My technician (and brother-in-law), Bert, made a good point. (It's hard for me to admit it, but it's true.) When he needs to open the refrigerant circuit to make a repair, regardless of whether he is recovering or pumping down, he pulls out his nitrogen tank and his regulator. (We like the Western Enterprises VN-500 […]

Let's go with dictionary definitions of each one first. pump noun 1. A mechanical device using suction or pressure to raise or move liquids, compress gases, or force air into inflatable objects such as tires. compressor noun 1. an instrument or device for compressing something. Both compressors and pumps move fluids, and a fluid: Yields or […]

There is a lot of misunderstanding about the HSO (hard shut-off) or “non-bleed” TXV (thermostat expansion valve) and what makes it shut off, why it exists, and how it “magically” opens. Once you understand the forces inside the valve, it is quite simple, obvious, and sadly devoid of any magic. The Three Forces  The TXV […]