Pressure test

[WyrTwister]

Any reason R134a could not be used to pressure test a R410a line set on a heat pump ? Instead of Nitrogen .

The R134a should be removed when you vacuum down the system ?

And , yes , I have an EPA card .

Thanks
Wyr

 

[muggles]

This is a UK site, you'd be better off posting on an American one

 

[WyrTwister]

Do you Brits use the same refrigerants we use in the USA ?

Yhis is for a mini split . Do you all use mini splits ?

Thanks ,
God bless
Wyr

 

[Nozzle]

Air conditioning isn't so wide spread here as it would be in Texas... and as such even less DIY Knowledge about it.

Nozzle

 

[Agile]

You would be better asking on a specific forum for refrigeration like this one:-

http://www.refrigeration-engineer.com/forums/showthread.php?37051-Venting-r134a

 

[WyrTwister]

You would be better asking on a specific forum for refrigeration like this one:-

http://www.refrigeration-engineer.com/forums/showthread.php?37051-Venting-r134a[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the link . But I expect USA - EPA regs are at least some what different than European regs ?

I found the reference in EPA regs for pressure testing & it says R22 is permissible .

God bless
Wyr

 

[Norcon]

Used to do some nightshift supermarket installs and we let the working refrigerant do the testing. Risky but we usually got away with it.
A major leak and the vac won't pull anyrode. You check and double check everything. Then triple check it again.
Having a brazed joint fail was rare.

It's a time saver and over a short period a nitrogen test might not detect micro leaks.

You might as well do the same as your risking a refrigerant leak in both cases. Unless mixing is a problem.
With pre charged units the valve would sometimes leak on the out door unit contaminating the refrigerant with nitrogen.
Especially if over pressurised.

 

[WyrTwister]

On mini splits the connections are flare fittings . I torque them to spec , after coating the threads and mating surfaces with Nylog Blue .

The outdoor unit comes pre-charged .

God bless
Wyr