Refrigerant re-fill for AC - when?

[aldriglikvid]

Hi, 

 

I'm renting a condo and the AC in my bedroom is getting, in my opinion, weaker the last couple of weeks. I've tried to clean it. I wonder, should I order refrigerant re-fill? 

[Crossy]

If correctly installed with no leaks your A/C should work for years without needing a top-up.

 

Order a professional cleaning and service to include a refrigerant check.

 

If a top-up is required, they will tell you and bill for the refrigerant needed.

 

 

[stoner]

9 minutes ago, Crossy said:

If a top-up is required, they will tell you and bill for the refrigerant needed.

is the top up thing not just a scam ? either the system is closed and the gas is contained or it isn't right ? 

 

top up would only last a while (vacuum would never hold) and problem would come back if there was a system leak. 

 

compressor motor might be on its last legs. 

 

 

[Lacessit]

9 minutes ago, stoner said:

is the top up thing not just a scam ? either the system is closed and the gas is contained or it isn't right ? 

 

top up would only last a while (vacuum would never hold) and problem would come back if there was a system leak. 

 

compressor motor might be on its last legs. 

 

 

Refrigerant is a gas at ambient temperature, and is slowly lost over time due to fugitive leaks, Any connection is a potential leak source.

Technicians use soap solution or a thermal conductivity detector to look for leaks.

Normally a top up is needed every 5 - 10 years, anything more frequent indicates something is wrong.

[4MyEgo]

40 minutes ago, aldriglikvid said:

I'm renting a condo and the AC in my bedroom is getting, in my opinion, weaker the last couple of weeks.

Have you gone outside to where the compressor is outside when you have turned it on (if possible) depending on the floor level your on.

 

One of our A/C's only blew out air when we turned it on, so when I went outside to the compressor, I saw that the fan spun once turned on, then it turned off, I though it might be a condenser or something like that.

 

I called the local A/C guy who came along, undid the side cover and pulled on the wires, he showed me that they had been chewed through by a mouse, cut them and reconnected them with tap and it started working again, cool air.

 

Cost 400 baht for about an hours work.

 

Worth investigating.

 

Shouldn't your landlord be paying for the repairs ? I mean your renting the condo with the A/C being part of the agreement, so he/she would have to maintain it and or replace it I believe.

[stoner]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Refrigerant is a gas at ambient temperature, and is slowly lost over time due to fugitive leaks, Any connection is a potential leak source.

Technicians use soap solution or a thermal conductivity detector to look for leaks.

Normally a top up is needed every 5 - 10 years, anything more frequent indicates something is wrong.

generally if ac is closed you never need any kind of top up. as i said it would indicate some kind of leak in the system. 

 

fugitive leak is still a leak. 

[aldriglikvid]

Thank you all - very swift and good responses allround! 

I found a AC guy on FB and he'll swing by, he said fee is 400-700thb depending on issue and full cleaning. And, if I got the stamina, I'll pass it on to my landlord. 

[sometimewoodworker]

9 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Refrigerant is a gas at ambient temperature, and is slowly lost over time due to fugitive leaks, Any connection is a potential leak source.

Technicians use soap solution or a thermal conductivity detector to look for leaks.

Normally a top up is needed every 5 - 10 years, anything more frequent indicates something is wrong.

Humm. A correctly installed AC does not have leaks and may never need a top up. They can develop due to vibration damaging some of the pipes or work hardening them so potentially allowing pinholes. I have had AC units that were over 15 yeas old and have never needed refilling.

 

So you may require a top up or may never need one.

[Lacessit]

5 hours ago, sometimewoodworker said:

Humm. A correctly installed AC does not have leaks and may never need a top up. They can develop due to vibration damaging some of the pipes or work hardening them so potentially allowing pinholes. I have had AC units that were over 15 yeas old and have never needed refilling.

 

So you may require a top up or may never need one.

It depends on initial assembly. I had one in Australia I recharged after 20 years.

[The Theory]

On 8/9/2023 at 12:52 PM, aldriglikvid said:

weaker the last couple of weeks.

It could be fan motor of outside unit (condenser), if it's not fast enough to cool down the hot condenser. 
 

 

Edited August 11, 2023 by The Theory

[Pdavies99]

Quit possibly just the drain pipe is blocked, check to see any water etc coming out.

[Sigmund]

Is it not for the owner to handle the maintenance and not for the renter to shell out the ripoff of the technician who will always enjoy to ripoff a farang ?

[transam]

13 minutes ago, Pdavies99 said:

Quit possibly just the drain pipe is blocked, check to see any water etc coming out.

If the drain, he will have a puddle in the bedroom....????

[NanLaew]

25 minutes ago, Sigmund said:

Is it not for the owner to handle the maintenance and not for the renter to shell out the ripoff of the technician who will always enjoy to ripoff a farang ?

The owner isn't using the airconditioner so why should he pay for the maintenance?

[transam]

Just now, NanLaew said:

The owner isn't using the airconditioner so why should he pay for the maintenance?

You pay rent for the use of its facilities, the A/C belongs to the owner, all included in the rent...I would have thought...????

[jesimps]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

The owner isn't using the airconditioner so why should he pay for the maintenance?

 

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

The owner isn't using the airconditioner so why should he pay for the maintenance?

A classic NanLaew reply.

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, transam said:

You pay rent for the use of its facilities, the A/C belongs to the owner, all included in the rent...I would have thought...????

The landlord pays for the service to be installed 

water, electricity, AC

The renter pays the cost of using the service.

Regular cleaning is part of the cost of using the service. Don’t use it no need to pay

As a landlord I would never expect to pay for AC cleaning, but if I was expected to do so you can bet the rent would be higher.

Edited August 11, 2023 by sometimewoodworker

[DD86]

Just a thought. Now that temperatures have dropped some and humidity has gone up a lot, I think you may feel that the AC is not working properly. In order to get the same result you may have to lower the temperature set 1 or 2 degrees C to get the same 'dryness'.

[J Branche]

Quick way to tell if it is refrigerant.  With unit running for a few minutes does the exterior unit exhaust air feel very warm?  Low refrigerant and generally little difference in exhaust air temp.  Also check if one line is frosting up or sweaty.

[TimeMachine]

Could be low.  Unless Connecting gauges and reading the pressures along with temps of pipes to calculate subcooling or superheat you will only be guessing. Gauges are cheap if you wanted to follow a youtube video on how to check subcooling.  Lets assume gas is right then clean coils on indoor unit first,  then outdoor unit.  Lazada sell a spray and equipment for diy.  Again youtube will lead the way.  Next step would be to check with gauges.  It will tell the story to the techy with knowledge if expansion valve is the problem or something major.  Nothing else to do except also consider replacing with inverter type unit if its not already.  Elec bill savings will pay for it over time. 

Edited August 11, 2023 by TimeMachine

[brianthainess]

18 hours ago, Pdavies99 said:

Quit possibly just the drain pipe is blocked, check to see any water etc coming out.

Normally if that is blocked water starts to drip from the inside unit. I had a Jing jock block mine.  IME

[Crossy]

59 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Normally if that is blocked water starts to drip from the inside unit. I had a Jing jock block mine.  IME

 

Yeah, if the drain is blocked and you have a shop-vac (wet-n-dry) you can sometimes clear by sucking on the outside end of the drain.

 

Do not blow or you may end up with a load of stinky water in your room ???? 

[brianthainess]

11 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Yeah, if the drain is blocked and you have a shop-vac (wet-n-dry) you can sometimes clear by sucking on the outside end of the drain.

 

Do not blow or you may end up with a load of stinky water in your room ???? 

I actually did blow up mine to determine if it was blocked, out slid the slimy dead Jing Jock  ????????

[transam]

16 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Yeah, if the drain is blocked and you have a shop-vac (wet-n-dry) you can sometimes clear by sucking on the outside end of the drain.

 

Do not blow or you may end up with a load of stinky water in your room ???? 

I had a water drip prob, turned out the fitter hadn't installed it properly, the drain pipe rubber connected, at the room end, was twisted, plus the water catch tray wasn't level, so the tray had water in it all the time.....????

 

Took a while to sort it out without disturbing the gas stuff...????

[4MyEgo]

On 8/9/2023 at 5:26 PM, aldriglikvid said:

Thank you all - very swift and good responses allround! 

I found a AC guy on FB and he'll swing by, he said fee is 400-700thb depending on issue and full cleaning. And, if I got the stamina, I'll pass it on to my landlord. 

Can you provide us with an update when done, either here on the forum or personal message.

 

Be interesting to see what the problem was and cost.

 

Get the stamina and pass it on to the landlord, it's your right as a tenant.

[NanLaew]

On 8/11/2023 at 5:56 PM, jesimps said:

 

A classic NanLaew reply.

Unless it is clearly stated in the rental agreement, it's a classic fact of Thai landlord's life.

 

This just in, landlords aren't responsible for replacing expired light bulbs that the tenant has been using either.

[Skipalongcassidy]

Landlords are responsible for properly running a/c units... but do not order a cleaning or 'top up' without consulting them or you can expect to pay for it. 

[sometimewoodworker]

6 hours ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

Landlords are responsible for properly running a/c units... but do not order a cleaning or 'top up' without consulting them or you can expect to pay for it. 

That is your opinion, many will disagree.

[VocalNeal]

11 minutes ago, sometimewoodworker said:

That is your opinion, many will disagree.

As they usually do.

[TimeMachine]

Just now, VocalNeal said:

As they usually do.

Lets agree to disagree everbody. Now,  has the OP come up with a plan of attack yet?