Leak Repair Verification

Steps

1. 1Critical stepGet the leak locations from the leak inspection record
2. 2Critical stepNote the repair deadline: 30 days (120 if an industrial process shutdown is required) from the refrigerant addition to an appliance over its leak rate; the initial verification test is due within the same period
3. 3If the repair means opening the appliance, first recover the refrigerant to the required evacuation level (Table 1, or the leaking-appliance and minor-repair levels in 82.156(a)), verify the level, and never vent refrigerant
4. 4Repair each identified leak using the method suited to the joint, following the manufacturer or employer procedure
5. 5Critical stepIf brazing, flow dry nitrogen through the joint while heating to keep oxide scale out of the lines
6. 6After the repair is finished, run the initial verification test on each repaired leak before any refrigerant is added back
7. 7Critical stepIf the initial test shows a leak is not fixed, repair and retest, as many times as needed within the period
8. 8Bring the appliance to normal operating conditions and run the follow-up verification test within 10 days of the successful initial test, or of reaching normal operating conditions if it was evacuated
9. 9Critical stepIf the follow-up test fails, repair and test again; if the appliance still leaks above its rate, create a retrofit or retirement plan within 30 days
10. 10Record the appliance location, test dates, locations of repaired leaks, test types and results, and give the owner or operator the documentation
11. 11Confirm the repair at the next refrigerant addition with the leak rate calculation

What graders are watching for

Common mistakes

Related leak detection repair skills

• Leak Detection Inspection
• Electronic Leak Detection
• Bubble Method Leak Detection