Recovery Unit Safety and Maintenance Tips

With heavy summer air conditioning and refrigeration service this year, recovery recycle units will take a beating.

The following general safety and maintenance tips will help service contractors get long life and safe service from their equipment.

Safety

• A recovery unit should have overfill protection. This is accomplished through a tank overfill cable connected to the tank. When the tank reaches 80% of its capacity the recovery unit should stop recovering so a new tank can be installed.
• Compressors should have thermal protection to prevent overheating in high ambient temperatures.
• Only use a heavy-duty gauge extension cord, at least 12 AWG. Also, use the shortest-length extension cord possible.
• If the unit is heavy, lift with your legs, not your back.
• Store your recovery unit securely in your truck to avoid damage during transit.

Maintenance

• Do a quick check for leaks on a periodic basis. Tighten fittings where necessary.
• Change the oil in a hermetic compressor regularly.
• If the unit is equipped with gauges, periodically check theri calibration.
• For units equipped with an oil separator, drain the oil after each recovery so different oils don't get mixed.
• Make sure all recovery tanks are clearly marked with the refrigerant type.