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Refrigerant Recovery Practices
Recovery is the removal of refrigerant from a system. From there, you can either store it and send it in for recycling or to reintroduce it back into the same system.
Here are some top tips:
- Make sure your tank is empty and evacuated to 300 microns if you plan to return the refrigerant back into the system.
- Never mix refrigerants.
- Purge your hoses before recovery.
- Use a flare line drier on the inlet of the machine to increase the life of the machine and to filter and dry the refrigerant. These must be replaced regularly.
- When recovering into a tank using the standard method, invert the tank and pump into the vapor port on the tank.
- Remove Schrader cores before recovery for faster recovery and a cooler tank.
- Use larger gauge hoses with no core depressors for faster recovery.
- Check the recovery machine inlet screens regularly. Clean or replace them as needed.
- Some machines require oil to be run through the machine from time to time. Read manufacturer specifications.
- If your tank becomes hot, you can either place it in a bucket of water or run water over the tank.
- Do not leave refrigerant in your machine during storage. If your machine has a purge mode, make sure to purge the refrigerant out of the condenser (see manufacturers specs on your machine).
- Most HVAC systems holding under 200 lbs of refrigerant are not required to be pulled into a vacuum during recovery. See this chart from the EPA.
- Weigh the refrigerant out and do not fill the tank to more than 80% of the REFRIGERANT capacity, not just the water capacity.
We cover all of this and more in this video:
—Bryan
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