Need freon removal for 10 window air conditioners.

Too bad you're not closer to the western end of Massachusetts. I'm certified and have the equipment.

If you can not find some one in your area just go on line take the test and become certified, it pretty easy and fast to do costs around 50-60.00 if I remember.

I took the test in Canton, Massachusetts (Bay State School of Technology). It was $200. They sent a study guide in the mail and went over some stuff the morning of the exam. I have probably spent about $1500 on equipment. This includes my recovery unit, hoses, scale, vacrometer, multiport connection, bullet piercing connections (stay away from the vise grip type) and 2 50 pound tanks. Have yet to make my money back on the refrigerant sales, but when you count the compressors, coils, copper, wire, motors and shred, I'm pretty close. Now, I need to start advertising this service

Mark

Online courses are traditionally less expensive, I would market to the HVAC contractors in your area I went after all those contractors in my area and have quite a few as customers we specialize in a/c unit recycling and the large union company's use us on some of the areas big unit change outs. I just wanted to add that marketing a reclaiming of freon service in my option would not be feasible for the simple reason that all HVAC contractors are certified and the occasions that they would hire a subcontractor to do this are very limited.I would ofer them a far price for there units, (10.00) a unit ton for an example, We also remove any packing material and pallets associated with the swap out units, We also produce a freon recovery report for them that there customers need. As far as recovery tanks expense the company that buys my freon supplies the tanks we use when they come for the full tanks they exchange them with empties. You can make your own niche market in your area as I have Good luck.

1956,

In my area, many towns operate transfer stations for their residents. These towns charge up to $25 to dispose of ACs, refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, etc.. Most towns require that these have a certification of proper recovery. I only know of 1 spot to get this done and they charge about $40 per unit. With the proper advertising, I should be able to do well.

Mark

You are right Joe we do not do reclaiming we just recover the freon and sell it to the reclaiming company. Thank you for correcting me.
I was once looking at buying a reclaiming machine, but now with the price of R-22 dropping I am ok with just selling to a reclaimer.

Well I guess the laws or regulations are different state by state in Florida all the big box stores remove the old appliances free of charge when you purchase a new appliance, so I guess you found a niche in your area Good Luck!

1956,

Some of the stores take stuff back when you purchase something new. Many people are getting rid of 2nd refrigerators and freezers, not to mention older ACs and broken dehumidifiers.

Originally Posted by 1956

Online courses are traditionally less expensive, I would market to the HVAC contractors in your area I went after all those contractors in my area and have quite a few as customers we specialize in a/c unit recycling and the large union company's use us on some of the areas big unit change outs. I just wanted to add that marketing a reclaiming of freon service in my option would not be feasible for the simple reason that all HVAC contractors are certified and the occasions that they would hire a subcontractor to do this are very limited.I would ofer them a far price for there units, (10.00) a unit ton for an example, We also remove any packing material and pallets associated with the swap out units, We also produce a freon recovery report for them that there customers need. As far as recovery tanks expense the company that buys my freon supplies the tanks we use when they come for the full tanks they exchange them with empties. You can make your own niche market in your area as I have Good luck.

When you speak of $10/ton, you're talking about buying units from the public or the public paying you to get rid of it?

We'll let me clear it up, I purchase the swap out scrap units from a/c company's not to confuse the issue I pay 10 dollars a unit ton meaning the size of the unit., not its weight I have a few picks of units when I had the camaraderie handy.

Originally Posted by mthomasdev

I took the test in Canton, Massachusetts (Bay State School of Technology). It was $200. They sent a study guide in the mail and went over some stuff the morning of the exam. I have probably spent about $1500 on equipment. This includes my recovery unit, hoses, scale, vacrometer, multiport connection, bullet piercing connections (stay away from the vise grip type) and 2 50 pound tanks. Have yet to make my money back on the refrigerant sales, but when you count the compressors, coils, copper, wire, motors and shred, I'm pretty close. Now, I need to start advertising this service

Mark

He only needs a 608 I certification to work on these units. He can take the test here for 24.95 and be certified:

EPA Certification by Mainstream Engineering

It is an open book test. They have the study manuals and practice test available for free, I posted how to use these materials in a post a while ago.

As for equipment, if you only have a 608 I to recover a fridge or window ac unit, I'd just buy old equipment off ebay. There really is no need to have the most up to date recovery machine. You could have one that is 20 years old as long as it works. He really only needs an old set of gauges, recover machine, extra hose or two, and a tank. Once he has his license (which shouldn't take more than an hour or two) he can go to any HVAC store and get a saddle value for $2.00. It shouldn't be more than 100.00 at most.

You have to keep in mind, he's not going to be worried about pulling a good vacuum. He's not reusing the equipment. Screw on a saddle valve, hook up your gauges, hook up the recovery machine, connect the tank, and recover away.

phantom,

You are correct that for 24.95 you could get the type I certification. I took the universal. Figured there was no sense in taking the exam and not covering all bases.

As for the equipment, you really do need a refrigerant scale and a vacrometer. Tanks are not supposed to be filled past 80% capacity. A vacrometer (suppose an old set of gauges may work) is need to ensure that you pull the minimum required 4" HG vacuum. You could get away without the meter if you pulled the 80% or 90% of volume based on the operability of the compressor. However, many times there is actually a lot less refrigerant in the system than is indicated on the tag. For these, you would never be able to pull the required volume and would have to rely on the vacuum. I added a 2nd tank due to the fact that my buyer is 8 miles away and it sucks pulling 2 or 3 units with 1 type of refrigerant and then having to run to the buyer to turn in and exchange the cylinder. I spent about 800 on an Apion recovery machine, 200 on a scale, 100 on hoses, 100 on each tank and another 200 on the vacrometer, multiport connection (to recover 5 units at once) and saddle valves.