How to Operate a Refrigeration Equipment

The operation of any and all refrigeration equipment should be done by a professional. A common piece of equipment used by such certified individuals is refrigerant gauges. These gauges help determine if a system is functioning at the correct temperature and if it needs service.

1. Follow safety guidelines. Only those trained in the HVAC industry should consider working with refrigeration equipment, and this includes refrigerant gauges.

2. Power off the refrigeration unit. This can protect you from electrical shock or injury.

3. Hook the refrigerant gauges to the system at the low and high pressure service connections. The blue hose will connect to the low pressure side, which is the evaporator, and the red hose will connect to the high pressure side, which is the condenser.

4. Power on the refrigeration system. The power should be on long enough for the unit to be at normal working operation.

5. Open and read the low side gauge.

6. Refer to a pressure temperature chart to convert the pressure reading into a temperature. These charts can be found where refrigerant equipment is sold.

7. Close this gauge.

8. Open and read the high side gauge. Use the same chart to convert this pressure reading as well.

9. Use the temperature conversions to figure out the operating temperatures of the evaporator on the low side and the condenser on the high side.

10. Connect the utility hose to a vacuum pump. Make sure both valves are closed.

11. If charging the refrigeration unit, add the liquid refrigerant at this time.

12. Evacuate the refrigeration system. You can do this by using a vacuum pump attached to the utility hose and opening the low side valve.

13. Secure all valve caps. This will prevent any leaking from the system, and it will also protect against moisture entering.