Air conditioner

[cormay1230]

I need to convert my a/c to 134a freon. Any idea on cost or how much of a headache this will be? Thanks

[VileZambonie]

It's easy. Is your system empty? If so just get the fittings and while you're at it replace the orifice tube. Install the new orifice tube and coat your o-rings with ester oil. Stop by a garage or ask someone with a vacuum pump to pump down the system for 30 minutes. Then charge through the low side with 4-8 oz of ester oil in a charged can. Then add 4 12 oz cans of r134a

[cormay1230]

Yes I belive my system is empty. I have a hole in the a/c hose so i need to replace it first, but the guy i bought it from said that all the r12 leaked out of that hose. Said it worked fine until then. The commpressor doesn't come on but i think thats normal if the system is empty.

[VileZambonie]

If the system has been open get a new accumulator too.

[HookedOnReefing]

Why convert your system? There are a couple of alternatives out there. In your case I'd replace the leaking hose and recharge the system with freeze 12 which is an alternative to R12. Freeze 12 can be legally purchased by anyone unlike R12 and is readily available. It also does not require you to have to clean out all the R12 that's still in the system.
http://www.freeze12.com/

[Skunksmash]

Off topic, but the johnsen's company is based in my town. i may even be about to go to work for them for the summer.

[VileZambonie]

Alternative refrigerants are no good. Stay away from them. I'll rant more later on this when I have time.

[HookedOnReefing]

VileZambonie,

Could you tell us a little more about alternative refrigerants and why they're bad?

[BigBadJohn]

I just bought the $30 kit from walmart but got mine on sale
Sold as a "retrofit and recharge kit"
Comes with reuseable nozzle and guage and 3 or 4 decent sized bottles of 134a
as well as fittings and instructions

[VileZambonie]

First there's no reasons to use alternate refrigerants. The claims made by freeze 12 etc that they work even better and increase performance are self made claims. Second you risk cross contamination of equipment which is very costly. If I pull contaminated refrigerant unknowingly out a system into my machine it costs me hundreds of dollars and lots of headaches. The only approved use of alternate refrigerants by the epa are in fleet vehicles. Again what's the point? R134a is cheap and readily available. Do it right the first time.