Q: I need to buy refrigerants for immediate use. Should I buy virgin product or reclaimed?
A: Most people prefer to purchase virgin refrigerant for service requirements in manufacturer-branded and manufacturer-filled cylinders. The refrigerant manufacturers provide brand name recognition and assurances of purity and quality control, which are extremely important when purchasing refrigerants.
A few individuals or companies prefer to purchase specifically reclaimed refrigerant, usually as a way of demonstrating their company’s commitment to protecting the environment and supporting recycling activities in general.
Q: Is all reclaimed refrigerant the same?
A: No. By law, all used refrigerant which is sold must be reclaimed and certified to the ARI-700 standard for refrigerant purity. How-ever, because reclamation is an exacting process, much of the refrigerant that is labeled “reclaimed” still falls short of this standard. You must rely upon the integrity and reputation of the reclaimer.