Frequently Asked Questions
Please browse through our frequently asked questions for any assistance you may need. If you cannot find the answer to your specific question on this page, please contact us at info@qwik.com
Yes, all concrete anchor kits come with a 3/16” masonry bit.
No. The bulbs only emit harmful UV-C light when they are powered on and operational. When the unit is off, it is safe to look at and install the bulbs.
It is generally accepted that adherence to Standard 15 of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) will ensure the safety of technicians and building occupants. This standard applies to the use of all alternative refrigerants. In addition, systems designed and operated in accordance with ASHRAE Guideline 3 will leak minimal amounts of refrigerant, thereby reducing ozone depletion and global warming impacts.
Yes, but do not flush through the TXV or capillary tubes. They may become clogged with particulates.
Yes, if you do not use the entire contents of the Qwik System Flush® can, simply twist the knob on the can access valve counter-clockwise to close the valve or remove the valve entirely because the can has a self-sealing cap.
Yes. If you want to operate air handler blower all the time by changing the Fan setting on the thermostat from AUTO to ON, you will be continuously purifying the air, regardless of the AC or furnace thermostat temperature setting.
Yes, Qwik System Flush® can be used to flush out a condenser or evaporator coil. If you do not replace the condenser coil after a compressor burnout, it should be flushed. Remember, you should never flush through a TXV, orifice plate, capillary tube, or filter drier because particulates may clog the small orifices in these components. Also, NEVER flush through a compressor because this will remove oil from the surfaces within the compressor which is necessary for proper lubrication.
QwikClean® cleans heating and refrigeration coils, fins, and fan blades with a heavy duty foam that beaks down and carries away dirt, dust, grease, oil and other residue. QwikClean® has been developed for use on refrigerators, window, and whole house air conditioners, rooftop HVAC units, auto radiators, air cooled equipment, condenser and evaporator coils, metal filters, to name a few. It also leaves a pleasant lemon fragrance.
QwikBright may be used indoors or outdoors on ANY type of heat exchanger coils (including microchannel coils) and when used on evaporators, no rinsing is required.
QwikClean® is designed to be a self-rinsing coil cleaner. As the foam breaks down, condensation will rinse the material from the surface. If the coils do not produce adequate condensation or any residue remains, rinse with water/wipe clean.
TripleGuard™ removes bacteria, viruses, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), odors and other gaseous pollutants. It does not remove dust, dirt or other airborne particles—that’s the job of the air filter. So always use a good air filter, and treat the air filter with PuraClean Filter Spray to maximize the filtration capability. It’s a good practice to change your air filters monthly.
The TripleGuard™ air purifier can either be operated all the time or only when the blower is operating. If you want to operate the air handler blower all the time, change the fan setting on the thermostat from AUTO to ON. Your system will be continuously purifying the air, regardless of the thermostat temperature setting of the air conditioner or furnace, and the energy consumption is minimal. This setting is recommended if the air handler or furnace is seldom operating, such as in the fall or spring in some areas.
Running the air purifier all the time might also increase bulb life; however, the control electronics in the TripleGuard have a special soft-starting technology to reduce the effects of turning the UV-C lamp on and off. So if you prefer, you can operate the TripleGuard air purifier only when the blower is operating. This is only true when you use TripleGuard replacement bulbs—failure to use the correct bulbs (there are two of them) can damage this unique soft-starting electronics and will void the warranty.
You can mount the QwikSwap® board in any practical location inside the air handler where it will be kept dry and secure.
No. QwikTreat® does not contain perfumes, fragrances or VOC’s.
No. The UV-C bulbs used in the TripleGuard™ unit have a special coating on the bulbs to prevent the emission of the wavelength of UV light that produces ozone. In addition, if any ozone is already present in the air, the activated carbon/potassium permanganate (AC/PP) purifier stage would remove that ozone. Use only TripleGuard bulbs to prevent the formation of ozone by the UV-C bulbs.
The laboratory testing performed by Intertek (see results here) could not use actual SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 for obvious safety reasons, so the independent certified testing laboratory’s approved procedure is to use a similar and actually harder to remove virus, in this case they used Phi X174 bacteriophage. This surrogate works because it is one of the smallest known viruses (25 nm) and is a nonenveloped virus, making it resistant to UV light. The SARS-CoV-2 is larger (125 nm) and enveloped, making it more susceptible to UV light. For more details on the use of this virus as a substitute for COVID-19, search “Phi X174 bacteriophage.”
The American Journal of Infection Control has published an article located at https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(20)30756-2/fulltext that specifically discusses the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 to irradiation with ultraviolet light. The opening section of this Journal Article includes three highlights, namely;
“SARS-CoV-2 is highly susceptible to irradiation with ultraviolet light,
High viral loads of 5 * 106 TCID50/ml SARS-CoV-2 can be inactivated in 9 minutes by UVC irradiation.
UVC irradiation represents a suitable disinfection method for SARS-CoV-2.”
No, in fact it is a rare (and unwanted) installation when the TripleGuard™ unit encompasses the entire cross-sectional area of the ductwork. The TripleGuard unit need only see a portion of the air flow because the conditioned air is continually recycled throughout the structure, and eventually all the air passes through the TripleGuard unit for purification. Your installer will avoid installation locations where the TripleGuard unit encompass the entire cross-sectional area of the duct work. If this is not possible, the installer will monitor the air flow at the system registers to verify that the air flow discharge is reasonable (the system pressure drop is not excessive).
Excess QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment does not hurt the system in any way, since it is also adsorbed into the filter drier. If there is no more acid to be removed from the system the QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment will attract the excess water molecules next, and facilitate their transport into the drier. The QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment does not in anyway affect the performance of the filter/drier. It does use some of the capacity of the drier, but since the drier is being changed this is not a problem. We do not even suggest using a larger drier, however, if desired you can use a 25% larger (by volume) drier if a molecular sieve drier is being replace and a 50% larger drier if an activated alumna drier is being replaced with another activated alumna drier. If an activated alumna drier is being replaced with a molecular sieve drier the capacity has already been increased substantially (by the improved adsorption capacity of the molecular sieve), and no increase in volume is recommended.
You must change the drier if there is a burn out. If you are going to do only one thing then change the drier. This must always be done on a burn out. Every compressor manufacturer specifies this and suggests you add a suction line drier to catch any residual acid in the lines (and keep this acid from reaching the compressor). We agree completely! So QwikShot Refrigerant and Oil Treatment should always be used with a new drier.
If you dont have a burn out, but you detect acid, you again must change the drier. Some acid neutralization companies, (but no compressor manufacturers) might tell you just neutralize the acid, you dont need to change the filter/drier WRONG. Ask any compressor manufacturer, they will all tell you that you must change the filter/drier!
Again, if you do nothing else, change the drier, it is the most critical item! If you simply neutralize the acid that is present and dont change the drier, the acid and moisture levels can and will shoot right back up again, because you have left no back-up or residual protection. Neutralizing the acid only treats the system at the time it is added. Excess neutralizer reacts with the materials of construction (a potential problem) and is depleted (converted to a caustic salt); it does not remain active in the system to treat future acid. Only the drier remains in the system to remove acid and water as it appears. The problem with a high acid level is that the compressor will burn out, before the acid can be removed by the drier. QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment accelerates the transport of acid to the drier, so that it can be removed faster.
Without a drier change, there is no capacity to maintain a low acid level. If you are not changing the drier, you are wasting your time, no matter what type of acid treatment you are using. Changing the filter/drier must always be performed, it is the most critical component of proper acid treatment!
No, the TripleGuard™ unit can be mounted vertically or horizontally. The only important mounting consideration is the air flow direction. Airflow must enter the UV-C bulb side of the unit and exit from the activated carbon/potassium permanganate (AC/PP) side of the unit.
You don’t need to change out the blower motor, because QwikSEER+® is not a variable speed drive. QwikSEER+® selects the best blower motor speed from one of the existing speed taps on the existing motor. It is not variable frequency drive (VFD) which drives the motor at a different speed by supplying a different input frequency to the motor. QwikSEER+® only varies the blower motor speed among the three existing speed taps on the PSC motor. The blower assembly can operate at any of these speeds without any long-term damage, since it was designed to run at any of these speeds. Since the QwikSEER+® is not a frequency converting VFD, there are no energy losses with QwikSEER+®, as there would be in a VFD drive. The losses in a VFD drive can amount to 15% to 20% of the energy.
You don’t need to change out the blower motor from a sleeve-bearing motor to a more expensive ball-bearings motor, because QwikSEER+® only varies the blower motor speed among the three possible speed taps on the PSC motor. The blower assembly can operate at any of these speeds without any long-term damage. So while we do not have a continuous speed variation, we get three speeds which is still quite a bit better than only a single speed.
1 half ounce bottle of QwikGlowPro® can treat cooling systems up to 15 tons.
When flushing, place a bucket (or container of some sort) outside the building to catch the waste ( always flush from the inside to the outside of the building). Dispose of the flushed waste in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.
QwikGlowPro® is designed to be used with the QwikInjector® (QT2510). You will need to connect the QwikInjector® to your manifold. Then pour QwikGlowPro® in to the QwikInjector®. You will then need to connect to the low side of the cooling system first, and connect to the high side second. Finally, you will need to open the manifold valve. The high side pressure will push the QwikGlowPro® through the low side of the system.
QwikSeal® in intended to be used with the QwikInjector® (QT2510). You will need to connect the QwikInjector® to your manifold. Then pour QwikSeal® Part A (Drying Agent) in to the injector. You will then need to connect to the low side of the cooling system first, and connect to the high side second. Finally, you will need to open the manifold valve. The high side pressure will push the QwikSeal® through the low side of the system. After the system has operated for at least 5 minutes, repeat this process to add QwikSeal® Part B (Sealent) to the system.
As a general rule, one 2 lb aerosol can of Qwik System Flush® (QT1100) will clean up to a 10 ton system. The amount needed will vary by size, level of contamination and the components you are flushing. You should always flush with nitrogen first to remove as much contamination as possible, since the nitrogen is much less expensive than the flush. Then, use Qwik System Flush® to flush the lines until the waste liquid leaving the system runs clean. Perform a final nitrogen purge to blow out any remaining Qwik System Flush® from the system. Any Qwik System Flush® remaining after this nitrogen purge will be removed as the system is evacuated.
The best way of removing the acid is to flush it or free it from the liquid and hard surfaces that contain the acid using QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment, and let the filter-drier in the system remove the acid.
A filter-drier does an excellent job of removing acid, the problem is that normally the acid that is trapped on the hard surfaces and in the oil and therefore the acid never effectively gets to the filter-drier.
Another good, but very expensive approach to remove the acidic residue throughout the system is by performing several flushes of the vapor-compression system with refrigerant, since refrigerant will dissolve the oil and reduce the oil and acid concentrations by dilution. However, because of EPA mandated refrigerant recovery requirements, this is a costly and time consuming task and the cost of the refrigerant used in the flushing operation is not trivial.
The worst way is to attempt to neutralize the acid by reacting the acid with a basic solution (a solid base dissolved in a liquid carrier). This will always result in the formation of undesirable salts. In such a neutralization reaction, the acid and base combine to form a metallic caustic salt and water. While the water can be removed by the filter/dryer in the system, the salt remains lodged in the system and could cause problems. Since the salt is a solid it will not vaporize, but instead will remain in the compressor’s crankcase. Also to properly neutralize the acid the proper amount of base must be added, too little base and the refrigerant is still acidic, too much base and the refrigerant is basic. An acidic or basic environment will cause corrosion and premature compressor life (burn-out).
The advantage to the patented QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment approach of liberating the acid is that since there is no neutralization reaction there is no formation of a caustic salt residue. This innovative technology to provide this treatment action is patented and is only available in the QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment. The other benefit of the use of QwikShot® is that not only is the acid picked up and removed from the system by the filter-drier, the QwikShot® is also picked-up and adsorbed by the filter-drier thereby leaving no residue at all in the system!
Each QwikPad™ for Condensers includes corrosion-resistant 304 stainless steel, 13 gauge tie down assemblies that secure the outdoor unit for exceptional hurricane protection. The tie down assemblies are adjustable to properly secure the condensing unit.
Each QwikPad® for Generators has a water fill plug, that is located on top of the pad. The water fill plug must be removed before filling, and replaced after the pad is filled.
Each QwikPad™ for Condensers has a water fill plug, located in the corner of the pad. The water fill plug must be removed before filling and replaced once the pad has been filled.
Exams will be processed within 2 business days upon receipt.
After receiving a passing score, Mainstream will mail your certification card via US mail within two weeks of receiving your exam.
The 36 x 36 QwikPad™ for Condensers requires approximately 16 gallons of water to be completely filled.
The 40 x 40 QwikPad™ for Condensers requires approximately 20 gallons of water to be completely filled.
2 ground anchors or 4 for the concrete anchor kits
1 ground anchor or concrete anchor kit
The recommended amount is 2 QwikTreat™ Pan Tablets per 5 tons of cooling.
TripleGuard™ has been third party tested, and rated to purify up to 7 tons of air.
QwikSeal® dries and seals systems from 1.5 to 6 tons, and removes up to 26 drops of water. QwikSeal® has been shown to completely seal leaks in vapor lines as large as 5.8 pounds per year; however, leaks in the liquid line greater than 0.1 pounds per year may not completely seal.
The QwikPad® for Generators weighs 46 lbs. when empty and 330 lbs. when filled with water.
Our QT8036 36″ x 36″ QwikPad™ for Condensers weighs 29 lbs. when empty and 163 lbs. once filled. Our QT8040 40″ x 40″ QwikPad™ for Condensers weighs 35 lbs. when empty and 203 lbs. once filled.
- Filters treated with PuraClean® do a much better job of removing dust, debris, dander, mold spores and other airborne contaminants from the air in your home with an increase in filtration efficiency by up to 200%.
It takes approximately 35 gallons of water to fill the QwikPad® for Generators completely.
We recommend replacing the UV-C bulbs and activated carbon potassium permanganate filter of the TripleGuard™ yearly.
It is recommended that you add QwikTreat™ Pan Tablets monthly to your HVAC system to ensure best treatment.
Yes, the valve and threads on the Qwik System Flush® can are the same as the valve and threads used on other major brands of pressurized flushing agent. For example, it is compatible with the following can access valves:
- NuCalgon 4300-89
- NuCalgon 4300-99
However, not all can access valves have a pressure relief valve, to prevent the can from bursting due to accidental back-pressurization. Therefore, if your current access valve does not have a pressure relief valve, don’t use it on any pressurized can, instead purchase a new valve. The QwikProducts™ Can Access Valve is made in the USA and is designed with an integrated pressure relief valve, which prevents accidental over pressurization of the can and also provides an audible alarm if the access valve is inadvertently hooked up to a source of high pressure (such as a nitrogen tank).
Sometimes there may be multiple commands telling the blower to operate. For example, while the thermostat may not be calling for cooling, a humidistat may be commanding the blower to operate. The QwikSwap® V3 board must be told which commands to ignore, and this is done by setting the Input Mask, which tells the QwikSwap® board the commands to ignore. Instructions for setting the Input Mask are shown in Appendix A1 (Adjusting the Input Configuration for ECM 2.0 & 2.3 motors only) in your instruction sheet.
The steps are repeated here:
Step 1. Be sure the QwikSwap® V3 is powered up and the unit’s blower is running when it shouldn’t be running.
Step 2. Turn ALL the configuration switches on the QwikSwap® V3 board to OFF. The direction for OFF is down. (see image)
Step 3. Turn ON the following configuration switches. (1, 3, 4, 6, and 8). After you have successfully turned on only those 5 switches, the blower should turn OFF and the RED and BLUE LED’s should be alternately flashing. NOTE: IF THE BLOWER IS STILL RUNNING AND THE RED AND BLUE LED’s ARE NOT ALTERNATELY FLASHING, GO BACK TO STEP 1. VERIFY THAT YOU HAVE SET THE CORRECT ON THE CONFIGURATION SWITCHES TO “OFF”. THE DIRECTION FOR THE “OFF” POSITION IS DOWN TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE BOARD. THERE IS AN ARROW POINTING TO THE DIRECTION FOR THE “OFF” POSITION PRINTED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CONFIGURATION SWITCHES.
Step 4. The QwikSwap® V3 board has now been successfully configured. Now turn ALL the configuration switches on the V3 board to OFF.
Before configuring the V3 board, it must be powered up prior to setting any of the configuration switches. To see if the V3 board is powered, look the Yellow STATUS LED located near the center of the V3 board. It should be flashing. Also, ALL the configuration switches to the V3 board should be turned OFF prior to turning any of them ON. The direction for OFF is down towards the center of the board. An arrow pointing to the direction for OFF is printed on the left side of the configuration switches.
If the input mask was properly set then the Red and Blue LEDs should have been alternately flashing. This indicates that an Input Mask on the QwikSwap® V3 board has been successfully programmed. However, if the Red and Blue LEDs are not flashing, it means that there may be multiple redundant commands telling the blower to operate and you will need to repeat the process of setting the Input Mask as many times as necessary until the Red and Blue LED begin alternatively flashing and all the Green LEDs are off.
This question is one we hear a lot because one of our competitors is claiming that they evaporate faster and that therefore they are better. Mainstream has provided independent lab test results which show that we clean better than all the other competitors tested. *View Qwik-SF lab test results >> Before reviewing these test results, let’s think about the cleaning process itself.
If the cleaning product evaporates too fast then it does not have time to dissolve the oil and other impurities, it simply vaporizes and boils off without soaking into the liquid residue and without flushing the liquid waste out of the system. This is not good! Alternatively, we have specially engineered our patented Qwik System Flush® so that it does not evaporate too fast at atmospheric or higher pressures, so that it has time to soak into the oil and other impurities, dissolve them by diluting them, and flush them out of the system as a liquid waste.
Remember, the oil will never evaporate, and if the cleaning solution evaporates before it flushes the waste products out of the system, it will simply redeposit the waste products in another part of the system. Clearly not good! Instead, to properly clean and flush the system, the cleaning product must dissolve and mobilize the impurities, carry these solid and liquid waste products out of the system as a liquid waste stream. The minimal Qwik System Flush® residue that might remain in the system, is completely removed by the evacuation process, prior to refrigerant charging. Even a slight vacuum of only 2 – 3 inches of mercury vacuum would completely evaporate any residual Qwik System Flush®!
As you can see, the logic that you want a very fast evaporating cleaner is simply wrong. What is important is that the cleaner remain a liquid during flushing and then totally evaporates when evacuated. This is exactly what Mainstream’s Qwik System Flush® does and is one reason why it flushes better than the other products tested.
Another point to consider is that all other flushes are simply degreasers, they are designed to remove oil, sludge and particulates. But what about the acid and moisture that remains on the metal surfaces? If acid and moisture are not removed, the fresh refrigerant charge will be contaminated with acid and water. Look at the independent, third party test results (performed by a testing lab and a university), we are much much better at removing acid and moisture, because Qwik System Flush® was specifically designed to remove acid and water in addition to sludge, oil and contaminates.
Qwik System Flush® is simply a better product at a better price. We have been shown to absorb water and acid as well as flush impurities, and this product is protected by US Patents #7,566,409 and #7,736,537.
Yes, PuraClean® can be used whenever a manufacturer recommends an adhesive spray be used on the air filter. However, PuraClean® is far more than a simple adhesive spray. Adhesive sprays, also know as tackifiers, are used to keep filtered dust and dirt attached onto the filter, but they do not increase the filtration in the first place. While PuraClean® does act like an adhesive to keep trapped dirt bonded to the filter, it does much more. The PuraClean® filter spray allows an electrostatic charge (static electric charge) to build up on the filter as the air flows through the filter. This static electric charge is similar to the static that builds up on you when walking across a new carpet (and getting a static shock when touching a door handle), or the static cling that can cause clothes to stick to your body. Once the static electric charge is developed on the filter, this electrostatic charge draws dirt particles to the filter. These are small particles that would typically pass through the openings in the filter, had the electrostatic charge not been present. So PuraClean® draws more particles to the filter and also acts like an adhesive to hold them onto the filter. Independent tests have shown the filtration effectiveness increases by as much as 200%.
Yes. An entire exam will need to be purchased, either QT3008 (Online Exam), or QT3001 (Paper Exam). Then you will only need to complete the sections that you did not pass.
The exam can be retaken as many times as needed, until you receive a passing score. You will be required to purchase a new exam for each attempt. Let the wholesaler know you need to purchase either the QT3008 (Online Exam), or QT3001(Paper Exam).
The QwikShot® dose was calculated to take up half of the capacity (by mass) of an activated alumna drier. It will actually take up significantly less of the capacity of a molecular sieve drier since they hold much more moisture or acid per unit volume.
Yes, Qwik System Flush® is safe to use provided you follow the directions. You should always wear protective eyewear, clothing, and gloves while using Qwik System Flush® and it should only be used in well ventilated areas. Flush from inside the building to the outside of the building, to avoid leaving fumes inside the building.
Do not breathe any brand of chemical flushing agent, refrigerant vapors, industrial cleaners, or even high concentrations of nitrogen if you are pregnant.
No. QwikBright is a neutral pH microchannel coil cleaner and protectant that is specially formulated to quickly penetrate and dissolve grease, dire, grime, lint, dirt, dust, and bugs without removing any existing protective film while adding an additional protective film.
When using QwikBright for condensers, rinse thoroughly with clean water. For evaporators, no rinsing is required.
QwikSeal® is compatible with all oils and refrigerants.
No, the tie-down kit is included with the purchase of your QwikPad. The anchor kits are optional for those seeking to add extra protection and stability.
Each QwikPad® for Generators includes corrosion-resistant stainless steel mounting hardware specific to the mounted generator model, as well as a product spec sheet, and engineering information with engineering stamp.
The Can Access Valve is made in the USA and features durable brass construction. In addition, the Can Access Valve is designed with an integrated pressure relief valve, which prevents accidental over pressurization of the can and also provides an audible alarm if the access valve is inadvertently hooked up to a source of high pressure (such as a nitrogen tank). For safety reasons, regardless of whose can access valve you are using, you should confirm it has an integrated pressure relief valve.
The QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment, moisture and acid are all physically absorbed into the drier and can not be released with vibration, jarring or moderate temperatures. It would take a temperature above about 900 C (1625 F), and reduced pressure (vacuum) held for several hours for the acid, moisture or QwikShot® to be released. Clearly, they will not be released during operation.
he AC cooling capacity varies with outdoor temperature, so we can vary the blower’s capacity to move that cooling off the coil. The Sensible cooling capacity also changes with indoor humidity. When it is very humid inside the house more of the cooling is used for dehumidification and less is for dropping the temperature of the air, so the air flow rate can be reduced. As the capacity of the refrigeration circuit changes (due to temperature or indoor humidity), we can change the capacity of the blower to move this cool air off the coils. We are constantly monitoring the coil temperature with the thermistor on the coil. We never let the coil get too cold, since this would increase the lift and also ice the evaporator.
Here is a link to independent testing by an ARI certified laboratory which shows at low lifts the EER increase by about 1.
Intertek EER Performance Test Report
Here is a link to independent testing by an ARI certified laboratory which shows at the improvement in humidity removal (due to the reduced air flow, more time for air on coil).
Intertek Humidity Test Report-2012
Here is a detailed paper if you want more information.
QwikSEER® White Paper Jan-2013
If the connector that is plugged into the ECM motor does not fit on the QwikSwap® board, you are using the wrong QwikSwap®.
Constant Torque ECMs are also sometimes referred to as X-13 motors and have a 4-pin connector and 5 individual speed/torque taps, which will only plug into a QwikSwap® X1 or QwikSwap® X3. The X1 will then drive a PSC motor at a single speed, while the X3 will drive the PSC motor at 3 speeds by activating different speed taps on the replacement PSC motor.
Variable Air Flow ECMs are also identified by their unique connectors. All Variable Air Flow ECMs have the same 5-pin power connector and either a 4-pin or 16-pin digital communication connector. These connectors will only plug into a QwikSwap® V3 board.
NEVER cut the connector off the wires to make it fit. This will NEVER work.
When a compressor burns out, the oil becomes extremely acidic and if all this acid is not removed when the compressor is replaced, the elevated acid levels will attack the new compressor and cause another compressor burnout. Premature compressor burnout after a prior burnout is quite common, because of residual acid. Acid cleanup normally involves changing the compressor oil and the refrigerant to reduce the acid level (and changing the hermetic or semi-hermetic compressor if it did burn out). Unfortunately however, removal of the oil contained in the compressor does not remove all the oil or acid in the system since acid is carried throughout the vapor-compression loop by the flowing refrigerant and therefore acidic oil or its residue is throughout the system. This residual acid has been shown to shorten the life of the system since this residual acid will lead to accelerated acid formation in the system. This has been supported by experimental evidence in the literature that after a burnout the frequency of subsequent burnouts increases.
When a compressor burns out, the oil becomes extremely acidic and if all this acid is not removed when the compressor is replaced, the elevated acid levels will attack the new compressor and cause another compressor motor burn-out. Premature compressor burnout after a prior burnout is quite common, because of residual acid. Acid cleanup normally involves changing the compressor oil and the refrigerant to reduce the acid level (and changing the hermetic or semi-hermetic compressor if it did burn out). Unfortunately however, removal of the oil, contained in the compressor, does not remove all the oil or acid in the system since acid is carried throughout the vapor-compression loop by the flowing refrigerant and therefore acidic oil or its residue is throughout the system. This residual acid has been shown to shorten the life of the system since this residual acid will lead to accelerated acid formation in the system. This has been supported by experimental evidence in the literature that after a burnout the frequency of subsequent burnouts increases.
We recommend 5 parts water to every 1 part solution (5:1 ratio) no matter the size of the system. Use the color indicator more as needed and keep recirculating until it is no longer yellow.
The QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment is absorbed into the drier along with the acid or moisture, leaving no residue of any kind that could invalidate a warrantee. The QwikShot® will also accelerate the movement of moisture into the filter-drier. The QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment dose uses only a fraction of the capacity of the filter-drier. If you are concerned, when you replace the filter-drier use a larger one (Approximately 25% larger if molecular sieve drier, 50% larger if an activated alumna drier).
Some people have suggested it is not necessary to change the filter-drier when acid is detected. This is completely wrong! Every compressor manufacturer recommends changing the filter-drier when acid is detected. It is a critical step, whether or not you use any acid treatment. The filter-drier must be changed or there is nothing in the system to stop future acid accumulation. The use of QwikShot® is the second step, since it accelerates the transport, of the acid in the system, into the filter-drier. This accelerated removal of acid is needed, because if acid is detected either: the filter-drier capacity is exhausted or the acid is being generated faster than the filter-drier can remove it. Our test results (see “A Discussion of Acid in Refrigeration Systems”) have shown that once a significant amount of acid has been accumulated, if you only change the filter-drier, the acid level is so high it will most likely burn out the compressor before the filter-drier has a chance to get all the acid out. With QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment, the transport of the acid is dramatically accelerated.
The max amps for our Qwiklugs® are as follows:
- QT2810 – 30 amps, QT2910 – 30 amps
- QT2812 – 20 amps, QT2912 – 20 amps
This is an important question, because if the airflow across the evaporator is reduced, due to any increased pressure drop caused by adding something in the air flow path, such as a TripleGuard air purifier, an extremely dirty air filter, or a denser air filter, performance can suffer, especially in areas where cooling and not dehumidification dominate. For more modern systems with ECM Constant Torque motors or variable air flow air handlers, the system automatically compensates for changes in pressure drop however, for older single-speed air handlers, this is a potential concern.
To accurately answer this question, the overall pressure drop in the entire ductwork of the system must be known, because it is the total pressure drop that effects the flow rate. However, a conservative worst-case estimate can be developed.
As noted in the installation instructions, when the TripleGuard is installed in the ductwork it should never occupy a major cross section of the ducts air flow path, but for a worst-case assumption, lets experimentally measure the effect on air flow rate and pressure drop when the TripleGuard is installed in a 3-ton system, and the TripleGuard blocks one-third of the air flow cross-section.
The air flow rate was determined by measuring the air velocity at 15 points within the cross-section of the duct both with and without the TripleGuard installed. As a means of comparison, two configurations were measured;
1) a high-performance filter without the TripleGuard installed and
2) a basic filter with the TripleGuard installed.
When comparing the two configurations the TripleGuard system had a slight increase in flow rate of 1.9%, meaning a slightly lower pressure drop, but the difference was negligible, because the measurement accuracy was 2%. Therefore, the pressure drop of adding a TripleGuard unit into the air flow ductwork is negligible and about the same as upgrading the filter in the system from a basic filer to an improved filter.
We used the high-performance low-performance filter comparison, as a means to demonstrate the negligible impact of the TripleGuard system on air flow rate and system performance. However, we recommend using both a high-performance air filter on the return air supply and a TripleGuard on the discharge of the air handler. See the installation instructions for further installation details.
The ballast and frame of the QwikProducts® TripleGuard™ are covered by a 6 year warranty. The UV-C bulbs and activated carbon potassium permanganate filter are covered by a 1 year warranty.
Our QwikDescaler+® solution is compatible with steel, aluminum, copper, or brass for normal use (short periods of time and then rinsed with water). This should not be used on items with high pressure systems or microchannels. It is compatible with most common plastics (e.g., ABS, PVC, EPDM, HDPE/LDPE, Rubber, Polycarbonate, PEEK, PP, PTFE, PUR, Viton), but is not recommended for silicone or nylon.
QwikGlowPro® (QT2310), QwikShot® (QT2501), and QwikSeal® (QT2540) are all designed to be used in conjunction with the QwikInjector®.
QwikGlowPro® is compatible with all refrigerants, filter driers, and oils.
On heavily soiled surfaces, repeat application as necessary.
The TripleGuard™ is designed to operate on any alternating current voltage source between 110 and 240 volts. This was done to simplify installation because the air handlers on most air conditioners operate on 240 volts and most hot air furnaces operate on 120 volts. Always use a licensed electrician to connect the TripleGuard unit.
That is normal. In addition to the 5-pin power connector, the QwikSwap® V3 can accommodate either a 4-wire digital connector (used on ECM 3.0 and Emerson, for example) or a 16-pin connector used on 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 ECM motors.
The Qwik 608 exam kit can be purchased at your local HVACR wholesaler. The wholesaler will retain the exam, and you will be given all of the study material. You can schedule a time with the wholesaler to come back and take the exam.
Recommended for tankless water heaters and tankless heat exchangers.
Not recommended for ice makers, coffee makers, standard water heater, whole home piping systems, high pressure systems and/or microchannels.
The temperature sensor should be connected to the evaporator in a location where both liquid and vapor refrigerant will be flowing so that an accurate saturation temperature can be measured. Typically, one of the bends on a fin-tube evaporator just downstream of the expansion device is an ideal location.
This temperature reading is used to optimize the air flow and speed of the PSC blower motor by activating one of the three speed taps of the motor. Since the X1 only provides a single operating speed, no temperature reading is necessary and therefore no temperature sensor is used.
It is recommended that you place the QwikTreat™ Pan Tablets at a point furthest from the drain to ensure best treatment.
It is recommended that the TripleGuard™ be installed in the supply duct, above the air handler for the maximum efficiency.
UV-C light by itself reduces bacteria and viruses while also breaking down harmful air pollutants known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The UV-C can also cause some of these VOC pollutants to break down into other VOCs that are just as bad. However, the photocatalytic oxidation action of the TripleGuard™ unit causes the formation of powerful hydroxyl radicals that can break down any remaining VOCs by oxidation, while also further reducing bacteria, viruses and odors. The final cleaning step is the activated carbon/potassium permanganate (AC/PP) purifier, which removes trace impurities not removed by the first two air purification methods. This three-step process is used to ensure the highest purity air flow is achieved.
The unique patented Qwik System Flush® formulation has been specifically engineered to remove moisture and acid while other flushing agents do not remove these impurities. However, the ability of Qwik System Flush® to absorb and remove moisture from surfaces of a system being cleaned, also means that the Qwik System Flush® will absorb moisture from the air, if left exposed to the air. Once an unpressurized can of liquid flush is opened and partially used, air enters the can to replace the volume of flush that was used. Ambient air is loaded with moisture, and if the flushing compound was designed to absorb moisture, the flushing compound left in the can would become saturated with moisture.
Clearly the moisture absorbed from being exposed to air reduces the effectiveness of the remaining flush, and using a flushing agent that is saturated with moisture could actually add moisture to the system, rather than remove it! This is of course not a problem in the pressurized aerosol Qwik System Flush® can because the Qwik System Flush® is never exposed to air, except after the flushing process is completed.
For a hermetic or semi-hermetic unit, checking for and removing acid is probably the most important maintenance check!
The operating life of refrigerators, heat pumps, and air conditioners are severely shortened by acid levels as low as 50 parts per million of acid! These acids can be formed by chemical reactions with components and/or materials of construction, lubricating oils, and/or impurities. The instability of the refrigerant, and thus the formation of acids is accelerated by elevated temperatures which could be the result of improper operation, such as a failed condenser fan, a clogged air flow path, or an improper refrigerant change-over. Acid formation can also be the result of oil and/or refrigerant incompatibilities, such as mineral oil/POE oil incompatibilities, refrigerant/gasket material incompatibility (Viton/R-134a), low thermal stability of the HFC refrigerant/oil mixtures, or extended operation off the design point.
Checking the refrigerant and/or oil acid is a common maintenance recommendation since acidic conditions can be cleaned up before a compressor motor burns out. With the new HFC refrigerants, the various types of oils that could be in a system, and the recycling of refrigerant it is more important than ever to check the acid in a system. You can check for acid with any one of oil test kits on the market, I recommend the Mainstream QwikCheck® 2-second acid test because it is accurate, fast, and inexpensive. It will detect acid levels before they get to a harmful concentration, it works with all refrigerants and oils, and will not give a false reading when used with Ester-based oils. (The ability to be used with any oil is critical because you may not even accurately know the type of oil in a system!) Many oil acid test kits give a false acid reading with ester-based POE oils because the chemistry of the oil behaves like an acid to the test kit (The fancy name for this is Amphoteric properties).
A really convenient thing about the QwikCheck®, is that for Hermetic Compressors it is very difficult to get some oil out for a oil acid test so what happens … you probably never perform an acid test…. but these hermetic units are also the most sensitive to acid burn-outs! With QwikCheck®, you hold the QwikCheck® on the compressor service valve and 2-seconds later you have the results.
If acid is detected, use Mainstream’s QwikShot® Refrigerant and Oil Treatment coupled with a filter/drier change to get rid of the acid BEFORE THIS ACID CAUSES THE SYSTEM TO BURN OUT.
QwikShot® is not just for burn-outs, it is also for preventative maintenance! For a few bucks and a few minutes of your time you have probably saved that compressor and that’s the key to preventative maintenance.
The QwikShot® leaves no residue in the system, and it is compatible with all oils and refrigerants so it is quick, inexpensive, and easy to use. This patented Refrigerant and Oil Treatment is only available in the Mainstream QwikShot®. Another somewhat common BUT UNACCEPTABLE approach is to neutralizing this acid by reacting it with a base (the base which is typically a solid is dissolved in an alcohol solution) but this results in the formation of undesirable and corrosive salts and moisture in the system. While the filter dryer will remove the moisture, the corrosive salt is there forever!
Another serious problem with the acid-base neutralization approach is that the base is also a solid caustic compound, which if un-reacted in the system can cause as much damage as the acid itself and the proper quantity of base to add, to properly neutralize the acid, is difficult to determine in the field, since the exact acid level is probably not known.
Don’t trade one problem, namely acid, for another problem, namely corrosive salts or a corrosive solid base residue!
When retrofitting R-22 systems with the newer R-410A systems, the best practice is to replace all components in the system, including the line sets, to assure residuals do not contaminate the new system. However, situations exist where it is uneconomical to remove line sets, such as when they are recessed inside finished walls, or under concrete foundations and/or slabs.
In these cases, it is imperative that you flush the old line sets with Qwik System Flush® to remove the residual oil, acid, and moisture! Otherwise, these contaminants in the old lines will cause problems in the new system. Residual mineral oil and contaminates from the old system can contaminate the polyolester oil in the new R-410A system, forming a viscous sludge. Residual acid will continue to cause problems with a new system and moisture will accelerate the future formation of acid. Qwik System Flush® is the only flushing solution specially formulated to remove acid and water in addition to oil, sludge and contaminants.
In addition, if the oil line sets are located under the slab or in the walls of an air-conditioned house, where they can become cooler than the surrounding outdoor air, those tube runs can condense significant amounts of water, if these lines are left exposed to the air for any significant time during the change out. Never leave the line-sets open to the air and use Qwik System Flush® to get all the contaminates including acid and water out of these lines.
The most critical location criterion is to locate the air filter before the TripleGuard™ unit so that the active catalytic surfaces and light-emitting surfaces don’t become totally covered with dust that would have been removed by the air filter. Locating the TripleGuard downstream of the blower also assures that the owner should not be able to accidentally see the UV-C light when changing the air filter (because looking at the light can cause eye damage). Furthermore, by locating the TripleGuard unit downstream of the blower and evaporator, the light from the TripleGuard will likely illuminate the evaporator coil, which will help to prevent the formation of contaminates on the surface of the evaporator coil (mold, viruses, bacteria).
When a compressor burns out, highly acidic oil is formed. Although the majority of the oil remains in the compressor (which will be removed and replaced), some oil is always present in the plumbing and remaining components in the system. If you are changing the entire system, including any piping between components in a split system, then there are no issues. However, if you are not replacing the piping between components or other parts of the system, then you must flush those components with Qwik System Flush® to remove the residual contamination from the burn out. However, never flush a compressor or filter drier, and always back flush components whenever possible.
For more information on how to use Qwik System Flush® after a compressor burn out, see the Instructions link on the product page.
A QwikProducts® TripleGuard™ unit can accommodate up to a 3,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM) 7-ton residential or commercial air handling unit or hot air furnace. As shown in the plot of the raw data from the Independent Certified Laboratory testing (Click here to review the test report), at 800 CFM (representative of a 2-ton AC unit), viruses were reduced to essentially zero (99.9% removed, the limit of the lab’s detection capability) in 90 minutes, and bacteria were reduced to essentially zero (99.9% removed) in 45 minutes. Larger units would have proportionally longer times. For example, a 4-ton unit would take twice as long to treat all the air in the home. Clearly, the TripleGuard quickly removes bacteria and viruses from the home.
If the conditioned structure has multiple air handing units (or hot air furnaces), a TripleGuard system is needed on each independent unit to ensure all the air in the conditioned structure flows thru a TripleGuard unit to be purified.
Ozone safe PuraClean® is quick and easy to spray on without causing your filter to restrict air flow.
QwikPad™ for Condensers are rated for winds up to 180 mph, which exceeds Miami-Dade 175 mph wind requirements, which are some of the strictest requirements in the nation.