Propane Tank AC Recovery

If your car's air conditioning unit is not blowing cold air, it may be necessary to vacuum out the old refrigerant and add new. Due to environmental restrictions, you can't discharge refrigerant into the atmosphere; you have to recover it by pumping it into a spare propane tank for disposal. You can do this with a small vacuum pump. It's a simple procedure that anyone can do at home on almost any type of automobile. Small vacuum pumps and pressure gauges can be purchased at auto parts shops or even home improvement stores.

2 1/2-cfm vacuum pump
AC gauge set
Propane tank

Instructions

- 1
  Hang the pressure gauges from the hood of the car above the engine; there is a hook on the gauges for this purpose.
- 2
  Screw the fitting from the yellow hose onto the vacuum pump with your fingers. It's the prominent fitting on the pump, and it will fit only one place.
- 3
  Screw the blue hose fitting onto the air conditioning intake hose. Follow the air conditioner pump line back toward the dashboard of the car; it's a metal pipe, copper or aluminum. At the highest point on the hose, there will be a fitting just like the fitting on the vacuum pump. Screw the blue hose onto that fitting.
- 4
  Screw the red hose fitting onto the top of a 5-gallon propane tank. It should screw on just like the other two. Turn the knob on the top of the propane tank to open it.
- 5
  Turn the vacuum pump on. Open the two valves on both sides of the set of gauges. When the gauge on the left side registers a negative reading, close both valves on the gauges. Close the valve on the propane tank. Shut off the vacuum pump.
- 6
  Unscrew and remove the fittings and gauges. The AC refrigerant will stay in the propane tank.

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