Understanding Leak Detectors With Inficon

In this episode recorded live at AHR Expo 2023, Nick from INFICON joins Bryan to talk about leak detectors and how we can improve our understanding of them.

Some leak detectors, including the INFICON Stratus, measure concentrations in PPM (parts per million). When measuring PPM, we have to keep in mind that it doesn't indicate the size of the leak or leak rate, but it does help us pinpoint the leak location. In some cases, we also have to watch for automatic zeroing capabilities.

Leak detectors come in many varieties, including heated-diode, ultrasonic, and infrared; each type has unique maintenance needs. Heated-diode leak detectors are sensitive, but their sensors wear off with frequent use and will require replacement. Infrared leak detectors use infrared absorption and don't degrade over time the way heated-diode leak detectors do. An ultrasonic leak detector picks up the sound of refrigerant and air leaking out of a hole to pinpoint the leak.

It's a good idea to approach leak detection with a plan, including starting high on the coil and moving down (because refrigerant is heavier than air and may set off the leak detector below the actual leak). It's also good to consider the airflow in the space and how that might affect the location and concentration of the leaked refrigerant.

Nick and Bryan also discuss:

Pressure, hole shape, and leak rate
Understanding tool maintenance
Infrared leak detector usage and considerations
Common causes of leak detector failure
D-TEK product line
CO2 and hydrocarbon sensors for leak detectors
D-TEK Stratus modes (cloud hunting and pinpoint)
Applications for D-TEK Stratus leak detectors
“False” positives

Learn more about INFICON at https://www.inficon.com/.

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HVAC School – For Techs, By Techs

Real training for HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technicians. Including recorded tech training, interviews, diagnostics and general conversations about the trade.

In today’s podcast, Bryan talks with legendary Hydronics author and trainer Dan Holohan about the history of steam heating and some practical applications of old ideas. Recently, Dan has been working on more novels, having published two of them over the past few months.

Steam heating is a “lost art” nowadays; it has become increasingly uncommon and has been disappearing since the Vietnam War. Many people who understood steam heating either retired or died after the Vietnam War. Many elements of steam heating are difficult to understand or surprising. (For example, steam pressure has a surprising relationship with velocity: low-pressure steam moves through piping much more quickly than high-pressure steam.) So, Dan Holohan is on a mission to revive that knowledge and teach the newer generations about the lost art.

There are many older steam heating systems still operating today, especially in the older large buildings in New York. Dan learned a lot about steam heating when working on these old systems and optimizing them. Most of the time, he optimized those systems by removing unnecessary accessories, not by adding components like steam traps.

Many old boilers used coal as a heat source. Nowadays, many old boilers have been fitted with conversion oil burners with thermostats, but they are still piped for coal. Some systems now have multiple risers or massive vents on the main riser to prevent the thermostats from getting too hot too early and satisfying the thermostat too early. We call that master venting, which reduces pressure and allows steam to move very quickly and efficiently.

Dan also discusses:

The 2-PSI standard
Transportation metaphors for BTUs in steam
Harmful renovations for old boilers
Replacement vs. restoration mindsets
Gaps in steam boiler education
Monopolizing the market if you HAVE the education
Boiler piping and venting
Two-pipe vs one-pipe steam

Find out more about Dan and hydronic heating at HeatingHelp.com.

Have a question that you want us to answer on the podcast? Submit your questions at https://www.speakpipe.com/hvacschool.

Purchase your tickets or learn more about the 6th Annual HVACR Training Symposium at https://hvacrschool.com/symposium. Subscribe to our podcast on your iPhone or Android. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Check out our handy calculators here or on the HVAC School Mobile App for Apple and Android.