Air Conditioning - Green slime after vacum.

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View Full Version : Green slime after vacum.

shallowluv
07-15-07, 12:15 AM
I recently repaired a hole in the refrigerant line of a package unit ( gas ). When I disconnected my gauges green slime shot out of the schrader valve. I had reached and held 500 microns for 15min. I flushed the system and could never reach a vacum again only 20hg mercury. Any answers or tips appreciated.

gremlin
07-15-07, 07:17 AM
Wow, I've never seen that before. Have you pressure tested the system with nitrogen?
jim-connor
07-15-07, 01:28 PM
OH NO. The dreaded green slime. Don't see it too often, but the system is doomed. The usual cause (or perhaps the only cause) is water and air entering the running system. More than likely, the leak was on the suction side. The pressure dropped below atmospheric after enough freon leaked out, then the compressor sucked in water and air.

You may as well replace the entire system including the lineset. If anyone has successfully cleaned up such a system, I'm all ears.

Ed Imeduc
07-15-07, 01:44 PM
Im with Jim tell them they need a new system there for sure
shallowluv
07-15-07, 06:50 PM
Wow, I've never seen that before. Have you pressure tested the system with nitrogen? Yes. 250 PSIG for 30 min.
gremlin
07-15-07, 08:29 PM
If the system is still working, it might limp through this year. Might help the customer budget for the cost. I've seen some chemicals that claim you can flush a system and clean up a ton of corrosion, but that all takes time, how much time can you spend before it's cheaper to buy a new one?