Advanced Test Products
RG6-E
HELPFUL HINTS FOR REFRIGERANT
RECOVERY
Refrigerant recovery has come a long way in a few short years.
On the surface it’s simply the process of taking refrigerant out of a system and putting it
into a tank. However, this simple process can quickly become problematic if a few items
are overlooked. The following are some tips and pointers we’ve accumulated over the
last few years that can save you time and make the process go smoother.
First you need to identify the refrigerant type and quantity in the system you are
servicing.
If you determine it’s a burnout, you need a special tank (a tank that’s identified as
containing burnout or other unidentified gases), and you need to use extra filtration prior
to recovery.
If, on the other hand, you know the gas in the system is relatively clean or new, then a
new tank should be used. If you’re planning on putting the refrigerant back into the
same system after you have finished the service or if the refrigerant is going to be
reclaimed, then use a tank that has the same refrigerant in it. A word of caution about
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): If you use a variety of refrigerant gasses in
your service work - as evidenced by your refrigerant purchases - and you only own one
tank, you are asking for trouble. You would be well advised to own at least one tank for
every refrigerant type serviced, plus an extra for burnouts and other unknowns.
Planning Ahead
Knowing the quantity of refrigerant is important for planning storage requirements, as
well as planning for the actual recovery. For instance, any system with more than 5lbs.
of refrigerant is likely to have areas where the liquid can get trapped.
The key to a quick recovery procedure is to get the liquid out first, and then get the
remaining vapor out. However most systems are not “recovery friendly.” That is they
don’t have access ports at their lowest points. If some units you’re servicing are on
maintenance contracts, you would save significant time by installing access ports at all
of the lowest points in the system, where liquid is likely to accumulate. Since most
systems don’t have these ports you need to be prepared to boil of the trapped liquid
with a heat gun, whenever it’s found. An indicator of trapped liquid in a system is frost or
condensation forming on the plumbing or components where the liquid is trapped. The
trapped liquid may be in an area that is not visible. In all cases trapped liquid in a
system during recovery causes the recovery process to slow down, regardless of the
size or type of machine
If you are unable to locate the trapped liquid (but you know it’s there, because the
recovery job is taking “forever”), turn on the system compressor (if it’s operable) for a
few seconds. This will get the refrigerant moving to another part of the system and in.
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