The chilling system industry is required to perform safe and efficient methods of refrigerant recovery. Here are 10 tips to properly recovering refrigerants.

1. 10 Refrigerant
Recovery Tips
to Help You
Improve Your
Bottom Line

2. The chilling
system industry
is required to
perform safe and
efficient methods of
refrigerant recovery.

3. There are
Three Basic
Methods for
reclaiming and
reusing refrigerants
in chilling systems.

4. 1. Liquid
Refrigerant
Recovery
• Transfers refrigerant while
it is still in the liquid state.
• Good for transferring
refrigerant from one
container to another.

5. 2. Vapor
Refrigerant
Recovery
• Transfers refrigerant
while it is still in the
vapor state.
• Vapor is condensed into
liquid by the recovery unit.
• Transferred from recovery
unit to recovery cylinder.

6. 3. Push-Pull
Refrigerant Recovery
• Used for transferring large
volumes of liquid refrigerant
(20+ pounds).
• Recovery unit “pulls” vapor
from the recovery cylinder
and produces a high-pressure
discharge gas that “pushes” liquid
out of the system and back into
the recovery cylinder.

7. Refrigerant
Storage
It is important that you
have the appropriate size
and quantity of storage
cylinders to accommodate
whichever refrigerant recovery
method used.

8. Storage cylinders
should never be
filled beyond 80%
capacity, and the
weight depends
on the refrigerant
used.

9. Refrigerant
types should never
be mixed or stored
together as combining
refrigerants can cause
unexpected results.

10. Check out this
reference chart
showing maximum
amount of
refrigerant, by type
that can be stored
in 30 lb. or 50 lb.
refrigerant recovery
cylinder tanks:
Maximum Mass Capacity
for Refrigerant Recovery

11. Chilling system
operators can
improve their bottom
line by ensuring best
practices for refrigerant
recovery are observed
when servicing or
replacing their
equipment.

12. 10 Refrigerant
Recovery Tips

13. 1.
Follow safety
precautions
and wear
protective gear
when servicing
chilling equipment
and reclaiming
refrigerants.

14. 2.
Check the
quantity and/or
type of refrigerant
used.

15. 3.
Use caution
when connecting
gauges, the low-
side gauge can be
damaged by over
pressuring it with
high-side pressure
liquid or vapor.

16. 4.
Read the
operating
instructions
for the specific
recovery machine
you are using,
as each unit differs
by manufacturer.

17. 5.
Use a machine
with a high vapor
recovery rate as
vapor recovery can
account for up to
80% of the process.
Recovery Rate

18. 6.
Use a short
and wide hose.
The shorter and
wider the hose, the
faster the refrigerant
will be removed.

19. 7.
Remove the
liquid first, then
work to eliminate
the vapor.

20. 8.
Always use an
inline filter at the
inlet port to keep
out sliers and avoid
damaging your
machine.

21. 9.
Make sure
you purge
your recovery
equipment
between jobs.

22. 10.
Check the
recovery tank
certification, it
must be recertified
every 5 years.

23. If you have any
questions about
refrigerant recovery
or need help, feel free
to reach out.

24. Learn more
about
refrigerant
recovery.
Berg Chilling Systems Inc.
51 Nantucket Blvd.
Toronto, ON M1P 2N5
(416) 755-2221
bergsales@berg-group.com
berg-group.com