How can we repair a hole in an HVAC pipe?
Heidi asked:
My husband accidentally drilled a small hole through a copper pipe that is for the HVAC unit. When it happened compressed air rushed out of the hole. When we turned off the heat the rushing air stopped. He cut a hole in the drywall and exposed the hole. He decided to duct tape it and we turned the heat back on. It seems to be okay for now.
My husband accidentally drilled a small hole through a copper pipe that is for the HVAC unit. When it happened compressed air rushed out of the hole. When we turned off the heat the rushing air stopped. He cut a hole in the drywall and exposed the hole. He decided to duct tape it and we turned the heat back on. It seems to be okay for now.
So, is the duct tape a decent fix? For now? For the long term? What’s it going to take to fix this?
Thanks!
furnace service
furnace repair Richmond
Not a DIY repair. You are going to have to call an HVAC company out to fix it.
The compressed air that you heard rushing out of it was actually refrigerant that makes the whole system work. This piece is going to have to be cut and a coupling soldered in place. It’s working right now because the tape might have slowed the leak, but soon the pressure will be too much for the duct tape and it will start leaking out again. This gas is harmful, both to you (if it’s coming in the house) as well as the environment. I would not use this unit if I were you. You need to call and get this repaired ASAP. If you run your system out, there’s a chance that the low pressure switch will not work and you could further damage your system.
Heating Repair
NOT for you to fix get a service tech out to fix asap so your system doesnt get more cantaminated by water vapor than it may already be
heat pump repair Mechanicsville
Not sure what that line might be other than a coolant supply line. If the pipe is a standard size (1/2 “, 3/4″) it can be repaired – either by sweating ajoint with a coupling or with a product available at home depot called sharkbite which joins copper tubing without solder. Either way, you will have to make a clean cut through the pipe first (pipe cutter).
If it were me, though, I’d try to figure out what the line is. If it is indeed a coolant line, you might as well have the HVAC guy fix it when he comes to recharge your system.
heat pump service Mechanicsville
Sounds like he drilled a hole into your sealed air conditioning pipes and that allowed the freon to escape. The hole will have to be sealed by a professional and your system recharged with freon. That is not a DIY project.
Should not affect your heat, but your air conditioning won’t work.
Heating Repair Midlothian
Duct tape is not the answer. I am not an HVAC expert. you can turn off the unit, cut the pipe and solder a sleeve onto the pipe. Recharge the unit and you should be good 4 ev ER.
Gas Furnace Maintenance Chester
yeah you need to call a heating repair man. freon goes thru those lines, or it could be the vacuum line. these pipes have to be braised not even just regular solder because they are under very high pressure. you cant fix it with duct tape
heat pump repair Short Pump
Duct tape is not a good fix. A decent and cheap fix is to find a sheet metal screw about the size of the hole. With a metal washer and a rubber washer and the screw that should be a decent fix.