Never install a bullet piercing valve until you clean the straight section of copper tubing meticulously with wet sandpaper to remove all oxide, dirt and scratches from the area where the valve will seat on the tubing. If you don't do this leaks are guaranteed eventually. That's why bullet piercing valves get a bad rap for leaking. The minimal instructions that come with the valve don't mention this. I start with 320 grit paper and work my way through 600, 1000 and finally 2000 grit to get it gleaming shiny. You only need to do a small area. That provides a nice smooth surface for the gasket on the valve saddle to seal tightly. Other posters suggest switching to a different kind of Freon when recharging. That's a bad idea. Stick with what the manufacturer shows on the label. The compressor is designed to handle the pressures generated by that kind of refrigerant.
FYI in the refrigeration trades we don't leave the bullet piecing valve they will eventually leak we either braze on access valve or crimp the stub and braze the end stub after charging the unit plus you need two access valve low and high side you could stack refrigerant in the condenser if there a restriction capillary metering and over charging the unit.
Just one quick comment. If the unit is low on freon then it leaked out somewhere. To find the leak after filling with freon use a small paint brush and some soapy water. Check everywhere including the coils and when you see bubbles (probably very small) coming out you have found your leak(s). Some good quality silver solder and a small torch will take care of that. Also if the hole is a little larger you can manufacture a patch using a small piece of the same size tubing by cutting and spreading it over the tube then soldering.
Do you put flux on it when you Sauter? And can you solder it while it is filled with Freon?! I am tired of throwing away. Dehumidifiers, I can solder copper water pipe, but I have never soldered something like this before.
Thanks for sharing this video. I find it very useful and interesting indeed. I have a one-year old Frigidaire dehumidifier that has leaked out its refrigerant. I was looking for a way to repair it since I paid $450 for it and barely used it for 9 months. So my question is whether I can also recharge it with the R410-A type of refrigerant because that is the one used in my dehumidifier? I also like to comment that one should use some silicon or latex based sealant around the piercing valve's clamps. I can very well imagine that refrigerant could leak from those walls as well once it pierces the coper tube. Thanks.
Hello, thank you for the video. How is this unit working now? Have you had to add more refrigerant? Did the bullet valve leak? How long did it work for after this repair?
To be clear....the tube to pierce is the one that is likely to be a bit cool if there is any coolant at all, right? The other line is a "return", apt to be hotter? Thanks
Thank you. I have this exact model, and its been freezing up. There is no information anywhere and no one wants to repair these. I don't want to throw out a unit that may have nothing else really wrong with it?
the infamous Hisense/Garrisons. bought 6 of these one year, every single one of them failed within two years and it was always the same - a leak. first they would start icing up then nothing at all.
I might suggest to: - make sure the point is fully retracted before clamping the valve in place. If not, someone would be VERY surprised. 13 oz of freon and oil is a mess to clean out of your bedsheets? - clean the pipe where the grommet rests with a drop of ammonia. Wipe that off with water. - make sure the valve body is snug and secure after the three compression screws are tightened and before piercing the pipe. You don't want this rotating to another side of the pipe when it is fully open. - possibly wait before piercing the copper pipe. Otherwise a capful of air is mixed into the system. Either evacuate with a (blue) line with low loss fittings via vacuum pump, or purge it while piercing the line and tighten down the cap, or wait until the new freon is attached and the line is purged with the new freon and then pierce the pipe. - make sure there is no trapped liquid freon anywhere in the process of closing valves and placing on caps. Releasing freon into the valve with the cap on leaves a liquid that definitely wants to be a gas. It can go to 800 psi (700...) and blow the cap off the valve killing your pet parakeet. - take an online 608 certification course for $25.00. - going the whole nine yards, you could get a recycle tank $100 and a recycle pump $400 and have a bunch more fun. - ordering the extra cubic yard of cement, you could discover where the R-410A leaked. Think of all the guys up and down the block telling tales to their kids of how you reclaimed the freon, used a freon leak detector and resoldered a joint. You even pressured the system with Nitrogen and added trace amounts of R-410A to prove no further leaks. And, lastly, really thinking about everything that can go wrong before you start. Think through this main path then say "This failed right here, what do I do now" at every step. I'm not trying to scare anyone. I actually like to think through these situations and be prepared. A 2 lb tank makes a lot of cold in a hurry. It takes away a lot of air in a hurry. It will shoot a tank across the room. It demands an immediate and a correct response. Oh. And thanks! I liked watching the videos. I always learn something.
This why I hate Y tube if you don't know what you are doing leave it to the license HVACR we are train and skill to this work you could injure yourself or damage properly .We don't leave bullet piecing valve on the unit they will leak.
Mine holds r134a. Which makes it easy. Any auto parts store has it. They haven’t used r22 in a long time. If an r410 unit is empty, I wouldn’t be afraid to use r134a.you can get it with a stop leak in it.why not try? If it works, great. If it don’t, you going to throw it out anyway.
Awesome except the fact buying refrigerant without an EPA license is highly illegal in most states. Discharging R22 Into the atmosphere can get you jail time, and fines up to 12k. Just make sure you are recovering the refrigerant. If I need to follow the rules as an state licensed HVAC tech, so will everyone else. We are always looking for that person to record who is not...other than that awesome job on the unit.👍🏻👍🏻
Never install a bullet piercing valve until you clean the straight section of copper tubing meticulously with wet sandpaper to remove all oxide, dirt and scratches from the area where the valve will seat on the tubing. If you don't do this leaks are guaranteed eventually. That's why bullet piercing valves get a bad rap for leaking. The minimal instructions that come with the valve don't mention this. I start with 320 grit paper and work my way through 600, 1000 and finally 2000 grit to get it gleaming shiny. You only need to do a small area. That provides a nice smooth surface for the gasket on the valve saddle to seal tightly. Other posters suggest switching to a different kind of Freon when recharging. That's a bad idea. Stick with what the manufacturer shows on the label. The compressor is designed to handle the pressures generated by that kind of refrigerant.
thanks man, details are very important when dealing with finicky crap like this
WHERE CAN you buy cans of 410a refrigerant?
FYI in the refrigeration trades we don't leave the bullet piecing valve they will eventually leak we either braze on access valve or crimp the stub and braze the end stub after charging the unit plus you need two access valve low and high side you could stack refrigerant in the condenser if there a restriction capillary metering and over charging the unit.
Other videos say that you can't use a piercing-valve on R410. What model piercing-valve did you use?
Just one quick comment. If the unit is low on freon then it leaked out somewhere. To find the leak after filling with freon use a small paint brush and some soapy water. Check everywhere including the coils and when you see bubbles (probably very small) coming out you have found your leak(s). Some good quality silver solder and a small torch will take care of that. Also if the hole is a little larger you can manufacture a patch using a small piece of the same size tubing by cutting and spreading it over the tube then soldering.
thanks for the insight. That was my question as well. The 410a must have gone somewhere, right?
this was also my question
Do you put flux on it when you Sauter? And can you solder it while it is filled with Freon?! I am tired of throwing away. Dehumidifiers, I can solder copper water pipe, but I have never soldered something like this before.
Thanks for sharing this video. I find it very useful and interesting indeed. I have a one-year old Frigidaire dehumidifier that has leaked out its refrigerant. I was looking for a way to repair it since I paid $450 for it and barely used it for 9 months. So my question is whether I can also recharge it with the R410-A type of refrigerant because that is the one used in my dehumidifier? I also like to comment that one should use some silicon or latex based sealant around the piercing valve's clamps. I can very well imagine that refrigerant could leak from those walls as well once it pierces the coper tube. Thanks.
Did you install it before or after the filter drier? Thanks for your videos.
Hello, thank you for the video. How is this unit working now? Have you had to add more refrigerant? Did the bullet valve leak? How long did it work for after this repair?
To be clear....the tube to pierce is the one that is likely to be a bit cool if there is any coolant at all, right? The other line is a "return", apt to be hotter?
Thanks
Hi, i have question, where can you refrigerant? i was looked on Ebay ,they have for sale, but most off listings they asking certification. thank you.
How do I now witch one is suction line?
Hi ..
do you know how mutc is the lowest temp to the evaporator??? in room temperature
Thanks for sharing
My hisense never gets cool and does not produce water. Can it still be Freon?
Hey just curious if the bullet valve has leaked any since installation ?
WHERE CAN you buy cans of 410a refrigerant?
Hi, how do I know which is sucking line, and where to put piercing valve
i would put a bit of silicone grease on the o ring so it seals better
Thank you. I have this exact model, and its been freezing up. There is no information anywhere and no one wants to repair these. I don't want to throw out a unit that may have nothing else really wrong with it?
Hi, what gauges did you use and where can I get them ?
5 videos watched and none show the most important part. How to take it apart!
the infamous Hisense/Garrisons. bought 6 of these one year, every single one of them failed within two years and it was always the same - a leak. first they would start icing up then nothing at all.
Awesome! Thank you for sharing! Please record audio at a higher level.
Where was the pinhole in the line ?? Did you fix the problem ??? Why would these units cost so much fella ???
I might suggest to:
- make sure the point is fully retracted before clamping the valve in place. If not, someone would be VERY surprised. 13 oz of freon and oil is a mess to clean out of your bedsheets?
- clean the pipe where the grommet rests with a drop of ammonia. Wipe that off with water.
- make sure the valve body is snug and secure after the three compression screws are tightened and before piercing the pipe. You don't want this rotating to another side of the pipe when it is fully open.
- possibly wait before piercing the copper pipe. Otherwise a capful of air is mixed into the system. Either evacuate with a (blue) line with low loss fittings via vacuum pump, or purge it while piercing the line and tighten down the cap, or wait until the new freon is attached and the line is purged with the new freon and then pierce the pipe.
- make sure there is no trapped liquid freon anywhere in the process of closing valves and placing on caps. Releasing freon into the valve with the cap on leaves a liquid that definitely wants to be a gas. It can go to 800 psi (700...) and blow the cap off the valve killing your pet parakeet.
- take an online 608 certification course for $25.00.
- going the whole nine yards, you could get a recycle tank $100 and a recycle pump $400 and have a bunch more fun.
- ordering the extra cubic yard of cement, you could discover where the R-410A leaked. Think of all the guys up and down the block telling tales to their kids of how you reclaimed the freon, used a freon leak detector and resoldered a joint. You even pressured the system with Nitrogen and added trace amounts of R-410A to prove no further leaks.
And, lastly, really thinking about everything that can go wrong before you start. Think through this main path then say "This failed right here, what do I do now" at every step. I'm not trying to scare anyone. I actually like to think through these situations and be prepared. A 2 lb tank makes a lot of cold in a hurry. It takes away a lot of air in a hurry. It will shoot a tank across the room. It demands an immediate and a correct response.
Oh. And thanks! I liked watching the videos. I always learn something.
Gary Deen thank you fo you comments and the info , thanks for Watching
This why I hate Y tube if you don't know what you are doing leave it to the license HVACR we are train and skill to this work you could injure yourself or damage properly .We don't leave bullet piecing valve on the unit they will leak.
How do you determine what refrigerant type your machine uses?
Name plate on the equipment.
Wish these things had a shrader valve
Mine holds r134a. Which makes it easy. Any auto parts store has it. They haven’t used r22 in a long time. If an r410 unit is empty, I wouldn’t be afraid to use r134a.you can get it with a stop leak in it.why not try? If it works, great. If it don’t, you going to throw it out anyway.
Do you have links to the products you used for this?
I found the Bullet Piercing Valve on amazon but not sure about the freon. You find anything?
The Freon Police voted this down. Haha.
Awesome except the fact buying refrigerant without an EPA license is highly illegal in most states. Discharging R22 Into the atmosphere can get you jail time, and fines up to 12k. Just make sure you are recovering the refrigerant.
If I need to follow the rules as an state licensed HVAC tech, so will everyone else. We are always looking for that person to record who is not...other than that awesome job on the unit.👍🏻👍🏻
bro that thing is not from the 80s, it's running 410
So you added refrigerant to a leaking system? No wonder there's a hole in the ozone layer.