Getting ready to buy the expensive stuff...

[troywoodall]

Hey guys, back for more proffesional advice. I am getting ready to finish my HVAC course (finishing a years and a half course in six months), and I am starting to look at the tools I will need. I already have a job lined up with my teachers company which services cell phone tower sites. Sooo, I need to but a torch set, a vacuum pump and possibly a leak detector and recovery unit. What are some decent products, and which of the above can I skimp on?

[ryand]

I wouldn't skimp on any of the tools you listed. As for which ones to get Leak Dector D-Tek select, recovery Appion G5 Twin, vacuum pump Yellow Jacket 6 cfm, As for the torch I would get a small oxy acetylene set up with a rose bud tip. I use my rose bud on everything. Also I like the yellow jacket accuprobe leak detector, but you cant beet inficons customer service is very good if it breaks they will send you a new one right away. Hope this helps

[Some Dude]

Save your money and wait on the leak detector. I have never used one yet i actually liked.If you cant find it with bubbles and a brain ,reclaim and pump it up to about 350 with CO or nitrogen, then find your leak.

Any good vacum pump with a decent warranty will work just change your oil EVERY TIME and buy Torches that are the most common for your area. Harris are popular here so i can always get parts for mine. I also use a b tank alot too.
Be careful and have fun with this .

[Texas-Tech]

Shop wisely, don't rush out and overspend. Most vac pumps are pretty reliable. That is the one tool you will use the most. If your doing residential a good leak detector is a must since a lot of evaps are gonna be hard to leak search with bubbles.

Save your receipts and register everything.

[jpsmith1cm]

I wouldn't skimp on any of the tools you listed. As for which ones to get Leak Dector D-Tek select, recovery Appion G5 Twin, vacuum pump Yellow Jacket 6 cfm, As for the torch I would get a small oxy acetylene set up with a rose bud tip. I use my rose bud on everything. Also I like the yellow jacket accuprobe leak detector, but you cant beet inficons customer service is very good if it breaks they will send you a new one right away. Hope this helps


I can agree with 3 of the 4.

While I use a Dtek detector, when you absolutely, positively HAVE to find the little leaks, an H-10 is VERY hard to beat.

My Dtek has missed many small leaks and I also have problems with false positives that lead me astray. This is why I drag both detectors around when I am leak searching. If the Dtek starts telling me that everything is leaking, I get the H-10 out and get the real story.

A big positive for the H-10 is sensitivity. I can turn it on outside, walk into a building and tell you if there is a leak in that building. Once you know that, you know that you have to dig until you find it.

Downside to the H-10 is battery life. I can expect about an hour of leak searching out of a fully charged H-10. Good enough on very small systems, but on most of the systems that I work on, an hour is just enough to get started, so the Dtek will get me in the neighborhood, but the H-10 pinpoints it.

[troywoodall]

Thanks for all the info fellas. I still need to see what my teachers company is going to supply me. I'm just starting to browse what's out there right now...