How to get refrigerant out of fridge

[Jetboy]

I need a vacuum pump. Refrigerators have just the right compressor for the job. I can buy a used fridge for $30. I can call the power co and have the fridge picked up and they'll give me $30. I can take it to the landfill and pay $10 to get rid of it. But I can't find anyone to take the refrigerant out for less than $100. I don't want to release it into the atmosphere.

Any great ideas on somewhere I could take a fridge to get the refrigerant removed for less than $100?

I tried the landfill and power co. and neither will remove the refrigerant and let me keep the pump, nor will they sell me a compressor.

I may end up having to just buy a regular commercial vacuum pump for $200 (the car type ones won't work, I need one that can run for hours continuously). It just seems wasteful when I can get exactly the right compressor I need for $30-50 and people throw them away everyday, yet I can't seem to get my hands on one without releasing the refrigerant into the atmosphere.

I've called around to appliance repair shops too. No luck.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

To do it yourself, you'll need a bolt-on piercing valve, a length of refrigerant hose with proper fittings (like those on a manifold) a container, and dry ice. The container can be a small propane cylinder or a fire extinguisher, you'd just have to find a way to get proper fittings threaded or brazed on. The container would sit in the dry ice, thus causing the refrigerant to want to flow into it. It'll take quite a bit of time to gather all the supplies to ensure an air-tight transfer.

Can't you just find a fridge that's already died and thus has already spilled it's guts yet could be a good parts donor? What about the very repair shops you already called, or donation sites like Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc?

 

[PAToyota]

Yeah, I'd check with the appliance shops for one that is already drained.

 

[Jetboy]

Even if I did get all the right equipment, I'm not sure what I'd do with the coolant once it's in the propane tank.

Unfortunately fridges are very well sealed and it appears are very rare to have any leaks.


I could have an unfortunate "accident", but I'm kinda partial to the atmosphere and I don't want to go that route.

I called about a dozen places yesterday. $108 was the cheapest quote to remove the refrigerant.

I think I'm just going to have to pony up for a little Gast vacuum pump.

 

[PAToyota]

The other problem is that if you don't have a sticker on the refrigerator saying it was drained properly, nobody is going to take it from you (recycling yard, etc).

 

[Jetboy]

It just seems so crazy that I can call the power company and they will come to my house and pick up my old fridge and GIVE me $30. But I can't give them the fridge and keep the compressor without paying $100+ even if I deliver it.

I bid on a Gast (american made) vacuum pump on ebay. It just irks me to buy something people literally throw away every day.

 

[alia176]

a buddy of mine just bought an industrial vac pump off ebay for less than $100. That thing can suck start a Harley with a 100' of garden hose!! So, you should be able to find one on flea bay.

 

[Jetboy]

a buddy of mine just bought an industrial vac pump off ebay for less than $100. That thing can suck start a Harley with a 100' of garden hose!! So, you should be able to find one on flea bay.

I did exactly that. bought an unused Gast (American Made) vacuum pump intended for scientific labs or similar application with a pretty reasonable flow rate for $60 on Ebay. It should be here shortly. I think it should work nicely for my vacuum press. We'll see when it gets here how well it works.

 

[Living in the Past]

Does the power company require the refrigerant be removed before they will pick it up? I thought they would take it complete with refrigerant. Thought the whole purpose was to get rid of the old energy dogs. I just figure they would have a place that will recover the refrigerant. R12? There is a market for that. Depending on how old yours probably have less then a pound.

 

[Jetboy]

Does the power company require the refrigerant be removed before they will pick it up? I thought they would take it complete with refrigerant. Thought the whole purpose was to get rid of the old energy dogs. I just figure they would have a place that will recover the refrigerant. R12? There is a market for that. Depending on how old yours probably have less then a pound.

No requirement to remove the refrigerant. The power company will pick up with refrigerant in them. And give me $30 for giving it to them. What they won't do is let me keep the pump, take it to their warehouse or dissembler facility (I assume it's contracted out) and keep the pump, or buy a pump from someone else's junked fridge. I assume the facility that they recycle them at does that, but I'm not sure where that is or who is doing it.

 

['74 UA FJ]

Does your old refrigerator have r12 in it?

 

[Jetboy]

Does your old refrigerator have r12 in it?

I don't have one. I was just going to buy a working fridge for $50. Could be r12 or r134a. I'm sure I could get either one.