How to check hvac refrigerant charge level on mini split DIY

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How to check HVAC refrigerant charge level on mini split DIY

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[basspig]

My 18K worked well the first year (2020) and on silent mode, would keep my studio at 67°F. Last year, they pushed a firmware update to the thing and it seemed not to cool as well. I had to run in normal mode to maintain 68°F. This year, I have to run it in Turbo mode and it barely makes 71°F. I'm about to buy the gauges so I can check. The upper line is cold, but not bitterly cold.
Air handler temperature was 38°F in 2020 when I baseline checked. This year it's 54°F. Checked with an IR themometer.
The problem is it's hard to get the 410A unless it's from a thief. Most supply houses won't sell to the public. And HVAC techs won't touch Mr Cool stuff. The few that do want $600-1000 to recharge the system. That's 80% the cost of the system!

[tiborbreining]

Do you leave the pump and the mini split off? I can hear a buzz. Do you have a step by step?

[Keymaker]

Can I check the refrigerant levels on a Mr cool Zone 4 using this same method and checking the zones 1 by one with the unit on?

[AlphaEntInc]

Great video! I let the ads play so you could get paid for the content. Dropped some questions in your other videos. Thanks again and good luck to the channel!

[AubreyCadogan]

Thank you again! Do you check the refrigerant while the unit is running or off?

[BridgeWater]

I have two
Access ports on my unit which is confusing me.

Top gauge reads 86 psi

Bottom is 112 psi

What’s the bottom access port?

And are those normal readings?

[MelvinAlc]

Thanks for your video I was able to test my mini split system and find out that is low on Freon …

[rossallen]

Can I check the refrigerant level via the pressure when the mini split is in heating mode? Its currently much too cold for the unit to run in AC mode. Obviously with it in heating mode I won't see the copper hoses freezing on the outside since they should be warm/hot. I think my newly installed minisplit is leaking some coolant because I found some oily substance on the insulation around the refrigerant line on the indoor unit.

Also, are you going to do a video on how to recharge a minisplit unit? I found your video on purging the vacuum pump lines of oxygen in preparation or filling with refrigerant, but a full video on all the steps to fill the unit properly would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[aperson]

I have a 9000BTU Fujitsu Halcyon system that from day one hasn't cooled as well as an 8000 BTU window unit did - I have it cooling my homelab server room and in order to keep the room around 75, I need to set it to 64, as low as it'll go. Anyway, recently, it's been stopping cooling when the outside temp gets below 65* or so. I found info that says it's supposed to cool down to 14*F, so it shouldn't be shutting down due to outside temp. When it fires up, the pressure drops down to about 100psi, then builds back up a little to a touch over 120psi and pretty much stays there while removing heat from the room. But when I shut it down and let the high and low sides equalize, the low side goes up to about 190psi (this unit, like I'm guessing a lot of units, only has a low side port). The operating pressure appears ok, but based on the temperature and pressure charts I've found, at about 79-80* ambient temp as it was when I checked, it should be around 232-236psi. Or am I missing something?

[philr]

Put the adapter on the hose 1st or refrigerant will shoot out of it if you connect it to the unit 1st

[diaperstodiplomas]

If I’m not betting a reading could my adapters not be tight enough ?

[misenko]

Nice vid, what pressure should read in case of R32 system ? Also I have a question, I want to move my upstairs unit downstairs. Currently is connected with 5m of lines which is good with factory charge of 1KG R32. But downstair I have 12m of lines, it means, the lines downstairs are longer by 7m. According manufacturer I should add 10g of R32 for each meter so in this case I would need to add ~70g R32. Problem is there is no way I can get this refrigerant (only licensed technicians can manipulate with it - what a stupid thing), so my question is, would it work just fine if there is 70g of refrigerant less ? What would happen? Don't care if it will be little bit less efficient but would this still work. I understand if there is 500g R32 instead of 1000g it would not work, but 70g difference because of longer lines, can it make a big difference or will be just fine ? Thx.

[spiderstone]

Nice job, really helped me...also what do I use to check for visual Rick

[FlorianNeagu]

Would the procedure be the same on a hyper heat unit which has access ports on both high and low lines, like the C&H ch-24lcuo? This is the first mini split type unit i see with access port on both lines. Thanks.

[neilcunningham]

Thanks a bunch for your videos I do have couple questions. First the gauges I have now are for 134A and the low side pressure gauge maxes out at like 250psi. I used my high side gauge to see what the pressures were and not running they are 120psi and running like 10psi. sounds like I need Freon.. Is using the gauges I have this way going to give me a workable reading? Would

[tom]

Is this info correct for inverter mini splits as well?

[mikeholman]

Mine froze in the top part and the coolant lines heading into the compressor. Found leak at the high pressure connection. Sealed the leak, but unit now doesn't cool well, compressor not putting out much heat. Question is how much coolant to add and how to gauge that?

[alvaroalcantartejeda]

My mini split show's pc03 & won't turn on help

[spiderstone]

Thanks for information....!will do ! Rick

[warham]

my 12 k does not blow cold but the pressure is 155lbs.