Being a former welder I’d also recommend taking a wire brush or scotch brite and getting the brazing area clean. Makes for a stronger braze especially for aluminum brazes. Even though the flux may etch the aluminum I’ve had some fail and once I pre-cleaned the area they haven’t leaked since.
I've done this minus the flux. I didn't know i needed it, honestly. I just sanded the spot and used the torch set at a lower heat, and as far as i know, it's still holding a yr later.
I recently removed a parallel circuit from our micro fin condensing unit, and sealed it up with aluminum solder. It was tricky to get the solder to flow, but once I got the hang of it, was able to cut it back a little further and seal it up. I think our lawncare guys hit it with a mower, and the slits in the metal housing eventually vibrated through the micro channel coil. Big shoutout to working well, regardless of how it looks. Too many people are concerned with how things look for Instagram.
I stopped repairing evap coils years ago. Leaks always return, without fail. Give me one of those old Carrier aluminum slant coils with compression connections l, now thats a bombproof coil. They gotta build some obsolescence into them nowadays to make more money.
I agree except for the one my tech put a hole in reinstalling the guard after cleaning. And I replaced the entire condenser at no cost to the customer because that was the right thing to do.
In a pinch to get things going, i do need to brush up on this skill. Great content and last time i tried this, i made all the brazing mistakes lol even left my number 8 tip on my torch. That aluminum elbow melted faster than i could say: i am headed to the distributor now ma'am.
Love the informative video, I appreciate you burning a hole through the tube as if it was a mistake in the field, first compressor I had to swap, I burned a hole through the tube connecting a dryer, got it sealed up though luckily
Replace the coil, these coils are junk in the first place. These keep us in business, along with aluminum micro channel coils as well. Good video though brother. You do good work. Been watching your channel from the beginning. Keep up the good work.
Oh, you have to do is look at the price for aluminum scrap versus copper scrap and you’ll know the reason. Also look at the coefficient of expansion for copper versus aluminum and you’ll know the reason. Yes these aluminum coils are junk. If you want to make an aircraft, sure, but not a coil.
That’s fine to replace a coil. Sometimes a coil is weeks out and if it’s a supermarket application, that’s weeks the customer can’t sell product in that case. Good to know how to do it.
@OcRefrigeration there not gonna make copper tube coils anymore it’s going to be all aluminum in a couple of years you won’t be able to buy them unless they’re overstock coils.
I’ve always wanted to learn this to try and get customers by instead of waiting for a new coil doesn’t seem like anyone knows how to do this around here thx for the video !
That’s because coils don’t get holes in the outside of the u-bend. If it’s under warranty, replace the coil. I wouldn’t want a coil repaired by a new guy because that’s what all of us are right now.
Thanks for doing these videos. I learn alot from you. I've only been at it here in West Tennessee for a couple of years now, so I need all the help I can get.
Aluminum that is not coated oxidizes and that oxidation need to be removed or any soldering or brazing will fail because it will be porous. The technical term for removing that layer of aluminum oxide is called ablating.
I think you need to discuss mapp vs propane torch temp difference. Not much. It doesn't matter. Let me know what i'm missing. It's all about the torch tip. I used a tiny or poor shaped tip and both were bad bad. They heated too slow or too fast. Or un-even.
A professional would replace the coil. As a 40 plus year professional we've been through this aluminum junk years ago with carrier and hussman junk coils. There's a company in Texas that makes copper tube and fin replacement coils. Do what's right for the customer. ALSO I would like to see a pressure test when your finished.
You are good man champion 😂😂😂 no almunium coils used in our country only Cooper coils but in 1/2 years these coils damage cause of corrosion because r-32 & r-410a is not good for cooling coils 😢😢😢😢😢😢
I was just thinking of making a video on this. The first time I did this I had no resources available online and roasted a big hole and couldn't repair it
I had a few questions one being would you recommend using nitrogen while doing this. Along with that would you have to worry about the flux becoming a contaminant inside the system and could you use this same process on other parts of the coil where as a lot of the time I see leaks where the copper goes to aluminum. Forgive me if this sounds ignorant but this is very interesting to me
Recommended to run nitro or not in this case? Can I use the regular silver rol to solder copper in plumbing or it has to be a special rod for that porpuse?
Get a stainless wire brush to clean the area down to bare aluminum. Save the brush for aluminum repairs only. Once it is used to clean rust or any other material, it is useless for aluminum repairs.
Chipping in here: Yep, just replace it. As someone said, unless it is a medical emergency or you work on the Refer side, it is at BEST a TEMPORARY fix, and the coil better be ordered and on the way, because you can 100% guarantee the customer that the issue will return. On a second note, if they are cheap or they “don’t want to spend too much money on it” and your company insists that you try to fix it, Make sure you write that on your Service Report. CYA guys. CYA.
Good day. Why dosen`t aply more flux after you lay rod on hole , before working fill material to cover area? This will make better flow of filling material and prevent small leake due to oxidation aluminum on the coil itself.
Hey bro, I watched ur video for a while, and I'm a fan and a hvac tech. How do u know that dinging that repair is not inducing nocondenable into the coil. R u 100% positive, it's not?
The video is respectable but those who say why fix it are the ones who do not explore and say they are saving time and sometimes they do things just to do them and they do not solve anything, they only solve this in a comment that they have left for the gentleman in the video. Regarding the way to weld aluminum, personally, when you use a rod that contains flux, it is less complex to do the task. The Lucas Milhaupt 822 is a successful and efficient solution and when everything is prepared it is good to run the vacuum pump while welding instead of running nitrogen. I say this from experience. For the rest, the video is respectable.
The only question I have. If you repair this leak. Where in the structural integrity of the pipe was weakened, to the point of failure in the coil bend. How can you possibly do this in the field, successfully guaranteeing the rest of the return bends. The customer doesn't know what failed, except the HVAC unit doesn't work again when the gas leaks out from the next Leak. Sometimes, Most times , people choose reliability, when they're informed properly of the situation at hand.
Do not solder the coil unless it’s a medical emergency. We as professionals have no business fixing a coil that needs replaced. That is doing a disservice to the customer. Unless it is a medical emergency for medical condition or age both young and old u til the coil comes in and gets replaced. Replace it!!!!!!!
I notice everybody wants to replace with new. It's just insane how people cannot take the time or do not want to make Repairs. Not everyone wants to Get a bank loan To get their ac repaired when it's just A leak. Most of the young guys now Don't know how to do shit because you're too busy replacing Everything.
Not once does he say anything about it being crucial that the area is clean and free of any oils and that it is really bad idea to use ixy cetline or mapp gas tourch on aluminum period propane or even butane torch set ups are more than sufficient and a lot more manageable heat for a green guy to learn how to do that or that it is literally a temporary fix that will hold leak free for a short period aluminum is not as workable and reliable fix as copper is
Zack is the best ! Showing how to use solderweld properly . This repairs are good for low budget customers and no issue if we can help customers out
Being a former welder I’d also recommend taking a wire brush or scotch brite and getting the brazing area clean. Makes for a stronger braze especially for aluminum brazes. Even though the flux may etch the aluminum I’ve had some fail and once I pre-cleaned the area they haven’t leaked since.
I've done this minus the flux. I didn't know i needed it, honestly. I just sanded the spot and used the torch set at a lower heat, and as far as i know, it's still holding a yr later.
I recently removed a parallel circuit from our micro fin condensing unit, and sealed it up with aluminum solder. It was tricky to get the solder to flow, but once I got the hang of it, was able to cut it back a little further and seal it up. I think our lawncare guys hit it with a mower, and the slits in the metal housing eventually vibrated through the micro channel coil. Big shoutout to working well, regardless of how it looks. Too many people are concerned with how things look for Instagram.
I stopped repairing evap coils years ago. Leaks always return, without fail. Give me one of those old Carrier aluminum slant coils with compression connections l, now thats a bombproof coil. They gotta build some obsolescence into them nowadays to make more money.
Get a coil where the weld on the u-bend is compromised. It's never a hole. It's always a factory joint
Had one on a brand new carrier copper coil they even paint marked it for me to find it easier jerks
I agree except for the one my tech put a hole in reinstalling the guard after cleaning. And I replaced the entire condenser at no cost to the customer because that was the right thing to do.
Nice work. These coils can be very tricky to repair. I do a lot of refrigeration work and we do aluminum to copper hot gas bypass valves
In a pinch to get things going, i do need to brush up on this skill.
Great content and last time i tried this, i made all the brazing mistakes lol even left my number 8 tip on my torch.
That aluminum elbow melted faster than i could say: i am headed to the distributor now ma'am.
I've started using Lucas Milhaupt AL822 Flux Cored Aluminum Brazing rod. It has flux core and applies easy and smoothly.
Love the informative video, I appreciate you burning a hole through the tube as if it was a mistake in the field, first compressor I had to swap, I burned a hole through the tube connecting a dryer, got it sealed up though luckily
Replace the coil, these coils are junk in the first place. These keep us in business, along with aluminum micro channel coils as well. Good video though brother. You do good work. Been watching your channel from the beginning. Keep up the good work.
Yep , replace with a copper tube / aluminum fin coil. much more durable.
Plus the aluminum coils are more susceptible to bacterial growth
Oh, you have to do is look at the price for aluminum scrap versus copper scrap and you’ll know the reason. Also look at the coefficient of expansion for copper versus aluminum and you’ll know the reason. Yes these aluminum coils are junk. If you want to make an aircraft, sure, but not a coil.
That’s fine to replace a coil. Sometimes a coil is weeks out and if it’s a supermarket application, that’s weeks the customer can’t sell product in that case. Good to know how to do it.
@OcRefrigeration there not gonna make copper tube coils anymore it’s going to be all aluminum in a couple of years you won’t be able to buy them unless they’re overstock coils.
Great video man, I’m in school and just got my esco brazing cert, can’t wait to start working and learning the trade.
I’ve always wanted to learn this to try and get customers by instead of waiting for a new coil doesn’t seem like anyone knows how to do this around here thx for the video !
That’s because coils don’t get holes in the outside of the u-bend. If it’s under warranty, replace the coil. I wouldn’t want a coil repaired by a new guy because that’s what all of us are right now.
so much information and thank you!! i am just starting out in the hvac world and love all your videos to try and learn as much as i can!!
Thanks for doing these videos. I learn alot from you. I've only been at it here in West Tennessee for a couple of years now, so I need all the help I can get.
Excellent video!
Thank you for explaining how to make this repair!
Great video!!! This can be an extremely difficult repair.
Aluminum that is not coated oxidizes and that oxidation need to be removed or any soldering or brazing will fail because it will be porous. The technical term for removing that layer of aluminum oxide is called ablating.
I think you need to discuss mapp vs propane torch temp difference. Not much. It doesn't matter. Let me know what i'm missing. It's all about the torch tip. I used a tiny or poor shaped tip and both were bad bad. They heated too slow or too fast. Or un-even.
My boss would call for a Replacement definitely
Nice job! Aluminum is tricky.
A professional would replace the coil. As a 40 plus year professional we've been through this aluminum junk years ago with carrier and hussman junk coils. There's a company in Texas that makes copper tube and fin replacement coils. Do what's right for the customer. ALSO I would like to see a pressure test when your finished.
Sometimes coil ain’t available now with the supply chain issues. It has nothing to do with being a professional.
I always shy away from aluminum but Zac makes it look very easy…hummm
You are good man champion 😂😂😂 no almunium coils used in our country only Cooper coils but in 1/2 years these coils damage cause of corrosion because r-32 & r-410a is not good for cooling coils 😢😢😢😢😢😢
Interesting video. Thanks for your time.
Great video. Thank you
Hi Bro! Would you please guide me on how to join the cooper to the aluminum joint, which shows in your video, under the black rubber
I believe the flux "etches" the aluminum.
Thanks for your presentation.
I was just thinking of making a video on this. The first time I did this I had no resources available online and roasted a big hole and couldn't repair it
I had a few questions one being would you recommend using nitrogen while doing this. Along with that would you have to worry about the flux becoming a contaminant inside the system and could you use this same process on other parts of the coil where as a lot of the time I see leaks where the copper goes to aluminum. Forgive me if this sounds ignorant but this is very interesting to me
the flux removes the oxidation layer from aluminum so that the solder will flow over the joint
Recommended to run nitro or not in this case?
Can I use the regular silver rol to solder copper in plumbing or it has to be a special rod for that porpuse?
Great video!
What are the rod id numbers also brand. Was it AL822?
Get a stainless wire brush to clean the area down to bare aluminum. Save the brush for aluminum repairs only. Once it is used to clean rust or any other material, it is useless for aluminum repairs.
Chipping in here: Yep, just replace it. As someone said, unless it is a medical emergency or you work on the Refer side, it is at BEST a TEMPORARY fix, and the coil better be ordered and on the way, because you can 100% guarantee the customer that the issue will return.
On a second note, if they are cheap or they “don’t want to spend too much money on it” and your company insists that you try to fix it, Make sure you write that on your Service Report.
CYA guys. CYA.
Good job Zack
Good day.
Why dosen`t aply more flux after you lay rod on hole , before working fill material to cover area?
This will make better flow of filling material and prevent small leake due to oxidation aluminum on the coil itself.
HEY! Hello and thumbs UP!!
Great video!!!
good video
Wouldn't a propane be better or a lower burning gas than mapp? Never brazed aluminum but I was thinking going propane over mapp.
tq vm bro
Hey bro, I watched ur video for a while, and I'm a fan and a hvac tech. How do u know that dinging that repair is not inducing nocondenable into the coil. R u 100% positive, it's not?
Why my aluminum rod can not weld with freezer box Freon coil? I need flux?
Try a repair in microchannel an inch away from the header. Not the same as an end bell.
Thanks
The video is respectable but those who say why fix it are the ones who do not explore and say they are saving time and sometimes they do things just to do them and they do not solve anything, they only solve this in a comment that they have left for the gentleman in the video. Regarding the way to weld aluminum, personally, when you use a rod that contains flux, it is less complex to do the task. The Lucas Milhaupt 822 is a successful and efficient solution and when everything is prepared it is good to run the vacuum pump while welding instead of running nitrogen. I say this from experience. For the rest, the video is respectable.
Hey show off the bag and goodies from the hvac awards
I am fulx with aluminium road wilding
Rheem coil, just by looking at it. Even knew comes with leaks.
Would be nice in a Field
The only question I have.
If you repair this leak. Where in the structural integrity of the pipe was weakened, to the point of failure in the coil bend. How can you possibly do this in the field, successfully guaranteeing the rest of the return bends. The customer doesn't know what failed, except the HVAC unit doesn't work again when the gas leaks out from the next Leak.
Sometimes, Most times , people choose reliability, when they're informed properly of the situation at hand.
Because I don't want to be the HVAC company that only gets you up and running right now, for a year or so.
Which rods are you using?
I believe he is using Solderweld Alloy Sol Aluminum Repair Rods & Alloy Sol Flux also from Solderweld.
Anyone got any idea what boots I should get? Starting HVAC soon!
All I can say is the boots that I’ve been buying for the last five years rarely last more than one year. Like everything else in the USA, junk.
So it’s a cold braze
You can replace U bands if available 😅😅😅😅
Champion why are you not use gas welding this torch flame is high damage your other U bands😮😮😮😮😮
Do not solder the coil unless it’s a medical emergency. We as professionals have no business fixing a coil that needs replaced. That is doing a disservice to the customer. Unless it is a medical emergency for medical condition or age both young and old u til the coil comes in and gets replaced. Replace it!!!!!!!
Ugh. No. If it’s a pin hole get over yourself.
💯 correct, if there is 1 leak the chances of developing more is very high, it's a waste of time and money.
👍🏿
It would be a Rheem/ruud coil lol
I notice everybody wants to replace with new. It's just insane how people cannot take the time or do not want to make Repairs. Not everyone wants to Get a bank loan To get their ac repaired when it's just A leak. Most of the young guys now Don't know how to do shit because you're too busy replacing Everything.
But a new one they are disposable like everything else
Just throw the aluminum away & buy a copper coil. It's just a waste of time to repair aluminum because it will just leak somewhere else.
Never 👎🏼 a hole always a u bend 😮
This repair is NOT a QUALITY HVAC repair.
Not once does he say anything about it being crucial that the area is clean and free of any oils and that it is really bad idea to use ixy cetline or mapp gas tourch on aluminum period propane or even butane torch set ups are more than sufficient and a lot more manageable heat for a green guy to learn how to do that or that it is literally a temporary fix that will hold leak free for a short period aluminum is not as workable and reliable fix as copper is