When should a refrigeration technician perform a recovery of refrigerant?

A refrigeration technician should perform a recovery of refrigerant before replacing any component to prevent the release of refrigerants into the atmosphere. This practice is essential not only for environmental protection but also for compliance with regulatory requirements. Recovered refrigerant can potentially be reused, which is beneficial for both cost and resource conservation.

Performing a recovery before component replacement ensures that the technician is managing refrigerants safely and responsibly. It minimizes the risk of leaks and contamination and adheres to best practices in refrigerant handling. Recovery units are designed to safely collect and store refrigerants, making this step a critical part of responsible refrigeration maintenance and repair.

In contrast, recovery during maintenance or only after a leak is identified represents a reactive approach rather than a proactive one. As for recovering refrigerant whenever the system is turned off, this could lead to unnecessary recovery actions that may not align with the actual needs of the system, thus being inefficient.