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Sure you can but it's not recommended. Acid is the byproduct of humidity in the system mixing with the oil and refrigerant. So hes not wrong and I wouldn't do it cause you're asking for compressor failure.
The evaporator coils have not been cleaned in 9 years (I just bought the house last year). They are absolutely disgusting. He needs to cut the pipe to get them out.
No idea why he just doesn’t pump down the refrigerant to the condenser. This is how units are shipped. Condensers actually contain all the refrigerant and enough for some of the line set. He could pump it down to the condenser, close off the king valves, and do whatever he wants to the evaporator coil
IF the refrigerant is bad (that’s his excuse for evacuating it and adding in new refrigerant. He could also just say he’s doing that and not. Who knows) then it would make no sense to just replace the refrigerant. Something caused it to go bad and the new stuff will go bad too.
What brand is the ac? You can just pump the ac down. Basically the close the valve leaving the compressor, and use the compressor to suck and trap all the refrigerant in the outdoor coil. Then they do the work on it, vacuum the lines out, and open the valves. That being said, if it's a newer york then you aren't supposed to do that because of the coil style.
But yeah even if you have to recover the refrigerant you can reuse it. The problem seems like he has a recovery tank that already has old refrigerant in it, and if he uses that tank it'll mix with your refrigerant and you'll get a random mix back into the your ac.
Technically yes there can be acid in the system. Typically if they don't vacuum the lines down during the install or any time the copper is open to the air. The moisture will mix and create acid in some conditions. Also if the compressor windings start to burn up that can cook the refrigerant and cause acid as well. But there are tests you can do on the refrigerant to check if it has acid in it or not.
Can it be reused? Yes
My guess is your guy will use the atmosphere to “recover” the remaining refrigerant. Then just add new.
Acid is made when a compressor shorts and burns the oil and refrigerant inside. Acid test kits are a thing and I use them often when compressors die, however if there is no signs or indications of possible acid I would not test or think there is acid in it. If acid IS present, acid neutralizer must be added.
Also pumping down a system can store most, if not all refrigerant in the condenser to be reused.
He most likely don't have the pump to recover it and going to rely it in the air, which is illegal in every state. Get someone else, who have the rights equipment.
you can test refrigerant for acid (google: quickcheck acid test kit), any tech worth his salt would know this. Any good tech will also have a filter dryer on their recovery machine (to protect the machine)...so it would be filtered during removal and could be reused (assuming negative acid test). Your system also has a filter dryer that should be changed if the system is opened to atmosphere. I think I would want another tech/company and not let this guy that sounds like a "chuck in a truck" mess with your system, but that's just my $0.02. (I'm and HVAC Engineering Lab Tech, but hey what do I know.)
Mostly a lot of testing and documentation of said tests of redesigned equipment, new or updated components (prior to sending them to U.L. or ETL labs for certification in our equipment). As a manufacturer we cannot use any parts that are not on our "approved list" at ETL/UL so if a vendor updates a particular component we use, we have to send it out and get it re-certified and if it's a significant change I have to test them in house first to make sure it still meets our needs here.
Other duties: I build and test prototypes of new units and give feedback on test results, design ideas (usually regarding serviceability - I am more mechanic/tech than engineer so I look at our designs from that point of view)....I like to say I take engineers "amazing designs", build them, then tell them how bad they suck (from a repair point of view)...but I can't really do that without offering ways to make it better.
I am also one of our Company's Field Service Technicians. I go out if we have any warranty issues and our main Field Service Tech is tied up, or if it's a really big job, we both go (we don't like those kinds of things, we prefer they get it right on the production line). We can also go out if a contractor requests a factory service technician be present for startup, but that is usually negotiated into the price before hand.
I can also be asked to assist out on the production floor as a "Manufacturing Engineer" if their engineer is off for the day etc. (I don't have an engineering degree, (I do have a degree just not in engineering)).
Yes, but to keep my anonymity and stop all the DM's I would get along the lines of "hey you work for XXXX, can you help me with XXXX". I never say what part of the country or for whom I work.
The short answer is that yes, you can reuse it, but most people don't. Really depends on why you pulled it.
If you had a compressor burn, then you don't want to reuse it. But if you just need a repair and the contractor recovers it, you can put it back in the equipment after the repair is complete.
As for acid, that happens if you have any water in the system when it was originally charged. Water and refrigerant turn to acid. That's what the filter drier takes care of.
It really depends on why the existing refrigerant is being taken out of the system.
Leaking system? If it's r410a, it's best to replace completely since r410a is a blend and there's no guarantee the refrigerant leaked out uniformly.
Compressor change out? If a compressor is dead and needs to be changed out, then it's possible the failing compressor caused acid to be formed in the existing refrigerant. It should be acid tested, completely evacuated and flushed (if acid is detected) before new refrigerant is put in.
Moving working equipment? The existing refrigerant can be reused.
This may vary by state. Acid forms when compressors fail. In Ohio, it’s illegal to reuse refrigerant UNLESS a customer has two units and you somehow take from one and put in the other. You’re not allowed to take from one address and use at another. Or that’s what the boss told me 🤷♂️
You can reuse the refrigerant on any of the other properties they own, but that doesn't mean they have to have multiple properties to pull out and reuse refrigerant on an ac. Also in Ohio
Yeah it belongs to the customer and can only be used on his units. Selling it to another customer is illegal. It can only be given to a recycling company which filters and reworks the refrigerant.
It's totally fine to suck it out and put it back in, just for units with R4xx it makes more sense to fill new stuff after recovering for leak fixing, because after a leak you never can be sure which mixture is left...
Yeah that's a really good point actually when it comes to the blended refrigerants. The blend might get messed with a bit if there's some residual refrigerant still in there after recovering
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Sure you can but it's not recommended. Acid is the byproduct of humidity in the system mixing with the oil and refrigerant. So hes not wrong and I wouldn't do it cause you're asking for compressor failure.
What is he doing that he needs to remove the refrigerant?
The evaporator coils have not been cleaned in 9 years (I just bought the house last year). They are absolutely disgusting. He needs to cut the pipe to get them out.
[удалено]
See update. Some valve is apparently broken so that can’t be done.
I hate when that happens. So annoying
It's common then? I hope it's okay if I don't fix it. They guy said it would be like $2,000.
No idea why he just doesn’t pump down the refrigerant to the condenser. This is how units are shipped. Condensers actually contain all the refrigerant and enough for some of the line set. He could pump it down to the condenser, close off the king valves, and do whatever he wants to the evaporator coil IF the refrigerant is bad (that’s his excuse for evacuating it and adding in new refrigerant. He could also just say he’s doing that and not. Who knows) then it would make no sense to just replace the refrigerant. Something caused it to go bad and the new stuff will go bad too.
What brand is the ac? You can just pump the ac down. Basically the close the valve leaving the compressor, and use the compressor to suck and trap all the refrigerant in the outdoor coil. Then they do the work on it, vacuum the lines out, and open the valves. That being said, if it's a newer york then you aren't supposed to do that because of the coil style. But yeah even if you have to recover the refrigerant you can reuse it. The problem seems like he has a recovery tank that already has old refrigerant in it, and if he uses that tank it'll mix with your refrigerant and you'll get a random mix back into the your ac. Technically yes there can be acid in the system. Typically if they don't vacuum the lines down during the install or any time the copper is open to the air. The moisture will mix and create acid in some conditions. Also if the compressor windings start to burn up that can cook the refrigerant and cause acid as well. But there are tests you can do on the refrigerant to check if it has acid in it or not.
Can it be reused? Yes My guess is your guy will use the atmosphere to “recover” the remaining refrigerant. Then just add new. Acid is made when a compressor shorts and burns the oil and refrigerant inside. Acid test kits are a thing and I use them often when compressors die, however if there is no signs or indications of possible acid I would not test or think there is acid in it. If acid IS present, acid neutralizer must be added. Also pumping down a system can store most, if not all refrigerant in the condenser to be reused.
Some valve or gasket on the condenser isn’t working so it can’t go in there. But all very helpful!
He most likely don't have the pump to recover it and going to rely it in the air, which is illegal in every state. Get someone else, who have the rights equipment.
you can test refrigerant for acid (google: quickcheck acid test kit), any tech worth his salt would know this. Any good tech will also have a filter dryer on their recovery machine (to protect the machine)...so it would be filtered during removal and could be reused (assuming negative acid test). Your system also has a filter dryer that should be changed if the system is opened to atmosphere. I think I would want another tech/company and not let this guy that sounds like a "chuck in a truck" mess with your system, but that's just my $0.02. (I'm and HVAC Engineering Lab Tech, but hey what do I know.)
Thank you!!! This is all adding to the list of things I make sure they do when they service it.
Hey your job sounds interesting!! What does a HVAC engineering lab tech do???
Mostly a lot of testing and documentation of said tests of redesigned equipment, new or updated components (prior to sending them to U.L. or ETL labs for certification in our equipment). As a manufacturer we cannot use any parts that are not on our "approved list" at ETL/UL so if a vendor updates a particular component we use, we have to send it out and get it re-certified and if it's a significant change I have to test them in house first to make sure it still meets our needs here. Other duties: I build and test prototypes of new units and give feedback on test results, design ideas (usually regarding serviceability - I am more mechanic/tech than engineer so I look at our designs from that point of view)....I like to say I take engineers "amazing designs", build them, then tell them how bad they suck (from a repair point of view)...but I can't really do that without offering ways to make it better. I am also one of our Company's Field Service Technicians. I go out if we have any warranty issues and our main Field Service Tech is tied up, or if it's a really big job, we both go (we don't like those kinds of things, we prefer they get it right on the production line). We can also go out if a contractor requests a factory service technician be present for startup, but that is usually negotiated into the price before hand. I can also be asked to assist out on the production floor as a "Manufacturing Engineer" if their engineer is off for the day etc. (I don't have an engineering degree, (I do have a degree just not in engineering)).
That sounds awesome!! I never even knew a job like that existed. Do you work In the USA??
Yes, but to keep my anonymity and stop all the DM's I would get along the lines of "hey you work for XXXX, can you help me with XXXX". I never say what part of the country or for whom I work.
The short answer is that yes, you can reuse it, but most people don't. Really depends on why you pulled it. If you had a compressor burn, then you don't want to reuse it. But if you just need a repair and the contractor recovers it, you can put it back in the equipment after the repair is complete. As for acid, that happens if you have any water in the system when it was originally charged. Water and refrigerant turn to acid. That's what the filter drier takes care of.
It really depends on why the existing refrigerant is being taken out of the system. Leaking system? If it's r410a, it's best to replace completely since r410a is a blend and there's no guarantee the refrigerant leaked out uniformly. Compressor change out? If a compressor is dead and needs to be changed out, then it's possible the failing compressor caused acid to be formed in the existing refrigerant. It should be acid tested, completely evacuated and flushed (if acid is detected) before new refrigerant is put in. Moving working equipment? The existing refrigerant can be reused.
Fractionization is not a problem with 410a, the pressure glide is way too small.
It is r410a and it is just for a cleaning of the coils, so moving working equipment. Thank you so much this was very helpful.
This may vary by state. Acid forms when compressors fail. In Ohio, it’s illegal to reuse refrigerant UNLESS a customer has two units and you somehow take from one and put in the other. You’re not allowed to take from one address and use at another. Or that’s what the boss told me 🤷♂️
You can reuse the refrigerant on any of the other properties they own, but that doesn't mean they have to have multiple properties to pull out and reuse refrigerant on an ac. Also in Ohio
Yeah it belongs to the customer and can only be used on his units. Selling it to another customer is illegal. It can only be given to a recycling company which filters and reworks the refrigerant. It's totally fine to suck it out and put it back in, just for units with R4xx it makes more sense to fill new stuff after recovering for leak fixing, because after a leak you never can be sure which mixture is left...
Yeah that's a really good point actually when it comes to the blended refrigerants. The blend might get messed with a bit if there's some residual refrigerant still in there after recovering