bubbles and leak detection
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chris Parks
If you can isolate parts of it that would be a good start but it might work to find some leaks by charging the system and at night when everything is silent see if you can hear leaks.
That's what I did, three valves to isolate different sections in case of a leak.
In my initial testing I found that what I've always used to find leaks, a dishwashing liquid solution, didn't work nearly as well as I hoped for tiny leaks. What really works well is the soap bubble liquid made for kid's bubbles. I bought a gallon for almost nothing at Walmart after the summer season.
Also, consider your configuration. If you are getting condensation in the horizontal lines in the attic you can eliminate almost all of it by adding some condensing lines with traps and/or water separators before the air gets to the attic. I've read recommendations to have at least 25' of line directly out of the compressor, installed sloped to allow any condensation to drip into a trap. There is a recent thread here where someone recommended installing this line in more of a radiator configuration - that would take less space.
Is it practical to slope the attic lines?
I run my air through some line to a vertical trap, through a water separator, then a desiccant drier before it gets to the regulator and manifold and valves for each of three lines.
I've never used an ultrasonic leak detector but I have used a halon leak detector. The line (we were testing pressure vessels) was filled with low pressure halon gas and the ultra-sensitive detector probe moved along the welds and connections. Perhaps you could rent one or hire a testing company.
JKJ