Refrigerant Recovery Unit Maintenance

In this short post you will learn how to care for your Refrigerant Recovery and Reclamation Unit.  You will learn about the proper storage and handling of all hoses attached to the unit when not in use, so as to prolong the life of this important piece of equipment.

Storing the Recovery Cylinder/Tank

Remove all hoses from the recovery cylinder. It’s a good idea to keep caps on top of all valves, to prevent dust from accumulating over time.

Do not overtighten the valve handles on your recovery tank.  Over time, these handles can wear and break if they are constantly subjected to over-tightening. One or two tight turns is all they need when storing your tank.

Storing the Filter-Dryer and the Recovery/Reclamation Machine

In a few simple steps, you can ensure that your storage of the Recovery/Reclamation machine is proper and will lead to a longer machine life.  Primarily, you should pay attention to the filter-dryer component of this system, since leaving the filter-dryer exposed to open air for longer than 24 hours can impair its ability to actually “dry” inputs to your Recovery/Reclamation machine. When storing your Recovery/Reclamation system, follow these simple steps to preserve your filter-dryer:

Step by Step:

• Start by closing both the input and the output valves on your Recovery/Reclamation machine.
• Disconnect the Input hose, which passes through the filter/dryer. Your filter/dryer should still be connected to the unit, but its input should be open after disconnecting the line.
• Disconnect the Output line from the Recovery Tank, and close the loop to the Recovery/Reclamation machine by attaching it to the open filter-dryer valve.
• Allow the pressure to exit the machine and into the looped line by opening only the exit valve on the Recovery/Reclamation machine.
• Now bleed the Input gasket at the exit of the filter-dryer by loosening it slowly. Retighten this valve when the bleed has expired. This will remove all air from the filter-dryer, which is important, since this will help preserve the filter-dryer’s integrity during storage.

A filter-dryer that is left exposed for longer than 24 hours without a hose connected to it, or full of excess air, will lose its integrity.

In this post you have learned how to properly store and maintain your Refrigerant Recovery and Reclamation Unit, including the recovery tank.

Perform this simple routine whenever storing your equipment for longer than 24 hours, as it will help prolong the life of the Recovery system long into the future. Make sure this is part of your end-of-day or end-of-week routine for anyone responsible for these systems. 

Hope this short guide helps look after your investment.