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Recycling ac unit?
- Thread starter no704
- Start date
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
20 years old must be r22, right? Do you own the equipment to capture the refrigerant? Can't imagine you will find a pro to do that and recharge the unit.
I would be a little reluctant to reuse it, after all, it is twenty years old.
You said gas pack? I assume it is a self contained residential packaged unit? With a package unit you don't have to recover and refrigerant to move it, so there is some thought that you will not have a whole lot of work into it.
You said gas pack? I assume it is a self contained residential packaged unit? With a package unit you don't have to recover and refrigerant to move it, so there is some thought that you will not have a whole lot of work into it.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Ah, yes, forgot about the packaging on thoseI would be a little reluctant to reuse it, after all, it is twenty years old.
You said gas pack? I assume it is a self contained residential packaged unit? With a package unit you don't have to recover and refrigerant to move it, so there is some thought that you will not have a whole lot of work into it.
stevied916
Well-known member
You can probably sell the r22 and scrap the rest. That refrigerant it super expensive now.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
And worth basically nothing reused. No good pro is putting old r22 in a customer's equipment.You can probably sell the r22 and scrap the rest. That refrigerant it super expensive now.
Fresh stuff is expensive for sure
Used R22 is probably worth $5 a pound. It is illegal to use it in someone else's equipment. It will cost more to recover than it is worth.You can probably sell the r22 and scrap the rest. That refrigerant it super expensive now.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
If you have the means to move the unit. I would probably set it up with a minimal (if any) ductwork and use it until it dies. Although 4 tons will be very oversized for ~1000 sq ft.
stevied916
Well-known member
I thought it was worth more but I guess I’m wrong! I remember it wasn’t cheap getting out old system recharged after a leak.Used R22 is probably worth $5 a pound. It is illegal to use it in someone else's equipment. It will cost more to recover than it is worth.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
New stuff is very expensive, no question there.I thought it was worth more but I guess I’m wrong! I remember it wasn’t cheap getting out old system recharged after a leak.
karoc
Well-known member
Working for HVAV company in my younger days we would take out working systems and yes pump them down to reclaim 22. As a business and owner who care we would save those units for hardship causes , install used units. Sometimes they would start and sometimes they didn’t. I always said that unit would go into Cardiac arrest. So if you have skills then it’s worth your time, if no skills I would look into mini.
Zeke
Well-known member
This. People just don't read.I would be a little reluctant to reuse it, after all, it is twenty years old.
You said gas pack? I assume it is a self contained residential packaged unit? With a package unit you don't have to recover and refrigerant to move it, so there is some thought that you will not have a whole lot of work into it.
The unit won't be very efficient by comparison.
if you cant use it to refill, who will pay $5?Used R22 is probably worth $5 a pound. It is illegal to use it in someone else's equipment. It will cost more to recover than it is worth.
Walkers
Well-known member
A package unit is self contained, just pick it up and set it down somewhere new, just need to wire and duct t.20 years old must be r22, right? Do you own the equipment to capture the refrigerant? Can't imagine you will find a pro to do that and recharge the unit.
*edit, I see this has already been covered
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yeah, they aren't something I had ever seen used in New England, so I wasn't thinking about that when posting.A package unit is self contained, just pick it up and set it down somewhere new, just need to wire and duct t.
*edit, I see this has already been covered
It can be recycled.if you cant use it to refill, who will pay $5?
I worked for a HVAC wholesaler and we bought and sold it to a company that cleaned it and repackaged it for resale.
Two Door
Well-known member
What terms do you use to find someone who will do residential capture, if there even is such a niche? I have a system I want to remove as part of a DIY remodeling to make way for a mini-split. I can't find anyone to do it on a small scale, only commercial. I assume your common service guy or company just vents it, which I would like to avoid. I'm fine with paying for the service.It can be recycled.
I worked for a HVAC wholesaler and we bought and sold it to a company that cleaned it and repackaged it for resale.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The guys that just replaced two of my r22 systems captured it. They pay for recycling when they have full bottlesWhat terms do you use to find someone who will do residential capture, if there even is such a niche? I have a system I want to remove as part of a DIY remodeling to make way for a mini-split. I can't find anyone to do it on a small scale, only commercial. I assume your common service guy or company just vents it, which I would like to avoid.
firebirdparts
Well-known member
Change your assumption.I assume your common service guy or company just vents it, which I would like to avoid. I'm fine with paying for the service.
Some guys will, but it is against the law to vent most refrigerant, fines up to $45,000 per day. Sad thing is I have never heard of a contractor getting fined, but some manufacturing plants have, so it appears there is not much policing going on.I assume your common service guy or company just vents it, which I would like to avoid. I'm fine with paying for the service.
Buddy of mine that is a licensed and very experienced hvac teck will be replacing the old unit. Although he hasn’t worked in the trade for a few months. Decided to up date his cdl and drive a garbage truck. I’ll see what his opinion is. Probably go with a new mini split.
Two Door
Well-known member
My point exactly, the reason for the post. The culture around here is "Do what you can get away with."Some guys will, but it is against the law to vent most refrigerant, fines up to $45,000 per day. Sad thing is I have never heard of a contractor getting fined, but some manufacturing plants have, so it appears there is not much policing going on.
dave*99
Well-known member
Nobody ever vents it on purpose....... it just "leaks out" before they have a chance to recover it.....