FWIW, R22 is being phased out in a couple of years. For that reason it is becoming more rare, and increasingly expensive. No licensed HVAC tech would, or should, use an R22 "alternative".
I can understand "would not" because the economies of scale would not be present for a professional technician, but I am not sure where "should not" is coming from. Totally legal if done properly (ie observing EPA 608 regulations).
You, as the owner, accepted the risk that the alternative could cause a system failure.
Well yes, I assume the risk on anything that I work on. Given that the system was already not working and my HVAC company would not work on it because R12 systems were deemed as "money loosers" for the firm, there was not too much downside risk IMHO.
And if you were leaking refrigerant, and no repairs were made, then you are STILL leaking refrigerant. And by the way, removing the existing refrigerant also requires recovery and proper disposal
I installed a missing cap on the factory service valves and cured the obvious leak. System was flat before I started working on it, as confirmed by the HVAC tech, so no refrigerant was vented during my work.
And yes-I did a proper Evac and refill with vacuum pump /thermocouples / digital psychrometer / refrigeration gages / SuperHeat-SubCooling charts etc.[/QUOTE]
Most systems cannot be retro fitted to the new refrigerant at a reasonable price, so replacement of major components is required.
Yes - a conversion to R410a is not possible -- hence the use of the alternative blend specifically designed for R22 retrofits.
I looked into getting a Mechanical License from my state so that I could do these conversions legally for $ for others. Seems an undeserved marked IMHO.
If I had to buy all the tools from scratch you may have a point, but I already had the vaccum pump/gages due to my personal auto ac work in the past.
But -- I have seen sub-$100 electric vacuum pumps at Harbor Freight, so this may not be as economically prohibitive as you suggest. Definitely more involved than doing an auto brake job, however. I think I was in for less than $300 including new vacuum pump oil, new tip for my refrigerant leak sensor and 30lbs of the alternative refrigerant.
So now that I have made the case that I am not a hack, I will go back to my original point that if you use an HVAC company, be sure they will actually work on your R12 system if it develops a leak and not just sell you a new system.
I was rather annoyed and caught off guard when they came back with this response.
-gauss
p.s. On a related note, once I line up an acetylene torch, I plan to install a replacement compressor into my residential kitchen refrigerator which has failed. My friends all think I am crazy for working on this too. To each their own.
We told him and immediately he said we need to replace it . .... He told us that we had leaked refrigerant ( the old style and the unit was in bad shape ) . Then he tested the air that went over the coils . If the outside is 78 degrees he said they want 12 to 15 degrees cooler coming across your coils or the air coming out of the vents to be 12 to 15 degrees cooler . He used his laser temp sensor and we were 15 degrees cooler . He thought he needed to get another temp sensor so he went to his truck . It also showed all of our vents were within the 12 to 15 degrees . All he could say was roll the dice ...It is going to fail . I will probably have to write a new AC into my house selling contract.
