Recovering refrigerant — removing it from a system into a cylinder — is required by law before decommissioning equipment or carrying out many repairs. Venting is illegal, so proper recovery is an essential skill.
What you need
- A recovery machine suitable for the refrigerant (including A2L-rated where needed)
- A recovery cylinder in good condition and within test date
- Scales to avoid overfilling
- Correct hoses, fittings and PPE
The process
- Connect the recovery machine between the system and the recovery cylinder
- Recover the refrigerant into the cylinder, monitoring weight against the safe fill limit
- Continue until the system reaches the required vacuum
- Label the cylinder with the refrigerant type and quantity
Safety and compliance
Never overfill a recovery cylinder (typically no more than 80% to allow for expansion), keep flammable refrigerants away from ignition sources, and record the recovered quantity. Recovered gas can be reclaimed for reuse or sent for proper disposal.
FAQ
Is it illegal to vent refrigerant? Yes — deliberately releasing F-Gas refrigerant is prohibited. It must be recovered.
Find recovery-ready refrigerants and cylinders in our shop.