I thought I'd get some input from some pro's on this. I know they've marketed it for auto's for years, and wondered why there wasn't a leak stopper for structural A/C's. So, I searched and yup, something came up.

Now I'm wondering, are these products legit? Can you expect results?

I got to thinking about it after one of my landlord customers had to have an A/C guy come check one of his rental units. The tech told me that everything was fine, but he had to put in a lot of gas, and that the evaporator coil must have a slow leak, judging by the slow decline in cooling ability.

He felt the recharge would give 1 to 3 months of service, but that the coil would need to be replaced.

Now it's easy to say 'have it done' when it's someone Else's money, but this customer has 5 rental homes that are now all under water, would have to be sold for less than owed, and in order to keep occupied, all are rented below the note. So, for him, it sucks if he keeps em, it sucks if he sells them. He's doing all he can to keep from walking on them. So I try and save him money however I can, thus I am inquiring.

Any chimes appreciated.

.
.
Leak stoppers depend entirely on the SIZE of leak.

In other words, the leak must be teeeeny-weeenie to begin with.

The system must be able to hold a decent vacuum (no gross leaks)
and the solution, if you wanna call it that, circulates through
the system, and at a leak, combining with 'air', it solidifies.

Most available are for 134A refrigerant, since that's what's used
in the automotive industry, AND, it's an easy sell to someone
sweltering in his car on the way to work.....

I personally don't know (just no reason to look) any leak stoppers
for household or industrial a/c, but i expect they're out there.

One of the other snags, is that the evaporator section is under
vacuum when in operation, so instead of leaking 'out',
it's leaking 'in'....hence, air in system, until shut down,
and pressure builds up in system.....
but at that point, the damage has already been done, by the leaking 'in'.

If the leak is stopped at that point explained above,
then further evac and recharge would be necessary at some time later.

So, as far as your friend is concerned, I would say that if you/he
found something you wanted to bet on, it wouldn't hurt to take a
shot, as long as the material is compatible with the refrigerant
used, and also something that the serviceman is comfortable with
injecting into the system.
He's not gonna want any responsibility for the system 'going south'
as a result of the 'stuff' he puts in.
And, the owner must realize more than one recharge might be necessary.

If there was anything 'that good', you would think he would
have suggested it, no???

Shoot, EVERYBODY would use it !!

So, it's a krapshoot

.


As far as the units being rented 'below the note',
that's a whole nuther discussion, and if that's the way he's gonna run,
he needs to be in another business.

,

Unless they would rather sell a coil install.

http://www.nucalgon.com/products/totalsystemprotect_ACEasySeal.htm




Yup, that's another discussion.

.
.


".....coil must have leak"

Sounds like speculation at this point, since no actual
determination was made to "see" leak.


If the calgon product works as advertised, why not?

.