By: Tony Gonzalez, Technical Training Manager at Fieldpiece 

Pulling a vacuum before adding refrigerant can be a time-consuming process but removing all moisture and non-condensable gasses is an important step that quickly pays for itself. Plus, making sure your system can hold a vacuum at targeted microns per manufacturer recommendations (with a general rule of thumb being 500 microns) helps ensure it isn’t leaking. Here are a few tips that may help save you some time on your next evacuation:

Choose the Right Tool.

First, start by using the best tool for the job and then make sure you put it in the right spot. Not everyone realizes that a stand-alone vacuum gauge is the best tool to measure a deep vacuum. Along with being incredibly accurate, a vacuum gauge can be positioned in the ideal location — as far back on the system from the pump as possible. This best practice helps you ensure it’s placed in the last spot to reach your targeted vacuum level; and by placing it directly on the system—if you do detect a leak—you can be sure that the problem is in the system itself since you can rule out an issue in an extraneous hose or attachment.

Clear Any and All Flow Restrictions.

Next, make sure to clear any flow restrictions in the system. It may seem easy to use a pair of charging hoses to pull a vacuum, but vacuum-rated hoses have a larger diameter and typically lack a core depressor. They are designed to facilitate maximum flow during evacuations, which means your job is done faster and easier. You should also remove the valve cores from the service ports on the system. These steps can help clear restrictions and speed up evacuations.

Check Your Oil Condition.

Something else to keep in mind is clean oil. Dirty oil that’s saturated with water is less effective at removing moisture and other non-condensables from the system. Also, oil oxidizes over time and this reduces its sealing properties. Changing the oil often significantly speeds up the evacuation time.

Certain HVAC vacuum pumps enable oil changes, even while the pump is still running. This allows you to make oil changes on the fly, quickly and easily, without a mess, loss of vacuum, or time.

Take Guesswork Out of the Equation.

As you’re pulling the vacuum, keep an eye on the vacuum gauges and don’t play it by ear. We all know about how long evacuations should take and you could be tempted to look at a clock and say, “it’s been 30 minutes, we’re probably good.” But, as master craftsmen, we don’t guess. Check the gauge to make sure you’re pulling and holding a vacuum to the manufacturer’s specifications. This is the only way to be sure it’s done right.

Pulling a vacuum to remove moisture and other impurities is key to preserving the overall health of the system. Since it’s the single most important step to ensuring a system’s optimal performance and longevity, knowing how to perform evacuations quickly and correctly is an important skill to master. We hope these tips have been helpful!

About the Author: Tony Gonzalez is the Technical Training Manager for Fieldpiece Instruments. He has more than 20 years of industry experience with Fieldpiece developing new products. Most recently, he led the Job Link® App development team and developed Fieldpiece’s wireless power clamp meters. He is committed to training on best practices to help the HVACR professionals do their job easier, faster, and better. Tony enjoys road cycling and rooting for his hometown LA Dodgers.

Featured in: HVAC/P Magazine

As it turns out, you can do so much more and do it much more efficiently too. As service technicians, we’ve all been in the situation where we feel like we need to be in three or more places at once while we’re installing or repairing a system. We’re measuring the temperature at an air vent, keeping an eye on superheat and subcooling and tracking changes in static pressures while also monitoring the health of the entire system. It isn’t an easy job, and on a larger site, it can take up most of your day.

If you’re using traditional, wired tools you’re in for a lot of hooking up and unhooking, checking and rechecking and walking all over the job site for your readings. Plus, if the ideal location for a pressure probe is at the opposite end of a crawlspace, you’ll spend a lot of your time crawling around as well. Fun stuff.

With HVACR wireless tools that have an extended range, the days of walking or crawling back and forth all day to check on readings are long gone. That location that’s on the opposite side of the crawlspace won’t seem so far away once you realize it’s a “one and done” situation now. Set it up once and do the rest from your phone. The tedious process of checking readings, making adjustments, and going back to check again to ensure all your levels are just right can now be done seamlessly through your phone.

HVACR wireless tools with a long range eliminates a lot of wasted time. Time that you could be spending repairing a system or visiting more customers. Also, since they are untethered, they can be installed exactly where they’ll give you the best reading—you aren’t limited by hose length, arm length or your proximity to an electrical outlet. You can set your wireless manometer, temperature probe, pipe clamp or other tool at the ideal location for getting the right measurements and leave it there. You can even track changes in refrigerant level from across the building as you charge a system. You’re unstoppable.

Once your wireless tools are placed, they’re able to work independently and deliver data directly to your mobile device in real-time. You can track and monitor pressures and temperatures in real-time while you’re making changes to the system. As you make adjustments to the thermostat, you’ll be able to see right away what other values change. This can lead to a quicker diagnosis and more satisfied customers.

The Fieldpiece Job Link Charge and Air Kit is a great example of a set of tools that takes advantage of this wireless versatility. Hook up each wireless pressure probe, pipe clamp and psychrometer and you’ll get a quick snapshot of a system. You’ll see the fluctuations in pressure and keep an eye on superheat and subcooling. It’ll be much easier and faster for you to diagnose a system’s health and determine what repairs or adjustments are needed.

If you’re interested in adding wireless tools with longer range to your toolbox, pick up some of the newest innovations from Fieldpiece.

Featured in: The Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration News