Refrigeration Recovery Units

The recovery and subsequent handling of refrigerant in today's residential systems requires an in-depth understanding of some basic terms and procedures. This primer offers a comprehensive explanation of the terms and processes involved in this routine, but important task.

The use of recovery/recycle units is required by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Technicians who service and dispose of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment must recover the refrigerant instead of venting it to the atmosphere. With the exception of extremely small releases of refrigerant such as what occurs when disconnecting service hoses, a technician who knowingly releases or vents refrigerant to the atmosphere is in violation of this regulation.

Before opening any system for repair or service, the refrigerant must be collected using an approved device, or the charge must be isolated in another part of the system. What follows is a basic description of recover and recycle units used mainly to service residential and small commercial air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.

The Unit

Recovery and recycle units are available in a variety of sizes, types, and prices. They can be stand-alone recovery or recycle units, or combined into one unit that accomplishes both functions. Many stand-alone units are designed so they can be connected together, to form an integrated unit.

Recovery units by themselves do not provide any cleaning or filtration of the refrigerant. They're used at the job site to remove refrigerant from a system, and store it in an approved external container. The normal procedure is to test the recovered refrigerant for moisture and/or acid to determine if it can be reused in the same system as is, or if it needs to be processed through a recycling unit to remove contaminants before reuse.

Recycling is typically performed using single or multiple passes through filter core driers, or similar devices that remove moisture, acid, and particles. After the refrigerant is recycled, it may be returned to the same system, or to another system belonging to the same owner.

When selecting a recovery or recovery/recycle unit, make sure it can perform the functions needed for your particular service application. Always maintain the equipment according to the manufacturer's specs, especially with regard to changing filter devices and draining oil.