recovery recycling
Recovery from High-Pressure Appliances
Recover refrigerant from a high-pressure system to a legal level before opening it.
12 steps5 criticalLimit 20 minAlways tested
Steps
- 1Critical stepConfirm the appliance is high-pressure (liquid saturation pressure between 170 and 355 psia at 104 F; the regulation lists R-22, R-407C, R-410A) and note its full charge
- 2Use a recovery machine certified under 40 CFR 82.158 and follow its manufacturer's directions
- 3Put on safety glasses with side shields and gloves, and work with ventilation
- 4Critical stepInspect the recovery cylinder: undamaged, rated for this refrigerant's pressure, labeled, and not holding any other refrigerant
- 5Check the cylinder's fill limit before you start: about 80 percent of capacity is the common industry and manufacturer figure (it is not set by Part 82), and your supplier or the cylinder markings may set a specific limit; watch its weight on a scale
- 6Connect the recovery machine to the appliance's high-side and low-side service ports with a manifold, and to the recovery cylinder
- 7Critical stepStart the machine and recover the liquid refrigerant first, then finish the vapor, following your machine's manual for valve order
- 8Keep recovering to the Table 1 level: 0 inches Hg vacuum for a full charge under 200 lb, 10 inches Hg vacuum for 200 lb or more (equipment made on or after Nov. 15, 1993)
- 9Critical stepIf leaks make that level unattainable, isolate leaking from non-leaking parts; take non-leaking parts to Table 1 and leaking parts as low as possible without contaminating the refrigerant, never above 0 psig
- 10Verify the level has been reached in the appliance (or the isolated part) before it is opened
- 11Close the valves and shut down the machine; do not let the recovered refrigerant escape to the air
- 12Record what you recovered and keep any records your employer or the rules require
What graders are watching for
Tips
- High-pressure is a class defined by liquid saturation pressure at 104 F (170 to 355 psia); R-134a is medium-pressure, not high
- Charge size picks the level: under 200 lb and 200 lb or more have different Table 1 numbers, and you must verify the level before the appliance is opened
- High-pressure refrigerants need a cylinder rated for their pressure; one refrigerant maker says R-410A needs a 4BA400 or 4BW400 high-pressure recovery cylinder
Common mistakes
- Using the wrong row for the charge size: 0 on a system of 200 lb or more, or 10 on one under 200 lb.
- Treating R-134a as high-pressure. The regulation classes it as medium-pressure.
- Confusing the technician's Table 1 level with the machine certification Table 2.
- Stopping when the machine shuts off or the gauge looks close, without checking against the required level before opening.
Practice this skill
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Sources and how we check them: How we verify.