"Leak Sealant"

[Maximum19]

If you have found the leak then yes it is good to fix it. But if it is a slow leak that is just a few lbs a year. Then is it not the customers choice as to how much they want to put in it.

No matter how old the unit is.

So i give them choices with my multi level flat rate book (The New Flat Rate).

And they opt. For a higher level 80-90% of the time.

[chuckcrj]

Interesting thread.

I just put 2 cans in last week, both older systems. One as preventative after I repaired a leak, and the other one in a unit that loses a lb. per year.

I never thought I would do it. We are going to keep using it for now and watch our results.

Any large leak should be repaired, I wouldn't trust this stuff to seal a large leak.

We are using the NuCalgon product.

[Toddbrewster]

Thank you for all of the insight, I am still a firm believer in fixing leaks by brazing them, (if something sounds to good to be true it probably is!) but I also have several systems I have been on this summer and added r-22 to, leak checked only place my detector will go off is around the evap, but cannot get any bubbles to show the exact leak location. These systems are all 8-10 years old, just out of warranty, and just have a hard time justifying replacing just the evap on an older system, but also hard to swap out a system that is working. For now I just am keeping an eye on them so far have not had to add any more r-22 to them, will probably just top off the charge in the spring and keep them going unless they start going through a lot more r-22, I can see adding a pound or so for a year or two and once they use more than that replace the whole system, one is a payne and the fins are rotting off the copper tubes on the condenser, they don't have a dog, not sure if something else is peeing on the coil or what as it is just on the bottom of the condenser on the corner. I appreciate all of the helpful info on this topic!

[hvacnut]

This is the first year I've used leak sealant. I was very skeptical about using it since I remember quite a few years ago that a similar product would plug systems up. That product would plug up the compressor valves or cap tubes or any other "hole" in the system. However, I don't think that product was formulated to react in the prescence of air and moisture like the new products are.
I won't put it in a system if I think it may have sucked air and therefore moisture into the system. Also, I do not put it in systems that are still under warranty. I explain to the customer that to fix a leak can cost more than the system is worth unless it's just tightening something up with a wrench or replacing a valve core. I tell them that it is not 100% guaranteed to fix the leak. Most customers opt to have the stuff put in given the alternative. I have used both Nu Calgon's Easy Seal and Diversitech's LineSeal. So far I have had no complaints about it not working or it causing damage to systems. Can't say for sure about the long-term effects. Next year may tell a different tale.
I won't use the products that claim to remove moisture from a system. My feeling is that if you think a system has moisture in it and it is still under warranty you should recover the refrigerant and try to find the leak by pressurizing with nitrogen and a refrigerant trace. Then fix the leak or replace the leaking component. If it is out of warranty you should probably just replace the system.

[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

[Danae12]

Has anyone used any of the leak fix in a bottle for a/c systems. I see they have them for automotive a/c as well as residential/commercial systems. Looks like a glue you put in the system when adding refrigerant. I cant imagine they work or last. I dont see how it wouldnt plug up a cap tube or piston, or gum up a txv. Just curious to see if anyone used any of these leak repairs to see what the results were. I intend to keep brazing any leak I can or replace the component that is leaking.

garbage.....


worse then dye.

[Nytefog]

Never used it until this summer on a few old systems. They were leaking pretty well from the Evap coil. Used leak freeze brand because it seemed like it would cause the least amount of problems. Injected and recharged at the beginning of the summer and no problems so far. These customers were notified they were ginea pigs for this new product. We only used it on old systems that are planed to be replaced but if it works well we might not get to replace them now!!

[hardbound]

Has anyone used any of the leak fix in a bottle for a/c systems. I see they have them for automotive a/c as well as residential/commercial systems. Looks like a glue you put in the system when adding refrigerant. I cant imagine they work or last. I dont see how it wouldnt plug up a cap tube or piston, or gum up a txv. Just curious to see if anyone used any of these leak repairs to see what the results were. I intend to keep brazing any leak I can or replace the component that is leaking.

31 years ago when I was in high school my vo-tech teacher told us this. Their are 2 things that are inside an a/c & refrigeration system refrigerant and oil. This was one thing that i have stood by.

[Nytefog]

31 years ago when I was in high school my vo-tech teacher told us this. Their are 2 things that are inside an a/c & refrigeration system refrigerant and oil. This was one thing that i have stood by.

I do agree but as technology changes and evolves new products will be tolerable. If people always believed what they were told the earth would still be flat and the sun revolves around us. Just think about how new synthetic Los are used today that last longer and protect better.mwomwould have thought that 100 years ago.

[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?

[Nytefog]

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.

[craig1]

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.

[david912]

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