HVAC Training - The Art Of Fixing Holes In Coils
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
- ** PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION OF THE VIDEO BELOW **
Putting a screw into a coil by accident. I'm sure that everyone in this industry has at least heard of someone doing just that on a condenser unit.
As requested, In this video I show how to repair a screw hole in a coil for those of you that have or will come across this situation.
*These sort of repairs (especially the fin pack repair) typically happens on condenser coils but it was easier to film this process with a small evaporator coil rather than a condenser. These sort or real world repairs are also far more likely to be performed on a commercial application where the coil may cost several thousands of dollars to replace.
*
*This is not a repair of a leak due to corrosion of any sort. It is for a repair of a physical crack or hole.*
It is also great practice to get comfortable with controlling heat on very thin copper piping.
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As a 42 year veteran of refrigeration work I must applaud your video! Great work, great technique. I did A LOT of window a/c repairs such as these. Once in a while we would even have to bypass a severely damaged tube in the condenser coil just by tracing out the flow and un-soldering and re-routing a tubing loop on each end to salvage a large condenser. Keep up the good work.
good job not many people can do that
Boxing prediksen gig vs Carmelo wu winer 1000/0
JLange642
JLange642 buwang
JLange642 had to do that to 4 passes,,on a large air cooled condenser in a supermarket, ,about 30 years ago,,then a Carrier heat pump, the bracket for the outdoor fan motor BROKE,,cut up the coil,,had to make ‘jumpers for 5 tubes, had the blade & bracket delivered to me,,, all worked well, , my boss could not believe the damage..,,was a Bank, it’s only heat, an R22 system, about 20 years ago
, now been retired some 17 years. from Maplewood NJ
A customer that has you do a repair, such as this, has no idea how fortunate they are
Great video. For someone who has never done a repair in the fin pack, this video was EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you! (many times over).
Years ago, i put a screw that was too long on a Goodman package unit when i was a pm tech. I learned that day first hand” the art” of coil repair. Great video
I truly appreciate you showing us this video. It has definitely helped increase my brazing skill.
Thank you so much.
Like the others have been in the field for almost 20 years just learned A couple of years ago that they make aluminum solder sticks which works excellent but you have a very nice technique you’re slow you take it easy and you do it right thank you for the video!
Great repairs. Done many myself the exact same way. Brazing is a skill that can make life easy or break you. The point of your video is lost on some. Not everything can get replaced. Sometimes you have to use the training you went to school for instead of just selling a new unit. I'd rather be a good technician than a good salesman.
+Michael Paddack I agree. Thanks for watching Michael.
Exactly!
Also, you need to have the skills and ingenuity to handle odd circumstances, like storm damage to a mission critical piece of equipment, etc..
I usually put a indentation around the hole with an awl to create a funnel shape before brazing.The brazing rod will puddle with more strength.
Thanks for watching
Thanks for the video. Now i have more confidence fixing mine.
Thank you for taking the time to post this video.
Thank you for watching!!
Great job this actually happens to be my specialty lol every time it’s needed (frozen heating coil,Chilled water coil, or condensate rot (steam) or as you mentioned screw punctures I get the call. Awesome to see a video about it this does take quite a bit of skill to do
Question.. are you have to remove the coil 100% of time. Hopefully I'll get lucky and can reach the leak
Great video my friend. I used to never fix coils by the fins... I was always worried the pipe would be too thin to braze without melting, until my cousin who is a roofer dropped a nail off the roof and it fell into the condenser fan and the fan hit the nail into the coil... so trying to save him money I brazed it and it worked fine. Since then I always give the customer the option to try the repair first. Keep em coming friend.
Something similar happened to me a few days ago. My box cutter knife fell out of my pocket and sliced into the condenser coil, gas flew out until empty
If I fix a hole in a coil pack . Do I need to vacuum out the line before I install free on it
@richardworden9747
Yes, you have opened system to ambient...
Thanks so much. Learned alot from you're video's. Keep them coming.
Thank you. very interesting to see this job completed.
Michael Costello Thanks for watching
Wow lots of value on your channel. Great video man!
Lex Vance Thanks Lex! I appreciate that man. I really enjoy your channel too!
HVAC in SC Wow really! Right on man! I've been binge watching your vids. 👍😂👍
A bit of semantics here. Don't demote your work by calling it an art. Its a skill and you did it well.
GFM
Art is a skill that not everyone can perform. This is no different in my eyes. Thanks
Excellent training video!
Good job brazing that up. You can also take some copper wire and wrap around the hole and Braze the copper wire to the pipe. Helps keep solder from getting into pipe.
Never thought of that some t-stat cable would be great for a brace.
Any copper wire will work fairly well. When I've had to make a quick patch I prefer to use some snips and cut a patch out of a piece of copper pipe. Much cleaner than the wrapped wire.
Awesome idea!
Good tip bro.
Or try cutting a coupler hotdog style and lay the half over the hole and braze away...
Job well done, can tell you take pride in your work.
Wow a real surgeon when it comes to HVAC. Very impressive
You make this look easy, but if you've never done this befor it is challenging. Thanks for the video
+JEFFREY KREFT Absolutely! Trust me, I butchered many braze joints over the years. 😆 Practice makes perfect.
Thank you for watching!
Experts always make it look easy. What we don't see is all the practice it took to become an expert.
Nice job and video clarity! Thank You!
thanks for this wonderful video, learn a lot, i am really a beginner here, may i ask what kind of torch or gas the host was using to soldering the hole ? thanks
Wow that braze job was near perfection. Way better than anything I've ever seen. Could you also build up a hole like that with Stay Brite 8?
Excellent video sir....very nicely done. Thanks!!
Jim C Thanks for watching Jim!
Great teacher! Thanks for sharing.
Nicely done.
Thank you for this video. Do you have any pro tips for running duct work?
Excellent vid.. like how u explained it👍
Nice work. Thanks for the video.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!
Often these are tricky to locate in the fins! ~ Excellent vid tips!!
KungFuMaintenance They certainly an be. Thanks for watching man!
First time seen your channel/video I'm impressed, thanks for sharing 😁!
+Lebron Jordan Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment!!
Great video. Very clear instructions!
Awesome vid. Thanks for the tutorial.
WhiteGS Thank you and thanks for watching!
If you have a hole like the one at the end of the video in the condenser fins, is that not a problem? How would I repair the fins in that state?
Thanks for this video brother. I watched it this past weekend. In class tonight a guy in my group burnt 2 holes into the suction line when trying to braze. They were going to cut it out and fix it that way. I said let me try something and I patched them both, no leaks. Great videos bro, keep it up!
fespinoza287 Awesome! Thanks for your comment brotha!
Great looking repair.
TP Services Thanks man!!
Absolutely amazing
I am relieved to see that this happens sometimes because I just put a screw into my condenser coil and I am still cussing . Thanks so much for this video 👍
Great video!!! Thanks for sharing
Well explained, thanks!
Great job
Nice work. I always feel good after saving my customer some money on a mistake made by one of my fellow HVAC techs or myself. Sometimes the customer is not grateful even with a solid repair line these.
Why would you charge to fix a mistake you made? And then they have something that has already gone through a break and repair process without having ever used it.
Richard, it's called a TEMPORARY fix. Unless you like your tech to just let you melt while your parts get ordered. And who said anything about charging anyone? 🙄 🤦♂️🤷♂️
You made that look to easy nice job👍
Great video! Very informative.
Vinny Mac Thanks for watching Vinny!
For coils I’d go with a turbo torch or map blowtorch just saves u from blowing out the copper they make it so thin nowadays also ur practice is better spent on the tube sheet seeing leaks form there regularly and it’s a more challenging process
I've done many of these repairs, relatively easy. The tough ones are the ones where the leak is in the tubing coming through the fin pack wall. You should do a vid on that!
Oldskipper 1 that is called the tube sheet. I’ve repaired many of these leaks. I use 15% solder and flux. Weld the tube and tube sheet together. This is a last ditch effort. No warranty hope for the best. Once the coil starts leaking your just chasing leaks.
I will sometimes bypass the tube, especially on large condenser coils.
Nice technique and instruction
Good video ! Keep em coming
Thanks for your video, I am about to try this repair for my first time,
this video gives me confidence..:-)
We have a Reem HeatPumps
Allot of our units have a problem where a small crack happens at the joint where the small low pressure switch pipe connects to the larger tube - the soldered seal at the joint cracks- it’s not an easy spot to get at ,
And our units are on the rooftops sitting on sketchy platforms....;-)
Thanks for the help..:-)
Very good vid Bradley my boy👍 I've never put a hole in a coil 😂
Jon HVAC I've only done it for training purposes but I've had to perform this repair 3 times for apprentices that have "screwed" condenser coils. 🤣
Nice job
Thank you very much for the video!
Great work. Thanks
Damn that is so great work.
I have a Surefire T757 and an "ordinary" 14.1 oz propane tank. What kind of brazing rod (silver brazing?) was used? The hole is about 1/16 " and was made by a nail. Would soldering (lower heat and I don't have nitrogen) with plumbing soldering would be good since the hole is so small?
Great work!
+Terry Stringer Thank you!
Thanks for the video
Nice video! Will that coil still work properly with that big hole in the fins?
what if its a tiny pinhole leak, do you need to remove freon from the whole system before braze? and does propane gas bottle work instead of oxyact gas?
I have one that blew a big hole in the curved end. Can the entire curved end be replaced or fixed?
I had this done on a rooftop unit of ours it started leaking it is an older unit but didn't want to pay to have a crain lift it off the roof so. Had it patched unit is a late 80s early 90s unit it has been holding for bout 4 years now.
watch video very well explained and very well helpful and presented and its what i need to see Thank u much
I was wondering if you used any flux. I didn't see any. I always find it helps bond the silver braze. Also I use a razor knife to cut away fins by the repair to be done and push them out of the way. Sometimes it leaves more fin for heat exchange later.
Kimo Armstrong No flux used. If I was using silver solder I would but just 15% rods I just clean and braze.
Thanks for watching!
Hi HVAC in SC, first off - thank you for a really great video!
Quick question - If the hole in the finned tubing was large, say a half inch longitudinal one, and almost as wide as the tube itself, would you cut out the hole portion, clean off the fins left/right, swage a piece of 1/4" tube on both ends, and try to insert it as a fitting onto the coil tube and then braze/solder that?
Great work man
Good job - thanks for the share
jd dr.jkindle Thanks for watching
Awesome!
Great job and nice information
Great Job!
very good video ! Thank you for well done video .
Thank you and thanks for watching!
can you do the same thing with an evaporator, if the pipe has leaked, underneath the fins?
Awesome job
Seth Rivera Thank you!
Thanks for sharing
Does this work for aluminum coil as well
Nice video, for the second brazing,How do u fix the removed aluminum fin?
The fins don't get fixed. Maybe you are making a joke.
Great work bro
Do you cool the off with a wet towel as soon as the braze is finished ? Or do you let it naturally air cool? Sorry if this question is silly im just getting into the field and want to minimize any bad practice i may of learned!
+godsstep son Usually I give it a out 30 seconds just so there is no chance of potentially cracking the joint.
Thanks for watching.
Is there a interior sealant for small leaks? Some said something about using it. But great video. We learned to braze with oxygen acetylene.. two thin pieces of steal... Remind me of filling a hole in a car body. My coil froze and tech said it was cracked.. was just gonna replace air handler. But heck.. why not try
Good video
Do have any videos of a leak on the side of the evaporator coils, where the coils meet?
Great video.
Air Mechanical Thanks for watching!
Nice!! 👍👍
Good job
What type of brazing material should I use for copper to copper?. I have to install a filter dryer on the liquid line
Anything will work anything. But most people like 15% silver I’m pretty sure anything that calls it’s self solder will hold in a tight joint so long as u don’t mix soldiers
Solder will not work. Must be braze if it is used on 410a with the exception of Staybright8. I prefer 15% SulFos rods for copper to copper but other types of brazing rods are required for different jobs and metals.
Awesome 👏🏻
Great vid.
Wayne Miles Thanks Wayne!
Good stuff! Thank you
Nice repair,iv also seen guys wrap copper wire over the hole before they braze
steve hevessy About 20 years ago I knew a guy that used pennies. lol
Although it seemed to work, I prefer the method I used in the video.
Thanks for watching!
That sounds like an old school way to avoid what was the first thought on my mind... which was if I am filling the tube with sil-phos and blocking the flow of refrigerant. Think I'll set up a test rig with a series of holes in a pipe, do the repair and then cut the tube longitudinally to see what's happening inside.
HVAC in SC, thanks for taking the time to video, edit and share.
Nice job and nice video
EXCELLENT!!!!!
Do you patch that hole now on the fins or just leave as is?
Good job.looks good
Thanks for the info
Keith Howard Thanks for watching Keith
Nice repair
li saw the compressor oil in those pipe can we solder?(sorry my bad english)
So I have a question about the fixing of the tubes curly coils types whatever the hell you want to call them is it possible to fix 1 that's in the fins using a brazing rod because my window unit I just discovered earlier this morning the fins started separating Orwell I don't want to say started they have separated sometime during of being stored I guess it got hit with something and I noticed that there isn't a axle tube in the middle of it it's just a bunch of the fins and there flared out one into the other on the intake side of my window unit I can't afford to put replace my window unit but I do have brazing stuff around is it possible to fix that stuff or will I just be melting aluminum as soon as I touch my torch to it
Thanks guy! I got a new job building/brazing starting monday and now i have an idea how to braze a hole.
Hopefully they don't work me like a robot at a sweatshop/assembly line.
+UnTamed Mustang No problem guy. Thanks for watching.
Great vid, but with today's coils, all aluminum, , customer needs a new coil, your techniques are wicked awesome, learned a lot, keep up the great work
+mychoclabwinston Thanks
Mot necessarily as you can use Lucas Milhaupt Flux Cored Aluminum Braze Al822 to do an Al repair.