Refrigerant recovery machines are designed to last a long time. In fact, some manufacturers say that with proper maintenance, their units can last more than 10 or 15 years. But machines eventually break or wear out, and the need for additional recovery units becomes necessary.

Contractors shopping for new recovery machines will be pleased to find that new units are often considerably lighter and faster than older models. Some can even be repaired in the field, which can significantly reduce downtime.