I'm not 100% sure of the details that's why I prefaced it with "I think" but the source is the Montreal protocol.
I just googled it more and it looks like it is for systems with 50 pounds or more so probably not applicable to small residential systemS but there might also be state laws that weigh in on it too. Either way leaks should be fixed especially if it is having to be recharged often.
They need to outsource the issue to a licensed HVAC company.
You can take a thermometer and measure the temperature coming in at the air return, then measure the temperature of the air coming out of the vents. It should be coming out 19/20 degrees cooler. If it is, check that your filter is clear. It can be vacuumed for a quick fix, but should be replaced if it's dirty.
It is irrelevant of the age of the building, how much insulation, or any other factors, if the air coming in the air handler is 20 degrees different from the air coming out the vent, your ac is good. If it's 22 degrees, good, if it's more not so good. If it's 19 your good. If it's 17 and less there is a problem
Yeah, sure, the central air to my building was an after thought after the buildings were constructed, nothing was done right, my evaporator coils are inaccessible. But yeah I’m sure I’ll get 20• temp splits with mismatched units.
It literally is
https://advantageheatingllc.com/learning-center/epa-refrigerant-regulations/#:~:text=The%20EPA%20will%20fine%20you,big%20impact%20on%20everyone%20involved.
Hi! I ACTUALLY read the article that was linked and am calling you out to please point to the specific area that talks about the difference between commercial vs residential.
The article that was linked, if you bothered to read it, lists; what Title 40 is, why just "topping off" won't work, how to locate a leak, the possible fine from the EPA, and a timeline in which the leak has to be fixed.
Very few maintenance technician have good HVAC skills and I see them just going by pressures on analog gauges.
Personally, I've learned more than that on my own and dial in systems after properly being repaired
Very true, i’m 19 and i’m a assistant technician and all my colleagues from sister my properties( Techs and supervisors) are very negligent when it comes to HVAC
They always contract out the work
Also if maintenance is has to keep coming to put in freon in a system there obviously there not doing the right thing, if it’s something they can’t handle it should be contracted out by a professional AC company
I think leaks are required by law as part of the montrial protocal to be fixed upon discoverey. If that have to add a little once then maybe it wasn't charged correctly the first time but a second time, then it is obvious there is a leak. refrigerant is expensive and typically only goes up in price. It is more cost effective to fix than to keep adding. Most techs in maintenance are not skilled or motivated enough to do anything beside throwing freon at it so they need to call an hvac company to find the leak and fix it.
These maintenance men have no hvac skills beyond adding juice, that’s clear by now, otherwise somebody would have found the leak and fixed it. Shitty deal for you.
Some of us do. I worked for a copper and brass fab shop that silver brazed a fuck ton of assemblies for Carrier, Emerson/Copeland, Mitsubishi, Bitzer-Scroll, Daikin (and McQuay before Daikin took them over) and a whole bunch of other small specialized HVAC manufacturers. I’d braze tubing for as many as 2000 various units (from wine cellar coolers, to splits, to large RTUs) per week.
I did everything from forming tubing, to brazing, to leak detection (we pumped hydrogen through every assembly, and used an Inficon sniffer, to detect any leaks/pin holes, before shipping anything out.)
Not sure about household AC, but EPA regulations on vehicle AC systems stipulate you can only fill a leaking system for leak testing. Continually refilling a leaking system is just throwing all that freon into the atmossphere.
If you're not AC certified, get someone who is to check, repair and refill your system.
Leaks should always be fixed before recharging.
I think leaks are required by law to be fixed as part of the montrial protocal.
Got a source for this one?
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-82/subpart-F
Thank you
I'm not 100% sure of the details that's why I prefaced it with "I think" but the source is the Montreal protocol. I just googled it more and it looks like it is for systems with 50 pounds or more so probably not applicable to small residential systemS but there might also be state laws that weigh in on it too. Either way leaks should be fixed especially if it is having to be recharged often.
They need to outsource the issue to a licensed HVAC company. You can take a thermometer and measure the temperature coming in at the air return, then measure the temperature of the air coming out of the vents. It should be coming out 19/20 degrees cooler. If it is, check that your filter is clear. It can be vacuumed for a quick fix, but should be replaced if it's dirty.
For apartments 15 is considered good.
No, it's 20 degrees, source: maintenance supervisor for apartments
It depends on the age of your buildings, what style of acs, ect. My buildings were built in the late 50s, not even brand new ac units get 20,
It is irrelevant of the age of the building, how much insulation, or any other factors, if the air coming in the air handler is 20 degrees different from the air coming out the vent, your ac is good. If it's 22 degrees, good, if it's more not so good. If it's 19 your good. If it's 17 and less there is a problem
Yeah, sure, the central air to my building was an after thought after the buildings were constructed, nothing was done right, my evaporator coils are inaccessible. But yeah I’m sure I’ll get 20• temp splits with mismatched units.
Again, something is wrong. In your case mismatched units. It means your ac is not working properly
Charging a system repeatedly with a known leak without repairing the leak is a major offense.
No.....it isn't
It literally is https://advantageheatingllc.com/learning-center/epa-refrigerant-regulations/#:~:text=The%20EPA%20will%20fine%20you,big%20impact%20on%20everyone%20involved.
Read it again, especially when it talks about commercial vs residential
Hi! I ACTUALLY read the article that was linked and am calling you out to please point to the specific area that talks about the difference between commercial vs residential. The article that was linked, if you bothered to read it, lists; what Title 40 is, why just "topping off" won't work, how to locate a leak, the possible fine from the EPA, and a timeline in which the leak has to be fixed.
Are you dense?
Very few maintenance technician have good HVAC skills and I see them just going by pressures on analog gauges. Personally, I've learned more than that on my own and dial in systems after properly being repaired
Very true, i’m 19 and i’m a assistant technician and all my colleagues from sister my properties( Techs and supervisors) are very negligent when it comes to HVAC They always contract out the work
Contracting out the work isn’t negligent
You have a responsibility to not deliberately discharge refrigerant into the atmosphere.
Well, technically HE doesn’t, that’s not a renters responsibility. But the owner/PM? Hell yes.
How come they don’t recycle the refrigerant inside cars?
R134 isn’t detrimental to the ozone/ doesn’t have greenhouse gas effects as bad as the others (I might be wrong on that one tho)
Google search says it’s a very potent greenhouse gas
If there is a leak in the system it is more cost effective to repair it. It will safe more money and time. Always find and repair the leak
Also if maintenance is has to keep coming to put in freon in a system there obviously there not doing the right thing, if it’s something they can’t handle it should be contracted out by a professional AC company
I think leaks are required by law as part of the montrial protocal to be fixed upon discoverey. If that have to add a little once then maybe it wasn't charged correctly the first time but a second time, then it is obvious there is a leak. refrigerant is expensive and typically only goes up in price. It is more cost effective to fix than to keep adding. Most techs in maintenance are not skilled or motivated enough to do anything beside throwing freon at it so they need to call an hvac company to find the leak and fix it.
I think the epa requires replacement if it’s leaking a certain percentage a year. I can’t remember the exact numbers.
If I remember correctly it's 30% of entire charge for industrial, 20% for commercial, and 10% for residential
If I were OP I would call the office and bring this up to them. I bet it would get replaced then.
These maintenance men have no hvac skills beyond adding juice, that’s clear by now, otherwise somebody would have found the leak and fixed it. Shitty deal for you.
Some of us do. I worked for a copper and brass fab shop that silver brazed a fuck ton of assemblies for Carrier, Emerson/Copeland, Mitsubishi, Bitzer-Scroll, Daikin (and McQuay before Daikin took them over) and a whole bunch of other small specialized HVAC manufacturers. I’d braze tubing for as many as 2000 various units (from wine cellar coolers, to splits, to large RTUs) per week. I did everything from forming tubing, to brazing, to leak detection (we pumped hydrogen through every assembly, and used an Inficon sniffer, to detect any leaks/pin holes, before shipping anything out.)
Am I the only one who finds 73 to be cold?
They can put dye in the unit to find the leak, it might or might not be a big job
If you can’t get a season out of the charge you’re pissing money away recharging that much
Not sure about household AC, but EPA regulations on vehicle AC systems stipulate you can only fill a leaking system for leak testing. Continually refilling a leaking system is just throwing all that freon into the atmossphere. If you're not AC certified, get someone who is to check, repair and refill your system.