HELP! Minisplit schrader valve leak

Ok so I installed the minisplit, vacuumed it down and checked that it held below 300 microns for 30 minutes, ok, cool.

Except I was using a core removal tool, and when I put the schrader valve back in it leaked. I spent a minute or two trying to get it to tighten up and stop leaking but it wouldn't stop so I just put the brass cap cover back on. It's slowly going to leak out on me...

What do I do?

Fug... I don't know man, I only work on flux capacitors.

why did you have the schrader out when you were vacuuming it down? it will definitely leak out especially if its r 410a, there under such high pressure. I suggest if you have the removal tool, which is designed to remove and replace the Schrader without losing the charge that you do it fast, otherwise your going to have to blow the charge ,install new Schrader,vacum back down and charge! I do hvac for a living, if you need any help you can message me or just keep it on here for future reference for anyone else

ShirkGoldbrick said:

Ok so I installed the minisplit, vacuumed it down and checked that it held below 300 microns for 30 minutes, ok, cool.

Except I was using a core removal tool, and when I put the schrader valve back in it leaked. I spent a minute or two trying to get it to tighten up and stop leaking but it wouldn't stop so I just put the brass cap cover back on. It's slowly going to leak out on me...

What do I do?

Click to expand...

i think @diamonddav has it right . get the tool and message him if you need help

OK, so for some clarification.

I used a valve core removal tool. It helps pull the vacuum faster. I actually pulled down and held at 210-220 micron for about an hour before releasing the charge.

I released the charge, then went to put the schrader back in. When I went to remove the core removal tool was when I realized the schrader was leaking. In retrospect, I should have immediately put the tool back on, put in another core, and been on my way.

What I did was keep trying to tighten the schrader, even after removing the tool, then put the access cap back on and typed this up.

After some clarity, I removed the access cap and replaced the schrader, problem solved.

The question is, did I lose too much? I'm not sure, I actually lost a bit of length of tubing when I was reflaring the ends (they listed the torque on the 1/4" line as 60ft-lbs, I found another manual that listed it as 10-15 and went with that).

So considering I lost maybe a foot from both sides and that's IDK maybe an ounce and a half I should've drained anyways I might actually be pretty close to the charge I should have anyways.

I'm just going to run it and see if it overheats. If it doesn't, good, if it does - recovery and refill.

well sounds like you probably got it. worse case scenario you might need a little bit of freon.