A/C sprung a leak-solder?

I bought some 1/4" tubing. Smallest I could find. Cut the bad spot out and cut a short piece of tube and slid it over. It was pretty sloppy on it but i got both ends filled up with solder. Pulled a good vacuum and charged it up. Added a little oil, just had to guess there. Running good so far. No leaks. Thanks for all the responses.

The line tap can work. It is for anywhere on the suction side, not the capillary tube. Also map gas will work on a line that small
but also must be silver solder. Will be a tricky fix.
Good Luck, Brian

The "hole" should have been caused by the line rubbing on something. You silver solder(braze) OVER the hole. The silver flux will not block off the tube. I have done this numerous times over the years. You then evacuate and charge. Your unit has been fixed before if you have a line tap already installed. Doug

Map gas should work on a small line.No flux but I like to clean the copper with sandpaper.

The line tap is a great idea but I think this line is too small for that. Going to Lowes tomorrow. Let me make sure I have this right. From what I have been able to find, for silver solder I need map gas, not propane? No flux required? I have soldered copper pipe before but only on water systems.

Thanks for all the responses. This is kind of odd because 2 days ago I ordered a new a/c to add a third to my MH. 2 just won't keep me cool in a few places I have to go. I have about a month before going on my hottest annual trip. Got some work to do.

This may be an off the wall suggestion, but don't refrigeration supply houses sell a small "line tap" that is used on window A/C units?
I bought one several years ago to repair a leak in a window unit. I lined it up with the small pin hole leak, screwed it in place and tapped the line where the leak was located. The line tap also included the fitting for recharging the A/C unit. After fitting the tap I recharged the unit with R-22 (I think, it's been a while) and it worked for another 10 years. Let us know how it works out.

I,d sleeve it with a couple of inches of copper that fit over the outside as tight as possible.When you silver solder it pull the core out of the low side tap.If pressure builds while your soldering it blows the solder out. Ive even hooked up a vacumn pump while I,m soldering.

JackMS wrote:
I'm sure 99% of the freon is out. It has a low side tap in it already and I have a vacuum pump, gauges, freon. Just need to get all the repair stuff.
Copper is sized by OD right? Guess I could get some copper tubing the right size to cut a piece to make a repair sleeve.

Bridging a gap with silver solder probably won't work for very long on the high side line but give it a try. If not cut a small section out and take it with you when you go shopping. Any good HVAC repair service will probably sell you couple of inches of tubing for a dollar or so. Braze it in with silver, pull a vacuum and give it a try. Watch the heat near the reversing valve. They don't like getting hot.

Walmart sells propane torches. Get one of those and an aluminum brazing rod set. You can weld a hole like that.

wny_pat wrote:
Think he is talking about dash a/c. He shouldn't have to do all that stuff if it is dash air.

Sorry. This is a rooftop unit. Dometic penguin 15,000 heat pump.