If they are having a hard time locating the leak have them isolate each component and pressure test each one. Lineset, evaporator, condenser. That will tell you right off the bat. Once they know what is leaking they can focus in a little better. If they don't seem to interested find someone else that is.
I haven't' had very good luck with those linesets that disappear into the ground
Other than if someone has done remodeling/decorating and caught the line set with a screw or nail the leaks in this part of the county are usually under the slab. And they're usually in the required pvc/poly chase way but nobody bothered to seal them so the linesets sit in water loaded with all kinds of chemicals from landscape maintenance. Getting the charge right is interesting also. This happens way too often,
How ya gonna use those bubbles on the coil and line set?
A (fairly competent in my opinion) tech at my house once sprayed bubbles on the coils (indoor and outdoor) as well as the valve areas, but I see what you're saying; it's gotta be tough finding a leak with those fins unless its on a u-bend at the coil. You can't use the bubbles on the whole lineset obviously, but in areas where brazing was done and the lineset is exposed I don't see why not. I know you know all of this already; I'm just explaining myself.
Still may not be in the lineset. Lineset leaks are pretty rare since the copper is one piece. They should look at the places where they brazed the copper (i.e. joints, at unit, etc.). They may have messed up the schraeder core/valve while brazing or not tightened it. Have them back to do it right. They can isolate the leak with soap bubbles.
have you never seen fittings in the middle of a lineset?
oh ya, you not an hvac guy!
you need to get a job in the hvac field, i think you would really like it
Read the next sentence. "They should look at the places where they brazed the copper (i.e. joints, at unit, etc.)." Obviously, if there were joints in the lineset due to the length, then they would need to look there, though that'd be difficult if it's burried. I shouldn't have assumed that the lineset was one piece given the length; you are correct. Thanks for pointing that out. I knew you were excited to point out a mistake and then throw a comment about me not being in the HVAC field (which is actually not a requirement to post here according to the admin, whom I've communicated with to confirm my posting privileges--just gotta follow the rules like everybody else)... I thank you for pointing that out about joints in the lineset, which slipped my mind.
Sometimes you can get a general location of the leak if there appears to be oil present. It should not be there. Feel around the piping where it connects at both units, if you find oil, you will be close to your leaker....
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Originally Posted by iraqveteran
