Multifamily Refrigerant: Recover, Recycle, or Reclaim?

     

There are a few different reasons why HVAC maintenance technicians would remove refrigerant from a system. Repairing a leak, replacing a component, installing new equipment… But what should they do with refrigerant once it has been removed? How is it stored? Can that residential AC refrigerant be cleaned and reused, and how are recovery, recycling, and reclamation different?

For an air conditioning system to run as efficiently as possible, you need to have the right amount of refrigerant in the system. That refrigerant should also be clean—free of oil and other impurities that impact performance.

 

Never mix refrigerants. Property teams should have recovery cylinders for each type of refrigerant on site. Always recover refrigerant into a properly labeled recovery tank.

Recover, Recycle, or Reclaim: What’s the Difference?

When a repair is completed, recovered refrigerant can be charged back into the same system. That refrigerant may also be recycled or reclaimed. These three terms—recover, recycle, reclaim—sometimes create confusion, because they sound similar, and some of the processes overlap. Let’s clear up any confusion by defining these terms and walking through how each of them is used in multifamily HVAC.

Recovery is the process of removing refrigerant from a system. The refrigerant is then recycled and put back into the same system or taken to a special processing center to be reclaimed for resale. The key differences between recycling and reclaiming refrigerant are how the refrigerant is processed and who is doing the work. Let’s take a closer look at each step.

 

"Recovery efficiency” is the percentage of refrigerant actually recovered by the recovery machine compared to the amount in the system.

What do I do with a full recovery cylinder? Time for a Tank Swap!

Recovery tanks must be labeled with the type of refrigerant they contain and cannot have mixed refrigerants. There is a required minimum of 18 lbs. to pick up a tank. 

• 30# - 36 lbs. gross (18 lbs. tare) 
• 50# - 46 lbs. gross (28 lbs. tare)

Cylinders that do not meet these requirements will be returned to the property.

What if I don’t need a new tank, but I have a full cylinder?

Order a tank swap without a recovery cylinder. Pay the recovery fee, and Chadwell Supply will take that full tank off your hands. Order a new tank anytime.

What if I only need an empty tank?

If you need an empty cylinder but do not have a full cylinder to swap, Chadwell Supply sells clean, empty recovery cylinders.

Review Your Building Codes

This AHRI interactive Map indicates state and local building codes related to A2L refrigerants

The Reclamation Process: From “Recovered” to “Like New”

The chemical purification process for reclaiming refrigerant must meet specific AHRI Standard 700 guidelines. AHRI 700 is the globally recognized standard for measuring HVAC refrigerant composition and purity. These rules apply to all new, reclaimed, and repackaged refrigerants.

Recovery tanks are processed efficiently and tracked carefully to ensure ample market supply, protecting costs and ensuring availability. Accurate supply tracking is especially important as A2Ls enter the market and demand for recovery tanks increases.

Chadwell Supply’s tank swap service and refrigerant reclamation program help maximize the availability of recovery cylinders while ensuring we have plenty of clean, AHRI approved refrigerant on hand for our customers. Reach out to your Account Manager to learn more.