AllStar – Air Conditioning – London

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Step-by-Step Guide for End Users: Understanding the Leak Detection and Repair Process in Your Split AC System

Dear Valued Customer,

We understand that experiencing a leak in your split AC system can be frustrating. To help you understand the process and justify any additional costs, we’ve prepared a step-by-step guide explaining how we locate and repair leaks in your system.

Step 1: Initial Inspection and Diagnosis

  1. Visual Inspection:
  • Purpose: To identify any obvious signs of leaks.
  • Process: Our technician will inspect the indoor and outdoor units for visible damage, oil stains, or any apparent signs of a leak.
  • Cost Justification: A visual inspection helps quickly identify any major issues without the need for specialized equipment, keeping initial costs low.
  1. System Pressure Check:
  • Purpose: To confirm if there is a significant refrigerant loss.
  • Process: We use gauges to measure the refrigerant pressure in your system and compare it to standard levels.
  • Cost Justification: Accurate pressure readings help us determine the extent of the problem early on, ensuring we don’t overlook a significant leak.
  1. Check for Cold Air:
  • Purpose: To determine if the system is functioning properly.
  • Process: If there is no cold air coming out of the unit, the first step is to connect the gauges at the outdoor unit.
  • Low Pressure Indicator: If the gauges indicate low pressure, it confirms that there is likely a leak.
  • Common Leak Points: The most common leaks occur at the flare connections at either the indoor or outdoor units.
  • Cost Justification: Identifying the issue early helps us address it promptly, preventing further damage and higher costs.

Step 2: Advanced Leak Detection

If the initial inspection does not reveal the source of the leak, we proceed with more detailed methods:
  1. Electronic Leak Detection:
  • Purpose: To detect small leaks that are not visible to the naked eye.
  • Process: Using an electronic leak detector, we scan the refrigerant lines and connections for leaks.
  • Cost Justification: This method is highly sensitive and can locate even minor leaks, ensuring we address the issue comprehensively.
  • We can only find the leak on  pipe run where the pipes are exposed and accessible 
  1. UV Dye Detection: we stay away from this method as this can contaminate the system  
  • Purpose: To pinpoint the exact location of leaks.
  • Process: We inject a UV dye into the refrigerant system and use a UV light to identify the leak location after the system has run for a few hours.
  • Cost Justification: This method allows us to see precisely where the leak is, which can save time and reduce the need for multiple inspections.

Step 3: Leak Repair

  1. Refrigerant Recovery:
  • Purpose: To safely remove refrigerant before repairing the leak.
  • Process: We use a recovery unit to capture the refrigerant, preventing environmental harm and ensuring compliance with regulations.
  • Cost Justification: Proper recovery is essential for safety and legal compliance, preventing potential fines and environmental damage.
  1. Repairing the Leak at Flare Connections:
  • Process: We remove the remaining refrigerant, vacuum the interconnecting pipework, repair the seal at the flare connections, and then recharge the system.
  • Success Rate: This method resolves leaks in approximately 70% of reported cases.
  • Cost Justification: Effective and common repairs that restore system integrity and efficiency.
  1. Further Investigation of Units:
  • Purpose: If flare connection repair does not resolve the leak, we investigate the indoor and outdoor units.
  • Process: This involves inspecting internal components for damage or wear.
  • Success Rate: Around 20% of reported leaks require repairs or replacements of internal components such as valves, coils, or compressors.
  • Cost Justification: Ensuring thorough inspection and addressing internal issues as needed.
  1. Interconnecting Pipework Investigation:
  • Purpose: To locate leaks in the interconnecting pipework, especially if inaccessible parts are involved.
  • Challenges: Inaccessible pipework may require opening walls, which complicates detection and repair.
  • Likelihood: Approximately 10% of leaks are found in the interconnecting pipework, which may require specialized equipment for detection.
  • Repair Process: Due to complexity, investigating these leaks involves thorough testing or accessing inaccessible areas, potentially requiring multiple visits.

Common Locations for AC System Leaks

Flare Connections:

  • Description: Flare connections are where copper pipes connect to components like the indoor and outdoor units.
  • Likelihood: Approximately 70% of reported leaks occur at flare connections due to imperfect seals or loosening over time.
  • Repair Process: Technicians remove refrigerant, vacuum the pipework, repair the seal, and recharge the system.

Internal Components:

  • Description: Internal parts within the indoor and outdoor units can develop leaks due to wear, corrosion, or mechanical failure.
  • Likelihood: About 20% of reported leaks require repairs or replacements of internal components such as valves, coils, or compressors.
  • Repair Process: Depending on the severity, components may be repaired or replaced to restore system functionality.

Interconnecting Pipework:

  • Description: Pipework that connects the indoor and outdoor units, often routed through walls or ceilings, can develop leaks.
  • Challenges: Accessing these areas may require opening walls, which complicates detection and repair.
  • Likelihood: Approximately 10% of leaks are found in the interconnecting pipework, which may require specialized equipment for detection.
  • Repair Process: Due to complexity, investigating these leaks involves thorough testing or accessing inaccessible areas, potentially requiring multiple visits.
  • Where the pipes are concealed in walls and ceilings a special trace gas is needed (engineers do not carry this around) and even with the trace gas it might not be possible to locate and new pipes will need to be installed. 

Documentation and Cost Considerations

Documentation:

  • Purpose: To provide a detailed record of the leak detection and repair process.
  • Importance: Detailed documentation helps track the system’s history and supports warranty claims if future issues arise.
  • Process: We document all findings, repairs, and refrigerant amounts added during the service.

Cost Considerations:

  • Leak Detection Cost: £250 plus VAT for initial fault finding. Call out up to 2.5 hours on site
  • Return Visit Cost: £350 plus VAT for the return visit, covering 3 hours onsite and nitrogen usage 
  • Additional Costs: Replacement refrigerant costs vary based on weight and type (commonly R32 and R410a).

This section provides clarity on where leaks commonly occur in split AC systems, emphasizes the importance of documentation, and underscores the steps involved in detecting and repairing them. For further details or assistance, please feel free to contact us.