What precaution should be taken prior to recovering refrigerant from a chiller suspected of having tube leaks?

• A. Drain the water sides of the evaporator and condenser
• B. Increase system pressure
• C. Remove all water from the system
• D. Refill refrigerant first

Answer: (A)

When recovering refrigerant from a chiller that may have tube leaks, the main goal is to prevent water from contaminating the refrigerant. Draining the water side of the evaporator and condenser accomplishes this by isolating the refrigerant loop from the cooling water circuits. If any leak exists, water could be drawn into the refrigerant during recovery, contaminating the refrigerant with water, which can lead to acid formation in the oil, corrosion, degraded refrigerant performance, and damage to the recovery equipment. By removing the water from those sides first, you keep the recovered refrigerant purer and safer to handle. Other steps don’t specifically reduce water contamination risk and could introduce unsafe conditions or unnecessary delays.