Air conditioning problem

[texasvet54]

I don't see a forum that this might belong in, so I post it here.

I have a 220VAC Ocean Breeze air conditioning system on my Three Buoys houseboat. The system uses R-22.

My coils are icing up indicating that I am low on refrigerant. My gauges tell me that my pressure is low at about 50 lbs on the low side instead of 70. When I add some R-22, the evaporator coils lose their frost, but the pressure doesn't go up. I don't want to add any more R-22 as this stuff is expensive. I did go so far as to add R-22 for about 20 seconds and there was no change in the pressure. It stays at 50.

So, what can I do to get my low side pressure back to normal, around 70lbs, and stop the icing?

Thanks,
John

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Air conditioning problem

Try "non boating technical' way down on the forum list

 

[erie_guy]

Re: Air conditioning problem

Hi Texasvet,

Your best course of action would be to locate and repair the freon leak before putting any more R22 into the system. To do this first make a detergent/water mixture and apply to all piping with a paint brush - looking for soap bubbling sites. Failing to find the leak, you may have to secure a freon detection system, either an electronic halogen detector or a propane torch with an aspirating attachment the give you a greenish flame when freon is drawn into the search hose. Assuming it is not some thing simple like a loose fitting, you may have to remove all freon from the system, fix the leak with a torch and silver solder, then evacuate the tubing with a vacuum pump, and recharge the system.

Or - call a certified refrigeration technician and get out your check book. You may want to take the system out of your boat and take it to their shop for repairs. This might reduce repair costs.

Best of luck !!

erie_guy
Port Clinton, OH

 

[agallant80]

Re: Air conditioning problem

It costs $75 but the local HVAC guys will be able to put dye in it that will show up under a black light. That may be the best thing to do to start. Considering the R-22 is $55/lbs I would not guess and just pay for the dye. I could easily see my self getting in to a situation where I spend more trying to figure it out.