R22 home AC unit?

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

How do you buy the r-22 without a license? I remember trying to buy the r-12 for an old truck I used to have, and.....can't buy it without a license, even from the shadier shops in Denver Harbor.

I don't have R-22.

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Like I said, I may have misunderstood, but we did have to reroute the hoses under a concrete patio when we had the inground pool put in. Maybe that is what he was referencing.

There are two small metal lines that come out of the AC unit outside. It should be easy to trace them. Ours run through the garage wall to the HVAC unit inside it. If those are the lines you put concrete over you're screwed if they leak since you can't find or fix the leak without removing the concrete. Hopefully that's not the case.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Hubs has replaced capacitor (sp?), easy peasy, but only AC guys can purchase the R22, so alas, we had to call the "guy".

I wasn't aware that R22 is no longer made. That puts a different spin on things BUT assuming this charge lasts 2 years, that's time enough to figure out what the next move is without suffering these hot months.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

There are two small metal lines that come out of the AC unit outside. It should be easy to trace them. Ours run through the garage wall to the HVAC unit inside it. If those are the lines you put concrete over you're screwed if they leak since you can't find or fix the leak without removing the concrete. Hopefully that's not the case.

I'm sure there are exceptions BUT usually the long run is a single piece with no joints (making a leak unlikely). Connections would be outside the concrete. I have never seen lines run through concrete, but I suppose anything is possible.

[C3C7NIC]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

There are two small metal lines that come out of the AC unit outside. It should be easy to trace them. Ours run through the garage wall to the HVAC unit inside it. If those are the lines you put concrete over you're screwed if they leak since you can't find or fix the leak without removing the concrete. Hopefully that's not the case.

Yep, it is under about a 4 foot stretch of patio concrete. Then comes back up and enters house. So we are essentially up "chitt's creek".

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Yep, it is under about a 4 foot stretch of patio concrete. Then comes back up and enters house. So we are essentially up "chitt's creek".

I've never heard of that. As Aero said the most likely place for a leak is at the fittings at both ends; if that's the case it's probably fixable without tearing into the concrete or replacing the lines. If not or there is a leak somewhere else, you can either tear up the concrete to replace the lines there, or run them somewhere else, and just cut the ones under the concrete off at the ends and leave them.

[ratflinger]

That $10K, was that for a new unit or all in? I know for a fact that a 5t 15 seer Rheem heat pump can be had for $3k, 14 seer $2.6k.


You should really do a Manual J to verify the sizing

[Rodnok1]

R22 runs 300 plus for a 10 lb container and anyone can buy it and I have.
So not sure who said can't find it because need to throw the bullshit flag...

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

20 yrs old, second time in last 4 yrs they have had to add R-22 so sure there is a leak.

I guess the 5 ton is the largest residential unit. Just hoping to patch it along till prices come down.

20 years old-replace. It will probably cost more that $10K as they will have to replace the lines. If you can isolate it down to the manufacturer you want, you can do apples to apples on the installers.

We had to replace our 20YO Trane because of Foundation work, not because of reliability. We bought a new 18 SEER with variable compressor and variable speed fan. Overall it would have been $18K, but with utility, manufacture, and installer rebates, it came to $10K. We are well satisfied and our utility bills have dropped considerably.

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by C3C7NIC

Yep, it is under about a 4 foot stretch of patio concrete. Then comes back up and enters house. So we are essentially up "chitt's creek".

I didn’t see this tidbit. Charge it up and sell the place.

[ZipZap]

Certainly don't know code there, but under concrete? Damn.

So look at it this way. Either way you go you'll need to reroute the lines (not ducts). Lay a new line and recharge if all the mechanicals are sound. And tell the guy who can't find R-22 to take a hike.

[allthrottleandsomebottle]

Leak is most likely in the a coil if one of those systems R22 exception, I buy at auctions for my licensed HVAC guy to use at my house....I would repair leak and top off every year till compressor fails......Mine was 35 years old 9.4 seer and I topped off r22 every year for the last 10 till compressor failed. now 410 gas and 16 seer....save 35% on the bill but my 3.5 ton only cost 3500 to replace with me helping I paid average of $3 a lb at auction.....sealed container 30 lbs

[bill_daniels]

Originally Posted by Rodnok1

R22 runs 300 plus for a 10 lb container and anyone can buy it and I have.
So not sure who said can't find it because need to throw the bullshit flag...

Just looked at ebay. The first ad I checked was for a 10 lb can, you have to either send them your EPA certification, or send in a signed statement that says you are buying it for resale only, or that you will only allow an EPA certified person to actually use it.

Locally, can't just walk into an AC supply store here in Tejas and buy it with no license.

[ratflinger]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Just looked at ebay. The first ad I checked was for a 10 lb can, you have to either send them your EPA certification, or send in a signed statement that says you are buying it for resale only, or that you will only allow an EPA certified person to actually use it.

Locally, can't just walk into an AC supply store here in Tejas and buy it with no license.

Truth! However, like you said Ebay or Amazon and you can buy what you want. I'd never admit to adding R410 myself, but I do have a 30lb container in the shop. Didn't have to send them anything except money.

[Strats-N-Vettes]

Originally Posted by ratflinger

Truth! However, like you said Ebay or Amazon and you can buy what you want. I'd never admit to adding R410 myself, but I do have a 30lb container in the shop. Didn't have to send them anything except money.

Have 410 here too...we change most to HP 407.
I've bought R134 on the bay for $99.00 (30lbs, old threads on spigot) x 7, no license required on that transaction...bought every drum he had.

A license is needed here locally to buy refrigerant.

[BADRACR1]

I had to get mine topped off every year or two, always a couple of pounds low. Been debating a new unit for a couple of years but knew we were planning on a move and hated to spend the cash.
Last year at the start of the season I had some stuff injected into it with a stop leak additive. Like $125 for what seemed to be a very small tube. It seems to have worked. 93 degrees plus outside day before yesterday, a steady 70 in my house.