Trackin' Leaks

Oil or dirt around fittings, connections, or bends in tubing and hoses means one thing to your customers: refrigerant is escaping, leaving a lubricant trail behind. Repairing leaks is a critical part of the service job. And the sooner those leaks are identified and repaired, the better for the system and the environment.

Repairing leaks:
  • Controls the amount of moisture in the system
  • Keeps the system running efficiently
  • Protects the environment from escaping refrigerant
  • Helps avoid fines for non-compliance
  • Conserves costly refrigerant
  • Reduces time-consuming call-backs to make repairs
  • Avoids air or other non-condensible gases from entering the system
  • Increases customer satisfaction

But before repairs can be made, leaks have to be found.

Track 'em down

Identifying leaks can take time. Even with the trail left by dirt and oil, your customers need to locate the exact point of the leak to repair it. And once one leak has been located, the technician will want to make sure there aren't other leaks in the system that could do even more damage.

Why Ultraviolet Leak Detection?

An ultraviolet leak detector, like Robinair's Tracker® System, is an efficient way to detect leaks. The fluorescent dye combines with the refrigerant lubricant to move throughout the system. If there's a leak, the oil (and dye) will migrate out at the leak point and be visible in the light of the Tracker lamp, even in bright sunlight.

How does this change the technician's service routine?

It doesn't. The technician doesn't have to recover, evacuate and  recharge the system to add the dye. It can be added to a fully-pressurized system. The dye works with mineral, polyol ester and alkylbenzene oils, so it won't affect system performance. Because it is universal, there's no guessing as to what dye to use, and the correct type of dye is always available.

How much dye is enough?

The technician can decide how much dye to use based on the system size or the amount of oil in the system. In general, use ¼ ounce of dye for every 16 ounces of oil in the system.

A path to follow

The technician adds the dye once. It will be there the next time the system is checked for leaks and will stay fluorescent for two years or more. This works well for preventive maintenance programs since new dye does not need to be added every time.

Sell your customers on the Tracker UV Leak Detection System by showing them how to save time and money with . . . 

  • Better operating systems
  • Fewer call backs
  • No wasted refrigerant
  • Concentrated universal dye
  • Long dye life—it will be there the next time you check for leaks
  • Customer satisfaction

Don't let leaks hide from your customers! Here are two ways to locate leaks in those hard-to-get-to spaces:

Can't shine the beam directly on a suspected leak point? Use a mechanic's mirror to reflect it into the area.

Still can't see it? Rub the area with a clean cloth or swab, then shine the UV lamp on it. If there's dye on the cloth/swab, you've got a leak.