AIR CONDITIONING REPAIRS AND PROBLEMS SOLVED

Where on earth did you find the tracer gas? We bought the gas from the only source we could find, Airgas and now they charge me $20 / month hazardous gas fee for me to store a non hazardous bottle that is 95% nitrogen. The air we breathe is 89% nitrogen. I have searched for another source without luck.

Yes thank you.

Are they charging you $20 / month hazardous fee for the tank? That's what I fought with them over here in Florida.

It's good to hear your results and process.   I too have this setup.   I purchased the Inficon AST100FG Forming Gas Leak Detector.   The N2H2 mixed gas is also called Forming Gas.   Those squirrelly little hydrogen molecules are great escape artists and thus are good for leak detection.   I also upped my game and bought the Inficon D-TEK Stratus Refrigerant Leak Detector up from my previous D-TEK 3 for refrigerant leak detection.  It can find very small leaks in an already charged system, but not the same as the N2H2.

On 9/21/2023 at 8:26 AM, Greg S. said:

Yes thank you.

Are they charging you $20 / month hazardous fee for the tank? That's what I fought with them over here in Florida.

When I first acquired my tank, they were up in arms over the Hydrogen.  It seems that 5% Hydrogen is not flammable and is an industry norm.   Maybe press them on this.   But they did make me put an oxygen valve instead of a nitrogen valve and I had to install a Nitrogen adapter.   My battle was over the valve.  No mention of a fee, but then again, I'm in Texas, not Florida.   I purchased from AirGas.

The AST detects hydrogen.   For this, you are using the detector in the Robinaire LD9TG.   These are similar units - they both detect combustible gasses.    

The Stratus detects 134a and 1234yf.    So, you use forming gas during service, but if it does return, use a regular refrigerant leak detector to check for leaks if needed.   I learned of the Stratus from Tom Lech's youtube page.  He says the top dog of sniffers is the Bacharach H-10 Pro Refrigerant Leak Detector.   However, he also says that the D-TEK Stratus is almost on par with the H-10.  He uses the Stratus for leak detection on Auto AC. 

Tom's page:  https://www.youtube.com/@coldfinger459sub0 

He is a great learning resource and makes no money on his channel.  He does this to help the community.

Topics merged 😁

This information seems valuable for technicians dealing with car air conditioning repairs, particularly those experiencing high returns on refrigerant evacuations and recharges. Here's a summary of the key points: Problem: Frequent warranty claims on A/C repairs Solution: Using H2 tracer gas leak detection with the Robinair LD9TG kit Benefits: Reduced comebacks and warranties: The new process minimizes returns compared to traditional methods. Efficient leak detection: Hydrogen gas easily identifies leaks, speeding up diagnosis. Cost-effective: Each recharge using the tracer gas costs only $1.36. Easy-to-use detector: The LD9-TG offers visual and audible leak detection with two user interfaces. Overall: This new procedure seems beneficial for reducing warranty claims and streamlining A/C leak detection, potentially saving time and money. Additional details: This information mentions using the refrigerant R134A and the newer R1234YF. Be sure to check compatibility with specific vehicles and regulations. While your experience may be positive, sharing this information is best done professionally, ensuring confidentiality and respecting industry regulations.