View Single Post
Old 04-04-12, 06:54 AM   #8
Xringer
Lex Parsimoniae
 
Xringer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Woburn, MA
Posts: 4,918
Thanks: 114
Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts
Default

Yeah, if it will hold a hard vacuum, it will probably hold pressure too.

IMHO, it's good to pressure test, even if you have great vacuum,
since a 'flare' surface will pull down tighter with vac inside.
While pressure will try to lift the flare open.
Pressure will show the finger-tight connector.

The only problem I can see with nitrogen pressure testing is over-doing it.
Bursting something or forcing nitrogen into the system via the service a valve.

My older system has a little leakiness in one of the valves. After it had set
for a while with a new charge, there was pressure under the valve access cap.
A little puff of gas came out when I removed the cap (to turn the valve).
To me, that was a sign to use lower pressure on the nitrogen test.
And, to insure those caps were replaced tightly.
__________________
My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits
EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..
Xringer is offline   Reply With Quote