A/C service ports

D & M wrote:
I have never seen an A/C unit that didn't have a Schrader valve for adding gas.

I have looked at about 35 rooftop RV a/c units and never saw a single service port on any of them. I installed one on my A/C and one that I repaired for a friend.

I have also looked at well over 150 window air conditioners and never seen a single service port, except perhaps some that my mechanics installed when adding freon to them.

I have also seen well over 200 residential refrigerators. Again, no freon service ports.

Commercial refrigerators are another story, many times they will have service ports. Sometimes just a suction service port, as the high pressure is more likely to leak.

Residential air conditioners? Always have service ports to test and add freon. Same with commercial A/C units.

A trained A/C mechanic can install a copper service valve that welds onto the 3/8" copper line, then once it is leak checked, pierce the copper tubing, then safely check the freon levels. This takes about an hour and $15 part.

Bolt on service valves tend to leak, sometimes right away, usually within 2 years start to leak. I would only install them on a system to recover the freon, say if I was making a perminate repair, or disposing of the unit, and recovering any remaining freon.

Fred.

The saddle clamp valve are not a permanent fix. It is not a matter of if they will leak, but when they will leak. To properly fix a unit with soldered in place Schrader valves, you need to do a leak check, solder in the valves and repair the leak with a nitrogen purge on the system, evacuate the system and recharge the system.

Usually a technician will charge an amount that will be approaching 1/2 of the cost of a new unit. You can sometimes find a smaller shop that will be willing to work on a hermetic unit.

Ken

You can get one of those do it yourself cans with a guage at the auto parts store. Or find a privately owned appliance repair store to do it. There is a small one near me and I have seen RVs getting it done in his lot while I was at the Chinese food place next door.

My roof unit has a service port. But I added it. It's the saddle clamp type that after it's installed, you turn in the valve and it pierces the ac line. But I can't find any residential ac repairman that is willing to add refrigerant. Guess it's new roof unit time.

I haven't seen service ports on any of this small stuff, RV ACs, window bangers or residential frig/freezers for about 40 years. Craig

Bob Vaughn wrote:
Do roof top A/C units have service ports to add freon?

No.

oldmattb wrote:
I have not seen a window AC with a schrader valve in probably 20 years. I have inspected maybe eight roof RV ACs, and none had a service port of any kind. I think the little sealed pigtail is where they they add refrigerant during the manufacturing.

Matt B

That is also my understanding, few (if any) are made to receive "easy" recharges.
That may not be true for the basement mounted A/C found on some high-end DPs

I have not seen a window AC with a schrader valve in probably 20 years. I have inspected maybe eight roof RV ACs, and none had a service port of any kind. I think the little sealed pigtail is where they they add refrigerant during the manufacturing.

Matt B

I have never seen an A/C unit that didn't have a Schrader valve for adding gas.