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Brazing A Wall Mounted Indoor Unit Of An Air Conditioning System

Please read the information below before watching our video on Air Conditioning System.

Brazing is a task that goes hand in hand with every air conditioning installation. The purpose of brazing is to join various lengths of copper pipe. Every air conditioning system installation is different so the copper pipes need to be manipulated into the correct positions. Even the most experienced home air conditioning contractors will struggle to get it right the first time while working on site in the elements. 

Picture laying on your back in the rain, while attempting to seal an existing leaking brazed connection underneath a commercial air conditioning condenser. You need to ensure you don’t harm yourself with falling melted copper rod. In turn, you need to apply enough heat to compensate for the cold ambient temperature. Additionally, wind gusts often fight you on the roof. Furthermore, while brazing the joint its also weeping refrigerant oil from inside the condenser coil. Residential air conditioning installation site issues of similar hair pulling scenarios are a daily occurrences. Furthermore, while working alone side local builders, its important to be mindful of the health and safety regulations on site, as you work with open flames.

Oxy-Acetylene brazing for an air conditioning system

Brazing with an oxygen and acetylene turbo torch is a nice clean way to execute brazes quickly. Additionally, this prevents spreading heat un-necessarily. The flame burns at 3000c + and can easily melt through smaller copper pipe. It is the best way to braze in the circumstances described  In our video attached you will witness a simple map gas blowtorch example of brazing. A blowtorch is a quick effective way to braze indoors when the joints are in the open and are free of obstacles. The flame is a lot bigger than an oxy-acetylene flame and a fraction of the amount of heat penetration on one spot. Therefore, this is not ideal when brazing an air conditioning system with units in situ, as you can burn cables and unit casing.

Get the required training first!

Setting up the flame on an oxy-acetylene turbo torch requires training. It is important to understand how much of a balance you need to use of each gas to get the right type of flame. More acetylene increases the force behind the flame while the oxygen tappers the flame into more focused canal. When installing a bespoke wine cellar cooling system and fitting an externally equalised pressure line, you will want to do this. To tap into a suction pipe and insert a 1/4in copper, you want more oxygen to tunnel the flame into a pin head point to create the hole in the pipe. The longer you leave the flame in position the bigger the hole will become. Therefore, gain practise at this type of task, before attempting it on your final piece of pipework installation.

Basic techniques to follow

Safety first:

  • Make sure the correct type fire extinguisher is present.
  • Use the correct type of goggles for brazing.
  • Wear fire retardant gloves.
  • If your are working on a commercial air conditioning site then get your hot works permit sorted first.
  • Health and safety officers must be in control of the environment and be aware of the potential fire hazard in the task being undertaken.

Once the above is order:

  • Light the torch flame in a ventilated open space making sure smoke alarms are covered. Apply the flame to the joint and make sure the pipe work is glowing red before attempting to add the copper brazing rod.
  • You only need to add small amounts of the rod and allow it to run into the joint.
  • Move the flame in the direction you want the rod to travel and fill.

Once complete cool the pipe immediately and rub aware any oxidising residue before visually inspecting the joint. If the joint shows any inconsistency re-apply the flame and add more copper rod.

Home air conditioning installation caution

This video is a guide for individuals who are following or on a professional training course to become a commercial or domestic air conditioning installer. We do not recommend a first time novice attempt this task. There is a high burn risk and potentially fire hazards.

See the video in the link here: