Refrigeration. A new frontier.

[ali_g12]

Now things have gone a bit quiet (more so than usual) I’m looking to look into refrigeration training. We’ve always done diagnostics on domestic refrigeration but never broke into the system. There have been a few situations where re-gas probably would have been viable (ie. premium fridges and American fridges where the customer has ‘built in’ to the kitchen or even the house:D) but generally the economics are still skewed towards ‘beyond economical repair’ and indeed we’d often supply a new appliance.

Now I have a new employee with extensive refrigeration/aircon experience (albeit from another country) I’m thinking of getting him on the FGAS category 1 course and trained up so we can start offering re-gas and small commercial refrigeration / small a/c.

I’ve looked at a few other threads on here from years gone by and gleaned a bit of info. However, there are a few questions I have:

i) There is some confusion about whether FGAS certification is required for R600a. Had a look through the F Gas list :

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fluorinated-gases-f-gases

but I’m just as confused.

ii) Do you also need separate certification to carry refrigerant?

Any other bits of advice from refrigeration engineers very much welcome.

[ali_g12]

I also wanted to ask about the viability of regassing domestic fridges. I don’t know many people who are doing it so that would suggest either there’s a lack of demand or lack of skills. I suspect it’s the latter as we get plenty of people asking to re-gas their fridges.

[electrofix]

problem is everbody think its a gas problem but that brings up the question why ?

if it is a gas problem then how did it leak out of a sealed system and if its leaking there is no point

Dave

[ali_g12]

electrofix wrote: problem is everbody think its a gas problem but that brings up the question why ?

if it is a gas problem then how did it leak out of a sealed system and if its leaking there is no point

Dave

Yes, these are some of the questions I’ve had for too long now. I’d at least like to become able to give a definite answer on the exact cause of the ‘systems fault’. If a leakage could be identified quickly then that would be a good skill to have. Just in the process of watching this:

[video=youtube;6KBzES-7v8o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KBzES-7v8o[/video]

Ultimately I know that learning all these skills and getting the kit probably won’t pay off with domestic refrigeration but after a while I might be able to apply it to commercial and small a/c systems and perhaps get a return on the effort and new avenue for the business.

I’m gonna do some youtubing!

[electrofix]

there is more money in commercial and dont forget over time central heating in domestic houses are going to be using heat pumps. They will need repairing

Dave

[ali_g12]

electrofix wrote: there is more money in commercial and dont forget over time central heating in domestic houses are going to be using heat pumps. They will need repairing

Dave

Yes, we’ll have to look into this. Was thinking of getting a heatpump in the house when we refurbish it so might be my first opportunity to heave a look into it then. I’ve noted a few of the FGAS training centres are offering ‘free’ heat pump courses.

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