3 Leak Detection and Repair Free Online FlashCards

What are the main consequences of a refrigerant leak?

A leak reduces system charge, impairs performance, and can expose people to hazards.

What should be identified before testing or opening a system?

Identify the refrigerant, appliance type, design pressures, and special hazards; use tools rated for the pressure and refrigerant.

What should be done with refrigerant during service instead of venting it?

In the United States, refrigerant must not be intentionally vented during service; recover it with appropriate equipment.

What should you do if a leak creates a suspected hazardous atmosphere?

Leave the area and follow emergency procedures rather than continuing to troubleshoot.

What can oil staining reveal during leak inspection?

Oil staining can indicate a leak, but its absence does not prove the system is tight.

How should an electronic refrigerant detector be used?

Use a detector suitable for the refrigerant, check its function, and move the probe slowly near likely leak points while avoiding drafts.

How does bubble solution help locate a leak?

Apply an approved solution to an accessible joint or surface and watch for growing bubbles; clean it off afterward if required.

What can pressure-hold and vacuum-rise tests establish—and what can’t they do?

They can show that a system or section may be leaking, but they do not locate the leak; pair them with a leak-location method.

What should you do if an initial inspection does not find the leak?

Divide the system into sections using approved isolation points, then test each section in turn.

What should guide repair selection, and can stop-leak additives replace fixing the source?

Choose an approved, compatible repair based on the leak location and component condition; stop-leak additives are not a substitute for correcting the source.

What precautions are required before brazing an affected section?

Recover refrigerant from the affected section and isolate it before hot work; follow required fire-safety procedures and use a controlled nitrogen purge when the approved brazing procedure calls for it.

What gas is used for a safe refrigeration-system pressure test?

Use dry nitrogen with suitable pressure-control equipment. Never pressure-test a refrigeration system with oxygen or compressed air.