Regas fridges yes or no

[larry]

Hi I am feeling tempted to buy the kit to start regasing fridges but trying to work out if it’s worth it or not .Im fed up of seeing so many almost new machines scrapped because they won’t cool down ,but having heard of problems these days with the new gases and having to use lok rings instead of brazing I’m not sure what to do .I could do with some advice please .

[admin]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

Hi Larry

There is no problems brazing if you are competent brazing. I have always brazed.

Bryan

[larry]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

I was led to believe that the new gas was flammable and so brazing was not an option ,Also is regassing domestic appliances financially worth it these days.

[kwatt]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

I know people go on about Lokring and flammable gas but, talk to most any “fridge guy” and they’ll all tell you that brazing is faster, cheaper and more reliable.

Good for going aluminium to copper for sure but, for much anything else, I wouldn’t.

Work on the system empty, use a charging stub.

As to viability, well, tell the owner of a £2K US FF that they need to ditch it as it’s not worth spending £2-400 changing the pot. They’ll tell you just how viable it is.

K.

[bagman]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

I found my old Microflame kit in the back of my garage if you’re interested?
O2 bottle, holder with recharge hose and cables, just needs scorpion or whatever torch you prefer. 🙂

[kwatt]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

Scorpion.

Used correctly, 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} success rate. 😉

K.

[Dan76]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

I’ve just booked my F-gas course for next month as i also think too many units are being scrapped/written off with system or compressor faults.
There is good money to be made on AMFF and integrated fridge-freezers.

Well that’s what I think, hopefully at least one other person agrees so I feel better about the F-gas course expense!!

[eastlmark]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

IMO “regassing” is a bit of a non starter, if the gas has leaked out there is a reason that will probably be non repairable anyway and at best re gassing will only be a temporary fix if at all as many non cooling faults are evaporatior issues.
The Appliances being written off you refer to is not due to no one being able to repair them, its due to the cost. No matter what equipment and skills you have if customers are not going to pay for it then you are wasting your money. Most comp failures I come across are in built in units rather than “American Style” and in most cases customer would rather replace the appliance. The only compressor jobs I ever get are either under warranty or insured which will be a paid at a too lower rate to make it worthwhile and you will never get your money back on equipment, not to mention F gas certification. Having said all that, its probably the most satisfying side of our work and one of the few aspects of our work that customers are appreciative and in awe of our talents. You never get a “I could have done that if I had the time” comment after fitting a compressor.

[larry]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

Can anyone tell me training course you have to go on for regassing and how much does it cost and where do they do it .Ta.

[funkyboogy]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

f gas is that not just for 134a system work ?

we only regas etc for warranty work or american ff ,

there isnt much else worth doing , ie 50p fridge from argos etc

the grass may seem greener re fridge work but thats just an illusion

must of the guys on here are doing because of contract /warrnaty work etc

ally

[kwatt]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

The one thing that seems to be being forgotten is that the ability to repair refrigeration is a transferable skill.

You can apply the same diagnostic principals and repair skills to air conditioning, commercial and more.

It was interesting at the last meeting when there was the opportunity presented to repair domestic heat pump heating systems, worth thousands of pounds, in some cases tens of thousands. These are, at the core of it, essentially a big refrigeration unit but you can charge a massive amount more to repair those over a fridge freezer that left the Argos warehouse.

These type of heating systems are set to become more popular as, on that scale, heat pump works and is economically viable.

(Before anyone asks, I believe that for now that was only open to WTA members.)

Needless to say, there was much interest in this from the people in attendance. For two reasons I expect, the pure opportunity of it and that I suspect that some people, if they could find a viable way out of this industry, would jump at the chance.

But if all you know how to do is fix washing machines, cookers and the odd dishwasher or, you’re not willing to try other things or, learn new skills well…

K.

[timdowning]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

As a WTA member I’ve been trying for ages to get ‘trained up’ on refrigeration but nothing seems to have come of Ian Dales work on sorting courses? Is there something new on the horizon?
Cheers.

[admin]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

Hi tim

Youve never asked me

Bryan

[timdowning]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

Afternoon,

I didn’t know you did training.

I thought the WTA were working towards a recognised qualification.
I did look into a course, think it was in Hatfield, but Im sure it was 5 days a week for a couple of weeks.

What do you offer Bryan?

Ta.

[admin]

Re: Regas fridges yes or no

Give me a call between 12-2 tomorrow

[Author]

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