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i use leak sealant when the leak is a very small one
i won't use it on a R410A system if the standing pressure is less then 50 psi.
my rule of thumb is when system lost mot than 50-60% of charge i replace coils or try to fix the leak

Originally Posted by MichaelPaladin

I too was on the fence about using the Nucalgon Easy Seal as well...

The big thing is reading the instructions on the can, as it can't be used on a system that leaks down more than 7lbs in a week. But for a system that leaks down a pound or two a year, so far its done the job. I've put it into about 3 or 4 systems with no problems so far....

What do you think about a system that leaked 2 lbs in 2 months? 16 year old r22 carrier 1.5 ton. Trying to get another year out of it, but dont want to mess any Future Techs up when it is replaced.

I am not sure what kind of leak sealant he used I believe it was for automotive, he is not a hvac person, I think he just bought a recharge kit with a leak sealant. Either way it is a mess! Glad I didn;t do any of the work!

I never used any of the leak sealer products until this year.
I decided to give AC Leak Freeze a try because it supposedly won't react with moisture in the system, and it seems like the worst that can happen with it is that it does nothing.

I've only offered it to a few of my regular maintenance customers that have the 1 or 2 pound a year type leaks, and are not willing to spend the money to replace their coil, or whole system.
I'll get some idea of if it really works when I do cooling checks on the systems in the spring.
I expect to find them a little low, since some refrigerant has to leak for the stuff to work, but am hoping it will be less than the "usual" amount, and no leakage at all the following spring.

I used the AC Leak Freeze with "Magic Frost" once, but it made me feel a little dirty.

did he put a leak sealer made for stationary systems into a vehicle? If so, thats the problem.

mobile systems have way to much contamination in them and will not work with sealers made for stationary systems. sealers made for mobile systems work by swelling leaking hoses and seals. leaking metal parts must be replaced or repaired.

Now after I asked about these products, a relative of mine stopped by with his truck, added a "leak sealer" to the system as it had a leak on the evap. Shortly after the compressor failed, so he had the compressor, evaporator, the acumulator and I thought a discharge or suction line all replaced. The a/c plugged up the screen at the metering device 2 or 3 times before he left the repair shop, in which case they replaced the metering device. He drove the 15 miles to my house and the a/c stopped working again, I checked and again the metering device and screen were plugged. He had it replaced again, the system worked for a few weeks, then he came back to my house because the a/c would only work if the truck was started a/c turned on then the truck had to be turned off and restarted for the a/c to work again, the hpc was shutting off the compressor, not sure if he went back and had that replaced also or what, but it was interesting how basically his whole a/c system was replaced with the exception of the condenser, and the system is still plugging up from the leak sealant he added, just glad I didn't recover the charge or do any of his work, or my equipment would probably work about as well as his a/c. I know long story but just thought it was interesting how much extra work and extra cost he caused by adding the leak sealant.

I can't believe the guy who said he'd pumped it in 200 systems. No Way.

In 3 years I've used it twice, the first one survived until it was replaced (6 months) and the second one (a Trane) was DOA in three days. Locked the compressor down.

When I pump it in, the HO knows what the odds are. (In my case 50/50.) And I pump it in at Cost and as a Last ditch effort.

Seems like something a rogue contractor would use to dodge warranty liability and hide the issue until labor warranty is expired.

If a system leaks, because installation was less than perfect, I'm not taking stopping this with this crap as "proper repair".

I too was on the fence about using the Nucalgon Easy Seal as well. I wasn't the type who really wanted to put something in a system other than refrigerant or oil into it.

But I'm also willing to give my customers options, and they know full well that using the Easy Seal is a 50/50 proposition, it may work great or it won't.

When I ask a one of the counter guys at my local Carrier distributer (the guy has been there for over 20 years) about the Easy Seal, he had said when if first came out Carrier would not warranty a system that had the Easy Seal in the system, but a few years ago they changed that policy and will now warranty systems that have Easy Seal in them, then I figured it might be worth a try.

The big thing is reading the instructions on the can, as it can't be used on a system that leaks down more than 7lbs in a week. But for a system that leaks down a pound or two a year, so far its done the job. I've put it into about 3 or 4 systems with no problems so far.

As for compressor failures, when you have a system that runs on a low charge for an extended period of time, the compressor is going to fail at some point. We all know sometimes a customer won't call in a service call on a system that is running low on charge until they find the indoor coil is totally frozen up. Which we all know isn't good for compressors either, especially ones that have some age on them.

this stuff is hack in can.

Oh yeah, gotta love the dye. Looks cool all over my uniform and smells wonderful.

Ok thanks for the clarification chuck. I figured that's how it should be used but if you read some prior posts it doesn't seem that way with everyone

Originally Posted by Iceman7997

As long gone as the first customer has been informed that you are injecting this product into their system then fine with me. I would feel shallow to walk away from a repair that the homeowner problem could have done themselves. Poor installations., and ancient equipment and temporary fixes is what this product should be used for or you are not ethically fulfilling a HVAC/REFRIGERATION mechanics to properly repair a leak under the universal guidelines of what is expected. If I brought my truck to have a flat tire repaired and the mechanic dumped some fix a flat in it and told me I'm all set it would be disheartening as I might as well go to my local walmart and have my girlfriend "install" some fix a flat fee. Hahaha

Nobody is advocating putting stop leak in a flat system!! Only as a preventative or for those tiny leaks when customer doesn't want to spend enough to find and fix.

As long gone as the first customer has been informed that you are injecting this product into their system then fine with me. I would feel shallow to walk away from a repair that the homeowner problem could have done themselves. Poor installations., and ancient equipment and temporary fixes is what this product should be used for or you are not ethically fulfilling a HVAC/REFRIGERATION mechanics to properly repair a leak under the universal guidelines of what is expected. If I brought my truck to have a flat tire repaired and the mechanic dumped some fix a flat in it and told me I'm all set it would be disheartening as I might as well go to my local walmart and have my girlfriend "install" some fix a flat fee. Hahaha

Originally Posted by jtrammel

My company has used it 5 times, the first three were lb a year leakers and havnt leaked again the other 2 locked down compressors within a week of injecting it, we haven't used it again

You know as well as I do that a unit that is running with a leak will run low of charge I don't think the sealer is all the blame. I have reparied leaks on units before only to have a compressor fail after it was charged back to spec.

I have used it 4 times within the past two years and so far the only reason we go back to the customers if of PMs.

Originally Posted by daviddbill

Hello,I'm in apartment maint,I've used HVAC-R fix a flat in my 2 ton units and it does very well.It costs 48 dollars.If the leak is to big you replace. But have saved the company thousands of dollars.It has not clogged a meter device or cap tubes.

Bet your coils are dirty, prolonging the life for just long enough to knock the compressors out

Originally Posted by hardbound

I agree about new products but how can any one say that product can stop a refrigerant leak and not stop up the metering device or any other device?

These products react with air and water to harden and stop the leak (apparently except for the Leakfreeze mentioned above. If the system is dry and free of air, it will not damage the metering device or compressor. If the system is contaminated, leak stop will cause severe damage very quickly.


I have used NuCalgon EasySeal about 15 time and have had a very good success rate with it. A few times it has not worked, but it has never damaged a system.

Originally Posted by hardbound

I agree about new products but how can any one say that product can stop a refrigerant leak and not stop up the metering device or any other device?

I dont know exactly but I've witness it work with my own eyes. We have only used it twice as a last resort for temp repair but I looked at the spot on the coil and checked it with my h10 and picked up no leak or oil like their had been before. This Leak Freeze product doesn't react with moisture or air and contains no polymers which is what I think is causing the blockage problems with other products. I think I use leakfreeze with magic frost which is suppose to quite noisy compressors as well. I took a before and after amp draw and it did go down believe it or not! If you do break down and try a sealant,mi do recommend finding and brazing, but in a pinch LEAKFREEZE is the only sealant I would even consider to use at this time.

I agree about new products but how can any one say that product can stop a refrigerant leak and not stop up the metering device or any other device?