How Refrigerant Is Recovered

The refrigerant that a central air conditioning unit uses to cool a home may need to be recovered if a unit is going to be disposed of or serviced. A licensed technician or contractor will use hoses and a recovery tank to safely collect gases and vapor that are within a unit's condenser. Read on to learn more. 

Regulations

It is illegal to drain an air conditioner's refrigerant tank directly on the land where a condenser is located. Some refrigerants contain chlorine and other chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the reclamation process.

A licensed HVAC technician or a contractor will need to bring equipment to a service call. This equipment consists of a reclamation unit, a vapor and liquid tank, and vacuum hoses. Upon collecting the refrigerant, it is tested offsite and recycled. Impurities within the refrigerant are eliminated. If the refrigerant will be used to refill a refrigerant tank, the product must be safely transported and administered by someone who is licensed to do so.

The Recovery Process

Before a tank is emptied, an HVAC technician/contractor will disconnect an air conditioner's condenser. A scale may be used to determine the current weight of a recovery tank. Calculations concerning how much room is within the tank will be determined. Discharge and intake hoses will be attached to the recovery tank that will be storing the refrigerant (vapor and liquid).

A tank will be designed to store these two components separately. Fittings will be used to attach the opposite end of each hose to the condenser. Gauges that are on a recovery unit will need to be adjusted. The gauges will determine when valves open and when liquid or vapor will be released from a condenser unit. A machine operator may remove air from the hose lines, before collecting the refrigerant.

The recovery unit will remain plugged in throughout the process. A unit may be set on the ground while it is actively operating. Once both of the liquid and vapor components have safely been collected, the operator of the equipment may weigh the tank again. Digital readings on a recovery unit may also be assessed. The operator will be able to determine if the figures correspond to one another. A tank will be labeled to ensure that it won't be used to store another type of refrigerant.

For more information, contact AC recovery services.