The approach of summer, it is time to start thinking about the air conditioning system and our car is working properly. One of the most common problems with a system of A / C is leaking coolant and the location of them. Finding the source of the leak can be a tedious and time. The leak of Freon could literally anywhere in the piping system to a pressure accumulator to a small switch that has gone wrong.

The EPA has become much more stringent standards in the treatment of leakage of refrigerant. The closing days of the air conditioner with a few cans of R12 is long gone. Now, even small leaks must be found and corrected. Here is the technology to the rescue. There are several methods of air conditioning repair shops use to locate and repair leaks of refrigerant.

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages and its use depends on the situation. The three most common are an electronic leak detector refrigerant, UV Dye Kit leak detection, ultrasonic units and leak detector.

Refrigerant leak detectors electronic

Electronic refrigerant leak detectors are faster and easier to use all three methods. Most of the time you’ll have no idea where the coolant is leaking and must reduce the number of areas as possible. A refrigerant leak detector electronics, you can get very close to the location of the leak and then you can get more accuracy.

Some of the best models fit the sensitivity once it reaches the surface measured. For small leaks that may involve suspicious area in a film or a cloth to try to contain the refrigerant. Development of the region, as in the refrigerant leak and see if it gives a reading. Remember, the refrigerant is heavier than air and sink into the ground. It is better to sniff under the pipe and compartments in the search for her.

Ultrasonic leak detectors

It is the state of leak detectors and art are the new tools for finding refrigerant leaks. They operate on the principle of sound detection. Instead of inhaling refrigerant gas that we hear the sound it makes all the Freon gas escapes the system. To use a system of ultrasonic leak detection must be the pressure of the coolant to escape and make noise.

In addition, the region must be completely silent. Remember that you are looking for sounds and background noise is not essential. This is the main downside to using a ultrasonic leak detector. Very few shops are fairly quiet car to use it effectively.

Ultraviolet leak detection dye

This method of ultraviolet dye is injected into the third air conditioning system and, in theory, should escape with the refrigerant. Usually, a store of automakers have a kit for detecting leakage of ultraviolet radiation has all the tools necessary to accomplish this task. In general, these kits come with ultraviolet lamp or ultraviolet light, an inkjet, goggles and UV dye.

This method is technically more complex and more than three dirty. You must provide ultraviolet fluid in the system and wait for it to leak. The dye can be messy and get everywhere. It puts you in the A / C, the collector coolant and you. But once the glow of his flashlight UV leak detection, in general, you can see exactly where you are.

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. For beginners, I recommend an electronic refrigerant leak detector and a professional garage would be better served with a leak detection kit UV.

A leak will hurt a house in silence. Something as small as a mobile or plugged drain can go undetected for months, water leaks in their cabinets, in walls or under floors and causing extensive damage and costly. An external leak in an irrigation system can waste silence of more than 100 gallons of water each day.

Pipes or leaky openings tend to leave signs of their presence so that you can identify the type of damage and repairs quickly.

Water stains: This type of radiation is a safe place to identify a leakage current or old. Where is the stain indicates that the leak may have originated.

A splash of water around windows or on the bottom of exterior doors show that water penetrates to the outside.

A place on the joint between the roof and exterior walls can indicate a possible leak in the roof or the accumulation of ice. If you have water pipes in the attic, the problem may be there too.

A splash of water on the bottom of a cabinet could be from a sink trap or leaking plumbing.

Sagging or stained floors can indicate a wood floor that has absorbed water from a leak. high-risk areas include the kitchen floor around the dishwasher or refrigerator (if you have an ice maker and filtered water), or in a window closed. The bathroom is another problem. Watch for the water ring around the toilet in front of the tub or shower. Problems

Beams or girders sponge may be a warning of structural problems as a result of water damage. Taking these in time can save you thousands of dollars in repairs.

Take a water flow test: If you’ve checked for signs of water damage, but do you have a leak, a flow test of the water. Shut off all sources of water for your home, inside and outside and locate your water meter. The red triangle or flow indicator on the top, tell you when the water passes through it. If the flow indicator or needle, you might have a leak.

Use the process of elimination to determine if the leak is. Closing a bathroom, go to the subway and see if the red triangle is moving. If you do move, that the toilet is the culprit. Otherwise, the bathroom and close the other. Continue in this way to verify all sources of water at high risk, including toilets, sprinkler system, water softener, air conditioning, ice machine, etc. If you close the main valve to your house and meter is still moving, the loss may be between the closing of the valve and the water meter.

WC test: The use of food coloring to determine if your toilet is leaking. Remove the lid and the tank. Once completed, add a few drops of black food coloring. Wait at least 20 minutes and no trace of the color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak.

Water damage in the drywall, it is soft or in ruins, discolored or swollen and may appear on the wall or ceiling.

Many of these signs and symptoms of water damage are visible after a long time, and in many cases the damage is already done. This handy device to warn of a leak in the early stages of water is a leak alarm. It has a plug-in main unit (with battery backup) and a motion sensor. Place filling into a leak is most likely to occur (under the puck into the crawl space under a water heater, etc..) Emits an alarm if it detects that a few drops of water.