[Zarezhu]

Hey all.
So the spot im renting from is a no go after 2 years of smooth indoor operation. I have a 24kbtu friedrich breeze diy/quick connect minisplit that I need to move. Im curious if theres any possible way to save most of the refrigerant when i disconnect the precharged linesets coupling from the outside condenser unit. Or is it going to be contained within both units regardless(minimal to no refrigerant loss)? And are there any precautions I should take? I'll likely be unable to reconnect it for another 6 months or so, it would have to sit in storage disconnected.

I seem to recall reading something about somehow getting all the refrigerant into the airhandler prior to disconnecting the coupling. Maybe im making things up though, idk.

Appreciate any help guys

[queequeg152]

on a typical minisplit you would pump down the unit by closing service valves forcing most of the refrigerant to collect inside the liquid reciever.

then you would recover the rest of the vapor with a typical recovery machine and break the lineset with some nitrogen and cut away the copper or simply undo the flare fittings.

TBH idk how the fancy breeze lineset works... its entirely possible the lineset has shrader valves built in... but it might also just use some sort of piercing valve to puncture some copper caps.

i cant find any real info on the unit so i just cannot say... if the thing has valves in the lineset then you would just pump it down and disconnect the lineset.

if its some sort of puncturing mechanism then you will need to recover the refrigerant remaining after pumping down then break it with nitrogen or air as i mentioned above.

fwiw, you really should be vacuuming down any lineset and evaporator. precharged linesets are pretty hacky and always introduce a small amount of moisture and atmosphere to the system.

make sure to read the install manual if you have it.

[Speed of green]

I was in a similar situation and had to move my stuff last minute.

ended up disconnecting the two refrigerant lines at the condenser, it will hiss pretty loud for a minute or two, also a lot of oil will come out so have a catch can or some towels ready.

I dont know if R410 is bad to inhale so i just walked away for a while.

After two months of sitting i had a licensed hvac guy come out and do a full recharge/oil/cleaning it came out to $380 This was a 3 ton Mr.Slim unit.

This is probably really bad for the environment and definitely not recommended.

[Hrpuffnkush]

You will need to recharge it

[queequeg152]

Originally Posted by Speed of green

I was in a similar situation and had to move my stuff last minute.

ended up disconnecting the two refrigerant lines at the condenser, it will hiss pretty loud for a minute or two, also a lot of oil will come out so have a catch can or some towels ready.

I dont know if R410 is bad to inhale so i just walked away for a while.

After two months of sitting i had a licensed hvac guy come out and do a full recharge/oil/cleaning it came out to $380 This was a 3 ton Mr.Slim unit.

This is probably really bad for the environment and definitely not recommended.

oy... so you basically vented a shit load of refrigerant to atmosphere. the EPA can fine you thousands for this.

and it sounds as though you did not pump the unit down either... the reason you got oil gushing out is because the oil in the sump was flushed out by liquid refrigerant boiling inside the crank case.

you need to buy the proper tools if you are going to be working with HVAC equipment... minisplits especially as they are very sensitive in nature. most of them dont even have real filter dryers... just tiny inline screens to block the passage of shit to sensitive EEV orifaces.

what you should have done is pumped down the unit to the reciever tank. you dont need a recovery machine to do this... this would have kept probably 95% of the refrigerant inside the unit and would have kept the condensing unit clean and dry.

the rest of the refrigerant inside the evap and lineset should then be recovered as vapor (not to be mixed with liquid recovered 410).

then you can cut into the copper without any issues legal or otherwise.

guys refrigerant molecules are fucking full of single and double ( pie bonds what ever...) covalent bonds. these make the molecules vibrate when exposed to infared energy and are the reason why they have super high global warming figures.

you should not be venting this shit, its bad for your equipment and bad for the atmosphere.

just get a cheap recovery machine... you can get one now for like 350 bucks. a recovery tank is another 70 bucks, and a cheap manifold is like 50 bucks.

you spent amost as much on your hvac tech for one visit... imagine how fast the equipment will pay for itself over 5-10 years?

if you are going to be working on hvac equipment you need to learn about this shit and then make that investment in equipment before you go and vent a bunch of refrigerant. OR just have professionals do this... frankly this is FAR the better option imo, thought i understand the circumstances here.

[queequeg152]

ffs guys. just get a proper recovery machine.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Robinair-RG3...-/192231153968

this one is piss small, and probably wont last as long as something like a nice appion g5, but for a handful of recoveries per year? you dont need anything better.

i have a 2nd hand infinicon dual myself, because i dont install shit for a living, its more than enough for my purposes.

[Speed of green]

I agree it was a bad move, and not a route that should be taken.

How do you pump down the unit without the HVAC equipment?

I think there should be a sticky for anyone who needs to emergency disassemble a minisplit.


I imagine there isnt one easy answer for most mini-split brands, but i was totally unaware that it could even be done without equipment.

Thanks queequeg.

EDIT:
This is the statement i am referring to.

"what you should have done is pumped down the unit to the reciever tank. you dont need a recovery machine to do this... this would have kept probably 95% of the refrigerant inside the unit and would have kept the condensing unit clean and dry. "

[Treetroit City]

I believe with the breeze you cut power to it unconnect line set move it and connect it back again. I would call friedrich but I'm 99% sure. That is one of their selling points.
From the website,

"Breeze Mobility
Unlike traditional ductless split systems, Breeze can be disconnected and moved. Remarkably, this is one split system that you can take with you."

[Zarezhu]

So Ive got to move the unit either tomorrow or sunday. Treetroit you are correct, the website states that it can be taken down and moved. I called Friedrich yesterday, and I couldnt talk to technical support. The lady told me that I should just leave the unit off for a day so the reefrgerant could settle in the condenser (lol). Tomorrow morning Ill call and talk to technical support.
E
I'd muich rather pump down the unit if necessary (although, it may possibly not be necessary). If all I needed was a gauge set, I couild go out and purchase one. The only manual available for this unit only shows the simple install instructions. Connect the lineset, connect the electrical component, and turn it on.

These are the only useful pictures I could find:



Do these pictres help at all? If I detach the quick connect lineset, is there a chance the refrigerant will simple stay within the lineset and the condenser, without leaking out? IOt seems to be have made for that purpose.

If I really ned to pump it down, I just need to know where the service port valve is, which valve the liquid side is, which valve the gfas side is, and how to turn the valves.

I know i sound like a noob, but Imjustin panic mode. I hate having to pack up my room and throwing it in storage.

Thanks for all the input guys

[Treetroit City]

I've talked to them before and yes all you need to do is cut power, let it settle like you said and unconnect it. I was told after 4-6 moves it might need a top off on freon.