Refrigerant Best Practices

If you’re recovering refrigerant, here are a few tips to help the process go smoothly. For starters, always wear the proper personal protection equipment (PPE). This includes protective gloves, goggles, and shoes. Also, before you start the process, turn off the power to the system at the breaker.

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• Refrigerants

• Refrigerant Recovery

The recovery tank is a pressurized vessel. Inspect it for damage or rust before using it. If you’re starting with an empty tank, pull it to a vacuum of 500 microns before beginning the recovery process to remove any particulates, moisture and non-condensable gasses from the tank. Using a scale, be sure calculate the maximum tank weight and only fill up to 80% of the maximum capacity.

One way to make recovery go as quickly as possible is to eliminate all possible restrictions for refrigerant flow. First, use a valve core removal tool to remove the valve cores on both the high-side and low-side service ports. Also, use a shorter, larger diameter hose with the core depressors removed. If you’re using a Fieldpiece MR45 – Digital Refrigerant Recovery Machine, inspect the mesh filter on the inlet port to be sure it’s clear of debris. Another way to increase overall flow is to connect the discharge hose to the recovery cylinder at the vapor port. This eliminates the resistance of the internal dip tube that’s connected to the liquid port.

Regardless if you’re recovering into a container that already has refrigerant in it or not, flip it upside down before starting the recovery process using the vapor port. This ensures the liquid you’re putting into the cylinder comes in contact first with the liquid that is already in the tank. If not, it could flash into a gas as it enters. This keeps tank pressure down and speeds up the process.

When complete, don’t forget to self-purge all remaining refrigerant in the recovery machine before removing any hoses. To do this, turn the dial to self-purge and press start. This process automatically shuts off after removing all refrigerant from the line-set and the machine. Before disconnecting the discharge hose from the cylinder, be sure to close the tank valve first. This ensures you don’t lose any refrigerant from the tank. Also, be cautious when disconnecting the discharge hose, as it will be filled with refrigerant.

Weighing just 22 pounds, the Fieldpiece MR45 Refrigerant Recovery Machine is a fast, light, and easy-to-use recovery machine. It has a large digital screen that shows the system pressure and the tank pressure throughout the entire recovery process—making recovery quicker and more efficient than ever. It’s powered by a durable, variable-speed, smart DC motor and has a single-dial control and easily accessible ports.

Recovery can be simple and fast if you use these tips and follow established safety procedures.

Tony Gonzalez is the Technical Training Manager for Fieldpiece Instruments. He has more than 20 years of industry experience with Fieldpiece developing new products. Most recently, he led the Job Link® App development team and developed Fieldpiece’s wireless power clamp meters. He is committed to training on best practices to help the HVACR professional do their job easier, faster and better.