TXV hot swap

[Lawrence a]

The company I work for pushes us to do hot swaps on 410 TXV's. I'm not a big fan of doing it this way. I'd like to get others' thoughts/pros/cons on doing this.

[jpsmith1cm]

What do you mean by 'hot swap'

[dandyme]

What do you mean by 'hot swap'

X2

[Twilly]

Twilly says they steal it from one house and install it in another and get paid for it.

[Lawrence a]

Hot Swap is when we pump down the system into the condensor and leave some pressure in it so we are venting some of the 410A
They tell us that it is faster this way and we dont have to test with nitrogen or pull it down in a vacuum.

[jpsmith1cm]

Hot Swap is when we pump down the system into the condensor and leave some pressure in it so we are venting some of the 410A
They tell us that it is faster this way and we dont have to test with nitrogen or pull it down in a vacuum.

I've done things this way and can say from experience that it is t a good method.

Do I right.

[AiResearch]

If the txv is equiped with mechanical conections , such as chatleff with seals , then there is nothing wrong at all with changing the valve with say , 5 psi on the lines and evap.

Residential speaking.

This saves time , avoids contamination , and is perfectly do-able.

New drier or evacuation not needed.

Even with zero pounds , Carrier says vapor will still exit for some time , preventing air and moisture from entering. (you can see the fumes)

Also , you can easily thumb a hole with five pounds.

[BobbyBJr]

I was taught that moisture can enter a system even with pressure on the system because moisture always runs from wet to dry. I think the term was vapor pressure can push moisture into a system through a leak even though the system never loses the total charge. I will admit to quickly changing a txv a time or two the way mentioned without any ill effects that I know of.

[evilsanta]

Last time I checked 99% of us get paid by the hr. I recommend residential, commercial no matter what application pump it down, change the txv, change the drier and vac the system. This leaves little room for error. That's my personal opinion.

[R123]

I was taught that moisture can enter a system even with pressure on the system because moisture always runs from wet to dry. I think the term was vapor pressure can push moisture into a system through a leak even though the system never loses the total charge. I will admit to quickly changing a txv a time or two the way mentioned without any ill effects that I know of.

Are you saying moisture can travel from atmospheric pressure to a closed pressurized system through a leak???????? How is this possible???????

[craig1]

I've done hot swaps on large supermarket systems where pulling a 500 micron vacuum before all the food melts would be impossible and its worked fine.

Ive hot swapped TXV thermal elements on commercial and residential systems many times with no trouble.

I've never hot swapped a valve on a small split system though. The only ones I've changed required brazing and you can't do that on the fly.

I've never seen a 410a expansion valve fail yet, knock on wood.

[jim147]

What part of doing this worries you?

Then we can answer that problem.

jim

[timebuilder]

This thread contains DIY info. It should not be in an open forum.

JMHO.

[mcewans]

I've done things this way and can say from experience that it is t a good method.

Do I right.

Do you mean mean not?

[perfectionist]

never mind

[nyc]

this whole "OPEN FORUM" thing cracks me up lol

[Southern Mech]

I do it all the time commercial mostly, have run into very few scenario's in residential to be able to perform a refrigerant component repair on the ''fly''.

there is nothing wrong with this, as long as it's done properly.

[okctech]

Hot Swap is when we pump down the system into the condensor and leave some pressure in it so we are venting some of the 410A
They tell us that it is faster this way and we dont have to test with nitrogen or pull it down in a vacuum.

That can be a problem..... Do you have your E.P.A. certification? Not trying to be an a**, but venting is against the law. Keep in mind that the E.P.A. will fine your personally. Some people still want to vent that shi* into the atmosphere rather then do it properly. I ain't the E.P.A. police, just sayin...

[EugeneTheJeep]

Hot Swap is when we pump down the system into the condensor and leave some pressure in it so we are venting some of the 410A
They tell us that it is faster this way and we dont have to test with nitrogen or pull it down in a vacuum.

Done it a thousand times with commercial txvs, and a few times residential. Meh

[R123]

That can be a problem..... Do you have your E.P.A. certification? Not trying to be an a**, but venting is against the law. Keep in mind that the E.P.A. will fine your personally. Some people still want to vent that shi* into the atmosphere rather then do it properly. I ain't the E.P.A. police, just sayin...

There's one word for that.....DE MINIMIS. If done properly, you'll vent less refrigerant than you will by purging your hoses when you connect your gauges to a system. I'm hoping you purge your hoses or your introducing air and moisture into the system.