Is DIY recharge of R22 on Cruisair units doable ? Also....

[Milacron]

is freezing up of the tubing on the compressor and portions of the air handler radiator a symptom of needing more refrigerant ? I've tried three different companies to come out and work on it but they are all "covered up" for three weeks, so I get to wondering if one of those DIY recharge kits meant for automobile A/C might work for these as well ?

 

[Glory]

Your not going to find a diys kit for R22. And to do the job correct you will need gages, and R22.

JM

 

[Milacron]

Your not going to find a diys kit for R22. And to do the job correct you will need gages, and R22.

JM

I was afraid of that... so the auto DIY kits are for a different newer refrigerant ? Do you think the symptoms are indicative of it needing refrigerant or could the symptoms have a myriad of causes ?

 

[workingonadream]

the diy kits are not for a newer refrigerant, its just that cars use r134 Freon while the marine units and home units use r22 Freon, even the gauge fittings are different.i wouldn't do anything until you put a set of gauges on it to read the pressures. good luck

 

[workingonadream]

one thing to check before going to gauges is to make sure the airhandler is clean. you can do that yourself. often times they fill with dust. check that first

 

[Milacron]

one thing to check before going to gauges is to make sure the airhandler is clean. you can do that yourself. often times they fill with dust. check that first

If you mean the radiator looking section of the air handler, looks clean, best I can tell, the intake filter was clean as well. Will see if I can get a vacuum hose up there to be sure (need that Dyson that is being discussed ! )

 

[workingonadream]

mine is easily accessible, I pull the grill in my salon and the unit is right there. it has to be in the open to work properly

 

[Milacron]

mine is easily accessible, I pull the grill in my salon and the unit is right there. it has to be in the open to work properly

Same here but the radiators are not right at the grill but a foot or so higher up...two of them facing each other perpendicular to the grill......i.e. two handlers for the salon (presumably working off the same freezing up condenser) that ultimatly blow out two separate vents in the ceiling.

Except one of the handlers doesn't blow anything out the vent. Guessing the fan is out on it. Could *that* contribute to the whole deal freezing up ?

I would check the fan but Viking, in their ultimate wisdom, choose to seal the salon handlers under a flybridge seat with screws and caulk ! Dunno what Hatteras does in that regard but I looked at a Jefferson 56/60 where you simply lifted up the hinged seat bottoms to get to things like that.

 

[Angela]

Lack of air flow will cause the coils to freeze with ice build up. If your air filters are clean, and your coils are clean, then it could be that there just isn't sufficient air flow from the fan. My salon unit needs to have the fan run on high most of the time to keep a sufficient amount of air passing over the coils. I don't know why since the ductwork is a straight shot to the vent. One of my staterooms also needs to be run on high fan because of the only available run for the ducting up to the vent - it goes around a couple of corners and every turn is somewhat of a restriction. Also before venturing into the doing any recharging of the system yourself, make sure you really do have R22 systems. There are two other refrigerants out there (R410a and R407c) that I know of that are in the newer marine systems since R22 was phased out. Luckily I got a tank of R22 while I could still get it. It's not easy to find these days.

It is my understanding that you cannot simply empty the R22 from the condensing unit and add a different refrigerant - they have to be made for the specific refrigerant to be used; however, I'm no expert - that's just was the AC manufacturer told me.

 

[krush]

If you are asking these questions, you have no idea what you are doing. Furthermore, you didn't spend the time to do research to learn some basic fundamentals, which can guide you in what to do. Best to not mess with it because you can possible do a lot of damage.

You can't by any refrigerant except r134a without the certification. You must know stuff and take a test to get the cert. It's not that difficult or tedious, but you have to take a test that is pretty in depth on A/C systems.

 

[thoward]

Clean your coils, there is foaming cleaner available at the DIY stores. Both fans have to operate properly. With some knowledge, you can add r22 but there is more to reading gauges then the static pressures.

 

[Milacron]

If you are asking these questions, you have no idea what you are doing.

If I knew what I was doing I wouldn't be asking the questions Sherlock. But other than quantum mechanics equations I can learn to do most anything if sufficiently motivated....which starts with questions.

This thread has been helpful already in that I now see the possibility that the problem isn't refrigerant related but could be as simple as the fan being seized on the second air handler (2 handlers run off one compressor for the salon) If that is it, I can easily replace a fan.

 

[seasalt]

+1 on cleaning the coils. Home Depot and Lowes sells aerosol cans of "self rinsing" coil cleaner foam. It was made for room air conditioners but will make a boat's coils sparkle like new. Spray it on...let it sit for a while and then turn the unit on. The condensation will rinse the cleaner off.

 

[Finalee]

If I knew what I was doing I wouldn't be asking the questions Sherlock. But other than quantum mechanics equations I can learn to do most anything if sufficiently motivated....which starts with questions.

This thread has been helpful already in that I now see the possibility that the problem isn't refrigerant related but could be as simple as the fan being seized on the second air handler (2 handlers run off one compressor for the salon) If that is it, I can easily replace a fan.

There was an online course available that once completed got you a Certification and the ability to buy Freon. Not to mention the knowledge necessary to properly diagnose the systems. Mainstream Engineering is the place. There you go Holmes.

 

[Boatsb]

There was an online course available that once completed got you a Certification and the ability to buy Freon. Not to mention the knowledge necessary to properly diagnose the systems. Mainstream Engineering is the place. There you go Holmes.

You have to calculate temp and pressure differential and super heat along with basic heat load Calculations. The license does not give you knowledge or wisdom, just basic information.

Also befor you look to buy the r22. You probably need only a few ounces and it's usually sold in 30 lb canister for $3-400.

If you weren't such an abrasive #£×@ one of your friends from the site might offer their help but....

 

[thoward]

If I knew what I was doing I wouldn't be asking the questions Sherlock. But other than quantum mechanics equations I can learn to do most anything if sufficiently motivated....which starts with questions.

https://www.kalosflorida.com/air-conditioning/understanding-checking-setting-refrigerant-charge/
Some helpful hints. I have family in the AC business so I rarely touch the business end of a unit. I can put a little charge in to "patch" for a weekend. If you are losing refrigerant, you need to find the cause. This is typically cost prohibitive. r22 is only sold to folks with license, you need purchase gauges, leak detectors, vacuum pump and recovery unit. Not to mention that a capacitor will bust your ass if you dont know what you are doing. If a pro walks in to a clean unit, they can usually dx it quickly..

 

[dsharp]

You have to get the fan working or replaced before you worry about the level of refridgerant. The evaperator (radiator looking thing) has to be able to pull the heat out of the air.Fix your air flow problem first.Low refridgerant level can cause freeze up. if you look at a hvac gauge it shows the pressure and temperature. The lower the temp. the lower the pressure.

 

[dsharp]

Cruiser was bought out by Dometic I think. Looks to be the same equipment though

 

[krush]

If you weren't such an abrasive #£×@ one of your friends from the site might offer their help but....

Just fill it until there is cold coming back to the compressor...fixed orifice, of course.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Servicing and installing AC systems successfully seems to depend a lot on experience. If you think about all the trouble you'd have to go to in order to learn to do it, get the equipment, get the Freon (whichever one is the right one) etc, you are better off getting someone who knows how to do it. You can clean the coils, flush the drains, make sure the seawater inlets and pumps are clear etc. Beyond that, get a professional. You will be ahead in the long run and short run as well.

BTW if the system is icing up, I don't think that means it needs more refrigerant- but, again, get someone who knows what they are doing with these systems.