Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    nshackt started this thread.
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    May 2020
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    1
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Question Refigerant Recovery. How much is it worth?

    I have more of a hypothetical question: How much do you think yards would have to pay for freon and refrigerant to make it worth it for everyone to get in on the business? I have hunch yards don't really remove it, and I know it's not worth the expense for a lot of guys to get certified and get the equipment, tanks, etc. What would be the going rate to make it worth it?



  2. #2
    hills's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor



    Member since
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Maine
    Posts
    1,359
    Thanks
    798
    Thanked 1,281 Times in 726 Posts
    I was talking with a HVAC guy last month. I mentioned that there was a business opportunity in draining old AC's, fridges, freezers and so on. He had no interest in getting into recycling refrigerant. He explained why. Most appliances have a label somewhere that tells what kind of refrigerant was used in the system. ( There are different kinds. ) The problem was that he had no way of knowing if the system had been recharged or topped up with a different refrigerant somewhere along the line. That makes it all but useless for re-use.

    Apparently, there's no value in potentially mixed refrigerants ?

    Maybe it's something you have to pay to get rid of ?

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to hills for This Post:


  4. #3
    SMF Badges of Honor

    Member since
    Jun 2020
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    It’s illegal in some states to re-use the refrigerant unless it’s being used on property with the same owner it came from, and his permission. Wrong Refrigerant will ruin a system. There are sniffers to determine the type of refrigerant, but the reliable ones cost a few thousand. You never want to buy refrigerant from someone unless it’s sealed from a trusted source.

  5. #4
    kss's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    May 2019
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    839
    Thanks
    465
    Thanked 715 Times in 403 Posts
    Yards would have to CHARGE money for it to be worth it for them to take it. My local landfills/recycling centers (not scrapyards) charge $15-25/unit to take an item with refrigerant IF you are a county resident. So that is tax subsidized, and they still have to charge to take it.

  6. #5
    t00nces2's Avatar
    SMF Badges of Honor


    Member since
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Sarasota, FL
    Posts
    1,696
    Thanks
    1,191
    Thanked 2,343 Times in 960 Posts
    You would need them to pay you to take care of their refrigerant problem....



Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

 
Browse the Most Recent Threads
On SMF In THIS CATEGORY.





OR

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

The Scrap Metal Forum

    The Scrap Metal Forum is the #1 scrap metal recycling community in the world. Here we talk about the scrap metal business, making money, where we connect with other scrappers, scrap yards and more.

SMF on Facebook and Twitter

Twitter Facebook