Recycling Refrigerant vs. Reclaiming Refrigerant

Refrigerant is an essential component in any residential or commercial HVAC system. In a cooling system, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air outside as it changes from liquid to gas, cooling the air before it enters the interior space. Over many cycles of evaporation and condensation, refrigerants pick up contaminants that reduce their effectiveness. Refrigerant recycling and reclamation are two ways that refrigerant can be purified for reuse, but they are very different processes.

Refrigerant Recycling 

Typical commercial refrigerants are made of hydrofluorocarbon compounds. These potent greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and ozone depletion if not handled properly. Refrigerant recycling reduces the need for new refrigerant production and saves businesses money by reusing their existing refrigerant. When impurities build up, the refrigerant must be evacuated, reclaimed, and recycled. Recycling removes the impurities so that the refrigerant substance complies with the maximum levels of impurities set by the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute. Importantly, the recycled refrigerant can only be returned to the system it was initially evacuated from. Unlike reclaimed refrigerant, it cannot be used in another system.

Refrigerant Reclamation

While refrigerant recycling allows the refrigerant to be reused in the same system it was removed from, refrigerant reclamation goes several steps further in the purification process. Reclaimed refrigerant must pass through a series of chemical processes including filtering, drying, and distilling to meet ARI-700 purity standards. It can also be sold on the open market for use in most HVAC systems. Refrigerant Solutions is one of only 60 companies in the United States certified to perform this work by the EPA.

Businesses across the Northeast rely on the professionals at Refrigerant Solutions for all their refrigerant recycling and reclamation needs. If your HVAC system needs refrigerant maintenance, save money and help the environment by recycling or reclaiming refrigerant today.