HVAC Recovery Information

Learn more about refrigerant transfer, hvac recovery, and storage.

HVAC refrigerant recovery is the process of removing refrigerant from an air conditioning or refrigeration system and storing it in a separate recovery cylinder without releasing it into the atmosphere.

This is done before servicing, repairing, or disposing of equipment. In many countries, including the United States, intentionally venting most refrigerants is illegal because they can damage the environment or contribute to climate change.

How refrigerant recovery works

The basic process is:

  1. Connect a recovery machine to the HVAC system and a certified recovery cylinder.
  2. The recovery machine pulls the refrigerant out of the system.
  3. The refrigerant is transferred into the recovery cylinder.
  4. The system is verified to be at the required vacuum or pressure to confirm the refrigerant has been removed.

Refrigerant recovery

  • Protects the environment by preventing refrigerant emissions.
  • Complies with environmental regulations.
  • Allows technicians to safely service or replace HVAC components.
  • Makes it possible to recycle or reclaim refrigerant for future use when appropriate.

Recovery vs. recycling vs. reclaiming

These terms are related but different:

Recovery
Removing refrigerant from a system and storing it in a container. No cleaning is necessarily performed.

Recycling
Cleaning recovered refrigerant on-site to remove oil, moisture, and some contaminants so it can often be reused in the same owner’s equipment.

Reclaiming
Processing refrigerant at a specialized facility until it meets the purity standards for new refrigerant.

A technician typically uses the following equipment: