Chiller Gas Top up

**marlin74** · 23rd Nov 2011, 18:11

I would like the opinion of more experience forumers on a problem I have . Recently after almost 3 years my Teco TR20 was not chilling the water anymore. The air being expelled was cold and not warm as usual. I suspected the gas had run out and called the agent Qian Hu. They took in the chiller and called me today to explain that everything was alright but the gas needed topping up. The cost quoted was $230. I would like an opinion on if this is correct and if there is anywhere else I can get it topped up instead of Qian Hu ?

Any info on this matter would be of great help. Thanks.

**Humble** · 23rd Nov 2011, 22:09

Bro, the quoted price of $230 is quite pricey.

Maybe you can try to google up on what type of top-up gas Teco are using. If it is common to those like our fridge or air-con then i believe you will have more options. It will also be much cheaper.

I'm no expert, it is only through sharing that we all learn together. Looking forward to your next post if you managed to explore other options available.

**avex30** · 24th Nov 2011, 13:13

wah $230 i ain't not expert in aqua chiller topup but home use compressor 2 unti compressor was about $60 + cleaning the grill abit. hmmm you might want to try the another shop mention before.

**stormhawk** · 25th Nov 2011, 13:12

The refrigerant used in the TR20 is R134a as listed here:

https://www.tecous.com/chillers/seachill-tr20/

R134a is also known as HFC 134a, which is commonly used in car air con systems. I think you can get a better quote from an air con servicing company.

**marlin74** · 26th Nov 2011, 14:21

I also thought earlier that i could use an aircon company to do the top up ? Just concerned if they will know the pressure required and if the connection is the same. I was told by Qian Hu that the reason the cost was so high was because the connection was different. Having no technical knowledge of this I am needless to say a little concerned. Thanks for the useful info guys. if anyone has similar experience and solution please let me now. Cheers !

**equidorz** · 26th Nov 2011, 15:13

i was once told that chiller doesnt need any topping up of gas because if you need to top up the gas then the chiller is somehow spoilt.

**Thinthin** · 26th Nov 2011, 21:43

Hi bro marlin74,

From what I heard from arctica repairman before. Our chiller is sometime like those closed system , meaning the gas is being cycled internally continuously. The gas willnt be used up one, therefore if there is a leak. Even if you top up, it's will leak again but slowly. In order to solve the problem, you will have to find the leak.

So if Qian hu can top up the gas and can guarantee that it's willnt leak again. Then I think it's worth it.

**berlinjs** · 27th Nov 2011, 11:51

Any bro have a picture of then gas inlet valve?
I wonder is it the same as our home Ac unit type?

**Xianghao** · 28th Nov 2011, 10:32

I agree that doing a gas top-up is not the end of the problem, you have to solve the problem of the leak in the first place, to prevent any future need to top up.

As a cheap and crude method, maybe it is possible to use soapy water to wet the connection areas and try to find any possible bubbles forming that would signal a leak at the area?

If you want to get expert service, I think it is also better to bring it to people who specialize in fixing chillers/refrigerators/air-cons, I would imagine if you bring it to Qian Hu, they are not the subject matter experts and would likely subcontract it to experts in the area anyway.

Just my two cents.

**marlin74** · 28th Nov 2011, 15:17

I agree that they may not be the experts but unfortunately they happen to be the the agents for Teco and handle all warranty matters and repairs for Teco chillers. They in fact did tell me that they need to send it out to someone else for the gas top up but could not tell me who.