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Video of HVAC 163 Leak Dye, stop leak, and additives in HVAC course by Love2HVAC with Ty Branaman channel, video No. 191 free certified online
A big topic is the use of Leak Dye, leak stop and Additives.
If stop leak additives do actually work, how do you feel about homeowners doing it themselves?
IF stop leak additives do actually work why do HVAC equipment manufactures not allow it? Would it not save them millions of dollars vs paying for warranty leak repairs?
Always check with the manufacture to see what additives they allow and follow instruction and all safety protocols.
I have not found any manufacture of HVAC equipment or compressors that allow leak stop.
Some manufactures do allow specific brands and types of leak dye while others specifically note they the use of leak dye will void the warranty.
Tests I have found from manufactures do not show any significant benefits to oil additives or increased performance.
I was taught there should be 2 things should be in a refrigeration system, refrigerant and refrigerant oil. That may not be completely accurate as new technology comes in. However dont let the deception of marketing (New Improved, better, faster) fool you. How many products do you know that do not do what they say?
Ben Majerus, manager, field systems engineering, Danfoss:
“Danfoss spends extensive engineering time selecting and qualifying our compressor oils. Oil viscosity, miscibility, foaming, and wear properties are some of the key variables that are evaluated to choose the right oil for each refrigerant type. The oil selected is then tested during our engineering qualification of each compressor model to ensure long-term reliability and performance. Our testing is comprised of hundreds of compressors and thousands of hours-of-life testing performed at extreme conditions, so the wear on internal bearing surfaces can be examined. Without testing each of the leak additives, Danfoss cannot guarantee they won’t negatively impact the long-term reliability, so we will not endorse these type of additives. If detected during a warranty claim, it would void our warranty terms.”
https://www.achrnews.com/articles/132144-do-you-use-refrigerant-leak-stop-agents
Randy Tebbe, service engineering manager, Emerson Climate Technologies Inc.:
“Creating and maintaining a leak-free refrigerant system is always a goal; however, we have not conducted testing on the vast amount of additives available to approve adding a substance to a refrigerant system that will plug leaks from the inside to achieve that goal. The typical refrigeration or air conditioning system has multiple designed orifices with restriction from cap tubes and thermal expansion devices to injection ports and oil feed holes. Adding a substance intended only to block refrigerant leaks, thereby blocking the orifices, creates a host of potentially negative implications. The substance also brings with it unknown effects on the system’s components, seals, oils, and even manufacturing process fluids over time. Because there are so many unknown effects at this time, Emerson does not approve the use of additives in the presence of refrigerants.”
https://www.achrnews.com/articles/132144-do-you-use-refrigerant-leak-stop-agents
Dave Boyd, vice president of sales and education, Appion Inc., noted compressor manufacturers will never bless using foreign materials on an air conditioning or refrigeration system, and he agrees with that stance.
“The only thing that should ever be in a system is pure virgin refrigerant and oil,” he said. He cited Kokinda’s story as a perfect example of why systems must be properly brazed or crimped, pressure tested, and evacuated.
Joseph Kokinda, president and CEO of Professional HVACR Services Inc. in Avon Lake, Ohio, said he has seen it all in his 40-plus years in the mechanical trades, and, based on his experiences, he is not a fan of leak-stop agents.
He relayed a story of recently finding a huge pool of leak-stop agent around a missed brazed joint in a large refrigeration system. The customer’s records showed the system had about 90 pounds of R-404A added to it each quarter since 2004. According to Kokinda, an acceptable leak rate for the HVACR industry should be zero, and the way to achieve that is through proper installation upfront and proper service throughout the equipment’s life.
https://www.achrnews.com/articles/132144-do-you-use-refrigerant-leak-stop-agents
Trane Warranty void if dye used listed below
https://www.trane.com/content/dam/Trane/residential/downloads/26-1000-40.pdf
Emerson allows use of spectroline leak dye
https://www.racplus.com/news/emerson-approves-uv-leak-detection-dye-03-05-2011/