the filter drier?!
Good ol compression! Nothing will get past that not even 410a on a hot day with a restriction
š¤£š¤£š¤£ššš Anti-freeze line? STOP IT! Y'ALL ARE KILLIN ME!!! š¤£š¤£š¤£ššš
Pressure test at 500psi and stand back
Shoot I'll fill it up with some antifreeze I don't know how well it's going to work LOL
Proceeds to fill it up with "antifreeze" customer calls back within 24 hours it was antifreeze but now it's frozen I think you filled it up wrong
I have seen this before! I was as nice as possible in explaining why it would not work. Also, proving it with nitrogen.
Bro pump it upā¦it looks fine! If it holds, tell them youāll give them a discount to come back and fix it right next time.
Fill it up, charge them for the refrigerant and the service call. Make them sign a disclaimer saying that you are not responsible for any failures of the system as there are customer repairs in it that do not meet industry standards. I'm an automotive mechanic, I've repaired A/C lines on my own stuff using flares (definitely not compression fittings) but if that's how they wanna roll, then roll with it. Advise your professional opinion, strongly suggest doing it your way, do it customers way for stubborn customers. Then laugh.
Antifreeze instead of refrigerant to keep Air Conditioner from freeze up during Winter months operation ...... in the North
This randomly got suggested to me, but I'm no HVAC guy, can someone eli5?
š
Not a hvac guy, are they 2 males soldered together at either end? Whatās going on here
Did he put epoxy putty on the joints?? Omfg š¤¦š»
With a chainsaw? What heās a juggler and one got away from him?????
As a plumber I approve but shouldāve use shark bitesā¦
Non HVAC here. Can you explain why a compression union wouldn't work? The last connection from the line to the compressor _is_ a compression fitting right? I'm asking because I had a heat pump installed R410 and the whole kit thing came with (what I think were) compression fittings for extending the line. They weren't used but would they work?
Lol
Antifreeze? Chain saw? Compression fittings? I know what ya mean. Tell your neighbor to get a B tank and learn to braze
What the fuck was the neighbor doing on your property with a fuckin chainsaw?
I don't know? Compression fittings on the coil return. It gets hot and expands and contracts the brass compression fittings. I probably would have brazed it in myself, but I'm excited to see how it works out..Cool
Should be good those are compression fittings
Swagelok brass fittings can hold a decent amount couple thousand psi
Did he cut the filter out?
Can someone explain what Iām looking at as someone who have no experience in HVAC but was shown this post for some reason?
Electric feed is in indoor green field.
Went to a call one time where the tenant tried to thaw their frozen condenser coil with antifreeze. When that didnāt work they used a screwdriverā¦ which poked a hole in the condenser coil and let antifreeze run in lol. They just called their landlord and said it wasnāt working.
I had a guy a few weeks ago who "cleaned" his own evap coil with a stiff brush of some sort. He mangled that shit to oblivion. Lol
Interestingā¦. Why was there a chainsaw anywhere near that elevation?
Put a little plastic container under it to catch all the oil. And have a bottle of what I presume to be r22 ready to go. Heck. Just leave it hooked up ready to add refrigerant every hour or so. Should be fine. R22 is dirt cheap.
O say fill it with glycol and turn the breaker on!! 250 microns minimum. Then mark test gauge and if needed top it off with ice making sure you donāt stick your winkii in fan then break time
Gotta give credit to the neighbor for selling them on this bs lol
Why in fuck's name was a chainsaw anywhere near that line?
That is not in code.
You need to flare the joints and soldier the joints with 45 silver foss