Nitrogen Purging While Brazing

If you plan to install an air conditioner in your Florida home, remember to ask prospective contractors if they nitrogen purge when they braze.

The question undoubtedly will raise eyebrows among the companies bidding for your business. Most homeowners are focused on energy efficiency, cost, price, warranties, and unit features when shopping for a new cooling system. Rarely do they deep dive into installation methods.

However, it is worth knowing which heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors include this essential step in their installation estimates.

No Cutting Corners in Hawthorne

You can rest assured that at Crystal Air & Water, our installers always nitrogen purge when joining the copper pipe for your cooling system. Skipping this step in the installation process can affect system longevity.

We include this essential technique in our written estimates and can answer any questions or concerns you have about it. Our certified, licensed pros follow industry best practices and comply with local and state building codes.

Although HVAC equipment manufacturers underscore the necessity of using a nitrogen purge to clean the pipes before adding refrigerant, not all do. If your installer ignores this step, it can cause you major headaches down the road.

What is Brazing?

Brazing is the craft of joining metal parts, such as copper pipes for refrigerant, with a flame and a filler metal. It is a normal part of the air conditioning installation process. Although every AC installation is unique, all central air conditioners include refrigerant pipes. Some systems require more refrigerant piping than others, depending on the distance between the indoor and outdoor units. Technicians braze pipes to create the right fit in every installation. 

When a technician uses a torch to join refrigerant pipes, the filler metal melts and creates a secure bond. However, the process also produces a dirty byproduct—oxide—that forms inside the pipe. Oxygen and copper create oxide scaling that can flake, sending particles into the refrigerant, which carries them through your AC system, damaging components, causing equipment failure, and shortening your unit’s lifespan.

Why We Nitrogen Purge

Nitrogen gas is the solution for preventing oxides from forming and ruining your cooling system.

At Crystal Air & Water, our technicians flow nitrogen through pipes while they braze. The nitrogen replaces oxygen in the tube and prevents the oxide scale from forming. Afterward, the technician can safely add refrigerant to the system, knowing the pipe is clean.

Repairing Oxide Damage

Fixing an AC system clogged by oxide particles can be costly and time-consuming. The technician must remove the refrigerant, clean or replace affected parts, and then add the refrigerant. Nitrogen purging is a simple process by comparison.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates three million HVAC systems are replaced, and $14 billion is spent on repairs and other services annually. If you are among the three million households installing new AC this year, be sure to ask about nitrogen purging and brazing when you meet with prospective contractors. You may avoid costly repairs down the road.

Enjoy Your New AC with Confidence

Let Crystal Air & Water help you choose a new cooling system for your Hawthorne, FL home. We will install your new unit while conforming to the highest industry standards. Call us at 352-333-0460 or request service online.