Why we need to use recovery/recycling/reclaiming equipments during the discharging process of refrigerant?

Answer 1

The freon will break down the ozone layer and add to global warming.

Answer 2

I think it is great that all of the replies speak about environmental problems, but there are additional reasons. The equipment used will remove the refrigerant and there is typically a piece of equipment to identify the type of refrigerant and if there are any contaminants so that it may be taken care of. Second it tells how much refrigerant and oil was in the system so that the correct amount can be put back in and it can be determined if the right amount was in to start with, which may point a technician to the source of a problem. Additionally, a vacuum is pulled on the system to remove any contaminant and moisture, which can destroy the very, very fragile system and check for leaks. Finally, it's the only accurate way to put the right amount of oil and refrigerant back into the system. A/C systems are very, very, very difficult to seal and everything must be in the right amounts for it to work correctly for any appreciable time. Additionally, A/C systems are the only ones that require nation wide certification for all technicians in order to do it legally, yet anyone can go into any store and purchase R-134a refrigerant and basic charging apparatus. What is wrong with this picture? If a consumer does not know what they are doing (and let me tell you, there is a lot to know about servicing A/C systems, like temperature/humidity charts do determine proper system pressures for the high and low sides of the system), and a technician must be federally certified, what do you think the chance of them doing the job correctly is? In my experience it has been zero.

Answer 3

You can thank the enviro-nazies for this. For some reason everyone got it in their head about twenty years ago that freon, somehow, magically was going to destroy the earth's ozone layer. Though the possibility that the freon compound could attach itself to ozone molecules and destroy them it was only demonstrated on computer models -- it has NEVER been actually been proven that it does any such thing. Now I'm not for venting any kind of chemical compound into the air but the hysteria surrounding Freon12 bordered on the insane and cost this country billions of dollars in retro-fit and containment/reclaiming operations and equipment. It was purely a political knee-jerk reaction to a theoretical situation.

Answer 4

i own a shop ,and all the chemicals in the freon are very harmful to the environment ,and help add to the problem with the ozone layer being burned away,we need to do everything possible to stop this,or at least slow it down ,good luck i hope this helps.

Answer 5

The gases in the coolant are harmfull to the ozone, and the recovery unit traps that gas from going in the air.