Sealing leak on aluminum coil

charliechicago

Hello to all,

I have a customer that has a leak on one of the distributor cap tubes on the a-coil. It is aluminum. In the past I have successfully used LA-CO which is a green crayon that you heat up and apply. In this case I am a concerned the cap tube will fall apart if I try that. Is there an epoxy on the market that I can apply to aluminum with out any heat?

Thank you.

pecmsg

I don’t think I’ve ever seen an aluminum cap tube.

is this after the expansion valve feeding the evaporator?

charliechicago

Ironman

There may be something like JB Weld, but as a contractor that has to stand behind my work, I wouldn’t try it. If it leaks again, the coil will have to be replaced. Go ahead and do it right now.

Something I’ve learned: I’ve been doing this for 55 years and trying to save money by doing a repair in a way that the manufacturer doesn’t authorize, or that doesn’t meet industry standards, almost always eventually results in having to do it over the correct way and costing more in the long run.

Replace the coil.

GGross

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1899766#Comment_1899766

Many forced air companies offer 10+ year warranty on many products these days. good chance the coil is under warranty still.

charliechicago

Thanks everyone. It’s not under warrenty and if I can’t fix it he will have to replace the entire system so he knows what the cost will be if it doesn’t work. I’ve had success in the past with this green crayon, never had to come back, it’s held Nobody has a replacement coil

GGross

Installer needs to register these when putting them in. I sell that brand and just registering the install (matched equipment ODU and coil at least) will give you a free 5 year extension, so 10 years total. the coil was manufactured 6 years ago, so it would 100% be covered if it had been registered, or if it were installed within 5 years

it costs zero dollars and takes about 3 minutes to do after an install

also, I have replacements for this coil. its a multi positional version but I warrantied this exact model 3 weeks ago and used a multi position to replace and they approved it

Ironman

”If I can’t fix it he’ll have to replace the entire system”.

I don’t understand your reasoning here. Even if you can’t find the exact replacement coil (which @GGross says he has), any generic coil would work. It’s a low end piston coil.

mattmia2

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1899769#Comment_1899769

that is pretty shady requiring it to be "registered" to get the warranty. they know they made the thing and when

mattmia2

btw those are distributor tubes, not capillary tubes. if they disintegrate when you try to braze up the hole you have bigger problems.

charliechicago

Ironman

You regularly replace coils with generic ones ? I tried that years ago and the new coil did not fit into the cabinet properly. I figured if you don’t get the oem you can’t replace a leaking coil ?

pecmsg

I agree

Just get a replacement coil.

charliechicago

It needs to be refilled every 5 days so I don’t loose to just try. I agree that a replacement coil is always the best option. The distributor tube rubbed against the insulation and leaked so I know that the coil is otherwise ok. If I can’t find fix it I’ll know right away and can just go and get the coil. I stand corrected, I can get the coil, thanks to GGross letting me know, the first distributor I went to said I could not get it anymore.

GGross

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1899775#Comment_1899775

you get 5 years no questions asked except proof of purchase, registration nets you an additional 5 years on top, this is because it streamlines the paperwork and cuts out any question of when a unit was installed

pecmsg

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1899785#Comment_1899785

and shows the install contractor is at least licensed.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Even if you can't find the exact coil you could use anyone's cased coil and there are coil companies like Aspen Mfg. who can make you any coil you want, aluminum, copper, up flow, downflow anything you want and match it to the condensing unit you have.