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.
@hunterfitzgerald59786 жыл бұрын
good job not many people can do that
@immanuelbambang.s64796 жыл бұрын
Boxing prediksen gig vs Carmelo wu winer 1000/0
@immanuelbambang.s64796 жыл бұрын
JLange642
@immanuelbambang.s64796 жыл бұрын
JLange642 buwang
@flybyairplane35285 жыл бұрын
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
@carlmccoy6626 жыл бұрын
A customer that has you do a repair, such as this, has no idea how fortunate they are
@vincentrogers85863 жыл бұрын
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).
@gabrielvillanuevaiii39265 жыл бұрын
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
@achdiagnostic77736 жыл бұрын
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.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
+Michael Paddack I agree. Thanks for watching Michael.
@markbeiser6 жыл бұрын
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..
@polarblairhvac97495 жыл бұрын
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.
@matttzzz2 Жыл бұрын
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
@richardworden97473 ай бұрын
If I fix a hole in a coil pack . Do I need to vacuum out the line before I install free on it
@ronmtz25312 ай бұрын
@richardworden9747 Yes, you have opened system to ambient...
@harryhathaway10865 жыл бұрын
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.
@HVACinSC5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching
@tonykeith12446 жыл бұрын
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.
@disguy20035 жыл бұрын
Never thought of that some t-stat cable would be great for a brace.
@HVACinSC5 жыл бұрын
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.
@shawnd5675 жыл бұрын
Awesome idea!
@shanebehm82514 жыл бұрын
Good tip bro.
@shanebehm82514 жыл бұрын
Or try cutting a coupler hotdog style and lay the half over the hole and braze away...
@fespinoza2876 жыл бұрын
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!
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
fespinoza287 Awesome! Thanks for your comment brotha!
@grayfurnaceman5 жыл бұрын
A bit of semantics here. Don't demote your work by calling it an art. Its a skill and you did it well. GFM
@HVACinSC5 жыл бұрын
Art is a skill that not everyone can perform. This is no different in my eyes. Thanks
@oldskipper13946 жыл бұрын
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!
@actechformallyyomama7465 жыл бұрын
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.
@akhermit52135 жыл бұрын
I will sometimes bypass the tube, especially on large condenser coils.
@jeffreykreft54425 жыл бұрын
You make this look easy, but if you've never done this befor it is challenging. Thanks for the video
@HVACinSC5 жыл бұрын
+JEFFREY KREFT Absolutely! Trust me, I butchered many braze joints over the years. 😆 Practice makes perfect. Thank you for watching!
@robertbell5255 жыл бұрын
Experts always make it look easy. What we don't see is all the practice it took to become an expert.
@Zerofukstogive2 жыл бұрын
Wow a real surgeon when it comes to HVAC. Very impressive
@nevermind60495 жыл бұрын
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
@ParabellumX Жыл бұрын
I truly appreciate you showing us this video. It has definitely helped increase my brazing skill. Thank you so much.
@shawnd5675 жыл бұрын
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?
@heavydiesel6 жыл бұрын
Nice job! I tried brazing a leak in a car ac condenser on Friday, got the leak fixed but made two more leaks in the row below.... Got a new condenser on order now! hahaha
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
heavydiesel lol! Gotta love it. Thanks for watching my friend!
@fathmasameer75236 жыл бұрын
heavydiesel lol
@phil955i6 жыл бұрын
Aren't car A/C condensers made entirely of aluminum? Lol
@heavydiesel6 жыл бұрын
Yeah they are, I have some special rods for brazing ali pipe etc, have done thicker pipe before but the micro channel in A/C condensers is tricky!
@Kc12v1405 жыл бұрын
@@heavydiesel not that it matters now, but I think they make an epoxy for doing those. Seems to work well enough when I've seen it used.
@markbeiser6 жыл бұрын
Coil repair, and the seemingly lost art of fin combing, are 2 things fewer and fewer people seem willing to engage in anymore. :(
@metsrus2 жыл бұрын
make more money installing new unit
@HVACinSC2 жыл бұрын
@@metsrus Far more profit margin in repairing units than there is installing new units.
@skiesburngrey5 жыл бұрын
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
@justicebruno5249 Жыл бұрын
Question.. are you have to remove the coil 100% of time. Hopefully I'll get lucky and can reach the leak
@mychoclabwinston6 жыл бұрын
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
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
+mychoclabwinston Thanks
@marksteven35346 жыл бұрын
Mot necessarily as you can use Lucas Milhaupt Flux Cored Aluminum Braze Al822 to do an Al repair.
@SuperJeremi106 жыл бұрын
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.
@michaelcostello69916 жыл бұрын
Thank you. very interesting to see this job completed.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Michael Costello Thanks for watching
@brandonhvacants22175 жыл бұрын
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.
@richardberends77922 жыл бұрын
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.
@HVACinSC2 жыл бұрын
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? 🙄 🤦♂️🤷♂️
@davidallegro33955 жыл бұрын
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!
@Stevehevessy6 жыл бұрын
Nice repair,iv also seen guys wrap copper wire over the hole before they braze
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
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!
@davejohnsonnola27586 жыл бұрын
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.
@archangel200315 жыл бұрын
Rather than spend $800 on a new one, ( the $800 to recharge the system is more than I have right now) I replaced one of those 180 degree bends that was leaking. I soldered on a pressure gauge and hooked up an old salvaged A/C compressor to pressure test it. I brazed the pin hole leak but the bend was still bubbling up like a sponge and when I tried to braze over it, it just melted away as the bend was thin as paper, but the rest were solid. It lost zero pressure over night.
@KungFuMaintenance6 жыл бұрын
Often these are tricky to locate in the fins! ~ Excellent vid tips!!
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
KungFuMaintenance They certainly an be. Thanks for watching man!
@ericrecendez40536 жыл бұрын
Watching/hearing you was like watching Bob Ross in the mornings lol. I had a customer playing darts and missed and punctured one of the pipes in the coil.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Eric Recendez This is art to me. lol
@flybyairplane35285 жыл бұрын
Eric Recendez that reminds me of a job 2 of went on,,could not get pressure stable,, the unit was FLAT, ,,on the roof there was an ARROW,,right through 7/8” liquid line out of the condenser, 1968, that was a storage freezer in a supermarket in EAST ORANGE NJ, then on a a/c system for a bank in Jersey City NJ, system was flat, on the roof a darned ARROW, INTO THE CONDENSER,,, had to repair it, 1973, did not have cell phones& cameras those days.l from Maplewood NJ.
@jply876 жыл бұрын
The worst leaks to fix are where the tube passes through the side support into the coil pack. My method is to drill holes in the steel as close together as possible to weaken the steel. Torch the steel to soften and weaken it more. Then use a punch and hammer to push the steel back, exposing the copper tube that has the hole rubbed in it. Then clean tube and patch as needed. Have you ever seen this done? You need the hands of a surgeon to pull it off without killing the patient.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Joe Plymale I usually use a Dremel tool or metal snips to remove the steel plate on those repairs. It does take practice and a good touch to do it effectively that's for sure. Thanks for watching.
@markbeiser6 жыл бұрын
Or if it is something that doesn't really have room to get in there to remove/move the steel to expose the tube, use 45%+ silver brazing alloy or solder, that will stick properly to both the steel and copper, and encapsulate the leak.
@danieltapias91164 ай бұрын
Well explained, thanks!
@tommyboy.3575 жыл бұрын
Our instructor made us weld heavy gauge restaurant aluminum foil together before we got our certificates. Practicing on scrap coils is an excellent way to hone your skill with rod & flame placement. Dont wanna roast those fins
@GalenMatson3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the demo. It would be nice to see if it holds a vacuum afterwards.
@HVACinSC3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching. I couldn't show a vacuum since this coil was replaced due to multiple micro leaks.
@benitoriviera31573 жыл бұрын
This was just a demo bro, the coil is condemned. 😀
@ingfarauz5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. Now i have more confidence fixing mine.
@seanhitsman15965 жыл бұрын
Yeah. Aluminum coils are a pain in the ass. Had a guy pop a hole in one with a screw and all the wholesaler had was some torch style epoxy stick. It slowed the leak at best. Nice tutorial though. I've done this repair a handful of times and it's always worked well with copper. I always used a fresh blade on a box knife to cut the aluminum fins. It works fast if you don't mind losing a little more fin.
@cheewurz4 жыл бұрын
Never worked on a Refrigerator before but decided to tackle changing the Compressor on my Kenmore Elite...Stopped Cooling. Welded in the New Compressor and Filter/Dryer...pretty proud of myself at this point! Vacuumed out the system and let it set for 24 hours... held a Vacuum... even prouder still!! Put some R134A Refrigerant in but the system refused to get even a little bit cold!!!! System would only come out of Negative to 10!?!? What did I do wrong?
@tommyboy.3575 жыл бұрын
Excellent training video!
@technician97225 жыл бұрын
Thank you for taking the time to post this video.
@HVACinSC5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching!!
@raydogloc81275 жыл бұрын
Videos like this one keep my pockets fat from all the failed repair work on coils 😹👍🏽
@HVACinSC5 жыл бұрын
Pretend service techs such as yourself keep my pockets fat from KZfaq money. Can't say the same for your sad channel.😆😆 Hope your HVAC skills a FAR better than that sad attempt you got goin on over there. I'd make that garbage private. 🤣🤣🤣
@mariobryant88034 жыл бұрын
Absolutely amazing
@LexVance6 жыл бұрын
Wow lots of value on your channel. Great video man!
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Lex Vance Thanks Lex! I appreciate that man. I really enjoy your channel too!
@LexVance6 жыл бұрын
HVAC in SC Wow really! Right on man! I've been binge watching your vids. 👍😂👍
@ronlightner98224 күн бұрын
Great job
@emoo92645 жыл бұрын
To the people who think this is bullshit ,I fixed many of leaking coils for people who couldn't afford it,I have repairs that have lasted over 10 years now
@NoName-kx2ms5 жыл бұрын
E Moo I have repaired many leaks in the coil to save a customer money, they still paid around 6-800. Depending on which refrigerant because the system will be flat, and it still saves them a lot of money.
@kimoarmstrong35196 жыл бұрын
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.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
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!
@jonhvac6 жыл бұрын
Very good vid Bradley my boy👍 I've never put a hole in a coil 😂
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
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. 🤣
@hvactechpr78726 жыл бұрын
Hey have done it before I do refrigeration and had to do on various condenser and even on a soft serve condenser!!
@charleslambertjr38423 жыл бұрын
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..:-)
@davidl22813 жыл бұрын
Job well done, can tell you take pride in your work.
@technicaintrainer7010 Жыл бұрын
Nice technique and instruction
@lionanddoveprojectmanageme852311 ай бұрын
Great video. Very clear instructions!
@TheEZOOD6 жыл бұрын
never seen anyone put a screw in a coil. however i have seen someone put a broad head arrow threw one.I removed the fins managed to slip a coupling over the hole and weld it up.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
+ZedsNOTdead In my 20 years Ive seen about 4 people put screws on condenser coils and heard of dozens more. Never seen it on and indoor coil but I only used this old evap because it was easier to video.
@TheEZOOD6 жыл бұрын
thank you for your videos keep up the good work.
@JD-ks6mo6 жыл бұрын
Adding nitrogen does blow dust out.. but mainly used to keep the inside of the pipe from turning black from the high heat. And getting the refrigerant contaminated
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Jacob D Yep
@raggedymanx84265 жыл бұрын
that is what the filter for. adding nitrogen on a patch is a waist of time. you only use nitrogen on large jobs with multiple brazes.
@actechformallyyomama7465 жыл бұрын
Nitrogen is needed when replacing a manifold on a Carrier package unit with pistons. It is an inert gas to prevent copper oxide from developing in the tubes and clogging the pistons.
@disguy20035 жыл бұрын
Had two holes once different places in same circuit but close. Bb gun. Bypassed looked funny running outside the coil only about a foot but it worked.
@HVACinSC5 жыл бұрын
As long as it is done right and it works, we gotta do what we gotta do. 💪
@honolulu14766 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video
@ekokostra78005 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing
@jhonnychingass62522 жыл бұрын
U must have a lot of customers!!!...99.999% won't touch that!!@ great job!!!
@Niveous235 жыл бұрын
green guy here. are you a wizard or something? that's some serious brazing skills. I do practice with oxy-acetylene though. Idk why, but I enjoy it more than a turbo torch or something like it. Would you try to comb out and fix up the bent fins as best you can after you've finished?
@UnTamedMustang6 жыл бұрын
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.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
+UnTamed Mustang No problem guy. Thanks for watching.
@technicaintrainer7010 Жыл бұрын
Good job
@drifter4366 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much. Learned alot from you're video's. Keep them coming.
@vacate815 жыл бұрын
Does this work for aluminum coil as well
@justicebruno5249 Жыл бұрын
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
@ryanbabin80112 жыл бұрын
You made that look to easy nice job👍
@leonardmedina52605 жыл бұрын
watch video very well explained and very well helpful and presented and its what i need to see Thank u much
@jimc64816 жыл бұрын
Excellent video sir....very nicely done. Thanks!!
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Jim C Thanks for watching Jim!
@jpenn727 Жыл бұрын
Damn that is so great work.
@michaelwiese69516 жыл бұрын
I've patched a few of these. Only had one that eneded up restricting the liquid line but it was worth a try. I'd like to see a repair on an aluminum micro channel. Fortunately I haven't come across that yet.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Michael Wiese Hopefully that video will be coming soon. Thanks for watching!
@davejohnsonnola27586 жыл бұрын
Been checking out the Solderweld site for products that are for lower temp aluminum repairs. Waiting to slip a supply PO request in and try them out.
@markbeiser6 жыл бұрын
Repairing an aluminum micro channel coil is essentially just filling in the exposed ends of the damaged channels.
@cariodelgado742 Жыл бұрын
Nice job and nice video
@usshepburn16 жыл бұрын
very good video ! Thank you for well done video .
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Thank you and thanks for watching!
@MrMultitool6 жыл бұрын
Great looking repair.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
TP Services Thanks man!!
@nickledimez40125 жыл бұрын
Nice job and video clarity! Thank You!
@BAT-man... Жыл бұрын
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?
@WhiteGS6 жыл бұрын
Awesome vid. Thanks for the tutorial.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
WhiteGS Thank you and thanks for watching!
@edgar201093 жыл бұрын
Great video!!! Thanks for sharing
@davefiore45866 жыл бұрын
You will have condensate problems on a evap. coil. Meaning the water will not run down the fins and will drip straight off the coil where the repair was made.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Dave Fiore As it says in the video description, these repairs are typically on condenser coils but for easy of filming I used a small evap coil. Thanks for watching.
@Nydia_133 жыл бұрын
I need help one of the ac coils has a hole i laid it down and didn’t realize something sharp was under next thing you know it let out a steam noise can i still use it or would burst out in flames if i use it with a hole
@carlosalas8063 ай бұрын
Nice sharing
@vinnymac81276 жыл бұрын
Great video! Very informative.
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Vinny Mac Thanks for watching Vinny!
@carg33962 жыл бұрын
Put one question guys after this is it hard to put pressure back into the unit
@lebronjordan8026 жыл бұрын
First time seen your channel/video I'm impressed, thanks for sharing 😁!
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
+Lebron Jordan Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment!!
@jaigobinbhi98046 жыл бұрын
Excellent vid.. like how u explained it👍
@josephpuchel64972 жыл бұрын
Hey Nice work. I would think there’s some money to be made making these type of repair on hard to get replacement copper coils. Excellent video
@BimmerFordDude2 жыл бұрын
Could I use a MAP gas torch? Trying to DIY this at home. I’m broke
@FacetsOfTruth5 жыл бұрын
Great teacher! Thanks for sharing.
@nathancarney33735 жыл бұрын
Nice repair
@marksteven35346 жыл бұрын
Nice job for sure, I would have liked to see a cut away to see the inside I bet it would have been more than sufficient.
@guslarscheid3606 Жыл бұрын
Can somebody tell me what brazing rod to use? And can I just use a propane torch?
@jameswasher39385 жыл бұрын
Nice work. Thanks for the video.
@tomcam77 Жыл бұрын
Awesome 👏🏻
@martindeloach5 жыл бұрын
It does reduce the absorption of the heat doing that kinda of repair on the evaporator coil because of the loss of fine but does save a old coin if the Client can't afford a new coil.
@HVACinSC5 жыл бұрын
Technically true but the amount of heat transfer lost on the repair I showed would be nearly impossible to measure. If you butchered the coil or made a hole straight through the entire fin pack then that's a different story.
@nothankyou55245 жыл бұрын
Nicely done.
@naveedcarfix1668 Жыл бұрын
they said that Coil is leaking so They will replace the evaporator coil which is 2000$ ...but I will try to fix it by my self Thankx brother .... what kind of stick your used for weld?
@shanebehm82514 жыл бұрын
Isn't that flame a bit dirty? Or correct me if I'm wrong.
@gilgonzalez95306 жыл бұрын
Nice job
@angelcorrea13452 жыл бұрын
will a small propane torch work for this
@marcust86355 жыл бұрын
Nice video
@sethdriv6 жыл бұрын
Awesome job
@HVACinSC6 жыл бұрын
Seth Rivera Thank you!
@curntischavis77882 жыл бұрын
Great work man
@cjrouse95084 жыл бұрын
Flashbacks man, I used to make those condensers... Hand brazed over a million joints. I wonder if you would consider using a flux cored sil-fos, you can braze dirty copper with it, can also braze steel to copper with their 18%
You could even patch the whole within the fins without having to rip it to shreds. Just run the torch as low as it goes and you can burn your way right to the hole while burning a quarter sized hole around the puncture.
@safetyalways7788 Жыл бұрын
It is always so painful throwing a whole air conditioner away just because of small leaking hole...good job