How to Charge an HVAC Chiller
A heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, or HVAC, chiller affects the air-conditioning unit. It stores the refrigerant that cools the air. Though a good HVAC unit may go several years without a problem, eventually, you will need to charge the HVAC chiller. This basically primes the system, adding enough new refrigerant to get the cool air flowing. To do this, you will need to get a “trim” charge canister from the company that makes your HVAC unit. The method for charging varies slightly by model, but, essentially, there is a standard procedure. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Unplug your HVAC and give it a few hours to wind down.
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2
Access your refrigerant valve. This will usually be behind a panel; it should be next to a dial noting the charge level. Consult your HVAC manual to find it.
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3
Connect the hose from your trim canister to the valve. The connection is generally similar that of refilling a tire -- but larger. You’ll want to be wearing gloves from this point on because refrigerant can irritate the skin.
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4
Begin the refrigerant flow from the canister, using the trigger or button on the canister.
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5
Monitor the dial on the HVAC unit. When it indicates the chiller charge is at the right level, stop the flow.
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Disconnect the trim canister and close back up the HVAC unit.
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