There are several methods that can be used to recover refrigerant from a system. The most common is the vapor recovery method. A faster method of recovering refrigerant is to remove the refrigerant in its liquid form. One method of recovering liquid refrigerant is the “push-pull” method.
Many system problems encountered by technicians are electrical in nature. Either the problem is an electrical defect, such as a defective switch or motor, or it can be traced electrically to the system problem itself, such as an open low-pressure switch as a result of a low system charge. In order to be proficient in troubleshooting a system problem, a technician must be able to efficiently troubleshoot the electrical components of a system.
Many of the systems and replacement components used in our industry will come with some type of literature supplied by the manufacturer. This literature will usually contain useful information for a technician and it should not be tossed aside.
Working with refrigerant recovery cylinders is a basic part of servicing refrigeration systems. Technicians need to work safely when handling these cylinders.
“How can I become a better service technician?” This is a question that should be asked by all technicians who are serious about their jobs. All techs, from the apprentice to the seasoned veteran, can improve how they do their jobs. Being a better technician is not only a benefit for a company, but it is also a benefit for the technician, since it increases his worth to a company and could allow him to earn a better paycheck. Here are some suggestions on becoming a better technician.
Refrigeration system maintenance can be broken down into two distinctive tasks. First, the system’s current operating conditions need to be inspected and observed to ensure that the system is operating at or close to its design parameters. Second, the system needs to be inspected to help prevent or predict any future system issues.
Servicing and maintaining refrigeration equipment often requires techs to measure the pressures and temperatures, and calculate the condition of the refrigerant at several different locations throughout a system. One aspect that is sometimes overlooked is the superheat value of the refrigerant at the inlet of the compressor. This is commonly referred to as the system’s total superheat.
Any time a refrigeration system is opened to the atmosphere, it must be completely evacuated before refrigerant can be added back into it. Proper evacuation of a system is an important part of the overall repair process. It ensures that no atmospheric air remains in the system.
Owners of commercial refrigeration systems containing 50
pounds of CFC or HCFC refrigerants are required by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to repair refrigerant leaks when the leak rate equals or exceeds
35 percent of the total system charge over a one-year period.
