Quote:
Originally Posted by Xringer
When I look at a flare connection, I'm wondering what would be the best
way to test for a leak.?. A vacuum inside the tubing or pressure inside the line-set tubing?
With the shape of outer skirt of the flare, it seems like a vacuum would hold the tube tighter onto the tapered connector.
Whereas 200 PSI of nitrogen inside the line-set would be trying to force
the copper tube off the connector. (kinda like a one-way-valve).
And, nitrogen & 200 PSI gauges are cheap and easy to find.
If it held for a few days, that seems like it would be a pretty good test.
Comments please..
Thanks,
Rich
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Rich,
What you're saying does seem reasonable, and pressure probably would be a better test.
But there's an even better reason to pressurize with nitrogen, the dilution principle...
If you pulled a vacuum on the line set & inside unit first, you would be drawing out almost all of the air and water vapor. If you then introduced pressurized nitrogen into the vacuumed system, you would be introducing a very large amount of dry nitrogen into a volume which still contained a small amount of air and water vapor, This remaining air & water vapor would uniformly disperse itself amongst the nitrogen. After testing for leaks, you would need to pump it down again, to draw out the nitrogen and with it would come all but a truly infinitesimal amount of air and water vapor.
Then you'd be off to a really good start...
Regards,
-AC_Hacker