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Air Conditioning Maintenance – What is A King Valve

Learning how to connect manifold gauges to a king valve is not too difficult. The only tools you will need are a set of quality HVAC manifold gauges and a wrench. An understanding of HVAC systems and manifold gauge readings will also be helpful. AC Repair New Braunfels here


Step 1: Inspect Your Equipment
Before connecting anything, check the manifold gauges for loose fittings, cracked hoses, or any other problems that could interfere with the test. Check that each hose is securely tightened to the manifold and make sure the valves on either end of the manifold are closed as well. Now, look to see that both gauges are reading zero. If either gauge is not zeroed, you will need to adjust the silver calibration screw to reset it.

Step 2: Understand the King Valve
King valves are typically found on the discharge outlet of the receiver in commercial refrigeration systems. Unlike the service valves found in residential HVAC systems, the king valve is a 3-way valve that can isolate the compressor. During normal operation, the king valve is back-seated, and the needle is all the way out. In the front-seated position, the needle is completely closed, and the refrigerant does not reach the compressor. The midpoint section is used to check the pressure with manifold gauges.

Step 3: Connect the Manifold Gauge
Connecting the manifold gauges to the king valve is quite simple. Remove the cap from the Schrader valve in the center of the king valve. Using a wrench, move the king valve to the midpoint. It should only take a couple of turns to reach this position. This allows the refrigerant to flow through the access port to receive a reading. Connect the high pressure side gauge hose, generally noted by the color red, to the port.

Step 4: Read the Gauge
Once the manifold gauge is connected to the king valve, a pressure reading should be visible on the gauge dial. Manifold gauges designed for refrigeration HVAC systems show readings for the refrigerant saturation temperatures as well. If the gauge is reading too low or is not getting a pressure reading at all, the system could be flat or may have a leak that must be detected. No pressure reading could also be a sign of other problems and could require more diagnostic testing.

Step 5: Disconnect the Manifold Gauge
Once the gauge readings have been noted, it’s very important to leave the hose connected to the Schrader valve until this step is completed. Otherwise, refrigerant will leak out of the system and could pose hazards. Return the king valve stem to the back-seated position, turning it out with the wrench. Once this is accomplished, disconnect the manifold gauge from the king valve and replace the cap that covers the Schrader valve to prevent unnecessary wear on the stem. Now that you know how to connect manifold gauges to a king valve, you should have no trouble testing the pressure within an HVAC system. Remember to follow each step as outlined above to prevent any risks of leaking refrigerants or false readings.

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