In the process of air conditioning production, installation, and maintenance, vacuuming is a seemingly simple but crucial step. It is directly related to the performance, stability and service life of the air conditioner. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the purpose and importance of vacuuming your air conditioning system.

I- What is vacuuming?

Vacuuming, simply put, is to use a vacuum pump to extract air, water vapor and other non-condensable gases from inside the air conditioning system to create a clean, dry, impurity-free internal environment. This step may seem simple, but in fact it has a crucial impact on the performance and service life of the air conditioning system.

II- Why is vacuum needed?

1- Improve Cooling Efficiency

As a non-condensable gas, air will occupy a certain space in the air conditioning system, reducing the evaporation and condensation efficiency of the refrigerant. By vacuuming, the air content in the system can be significantly reduced, allowing the refrigerant to evaporate and condense more fully, thus improving the cooling efficiency of the air conditioner.

2. Prevent Ice Blockage and Corrosion

Water vapor is another major hazard in air conditioning systems. It will freeze at low temperatures, causing ice blockage and preventing normal circulation of refrigerant. At the same time, water vapor can also react chemically with metal components in the system, causing corrosion and leaks. Vacuuming can effectively remove moisture from the system and reduce these potential risks.

3. Ensure Refrigerant Purity

Pure refrigerant is key to efficient operation of your air conditioning system. Vacuuming can remove impurities and air from the system and ensure that the purity of the refrigerant charged reaches the standard. This helps maintain refrigerant stability and performance, extending the life of your air conditioner.

4. Test The Tightness of The System

During the vacuuming process, by observing the numerical changes of the pressure gauge, you can determine whether there is a leak point in the system. Once a leak is discovered, it can be repaired in time to avoid safety hazards and performance degradation caused by refrigerant leakage.

5. Ensure Safe Use

Refrigerants commonly used in modern air conditioning systems such as R32 are flammable. If air or water vapor is mixed into the system, it may explode when exposed to open flames or high temperatures. Therefore, vacuuming is not only a necessary step to improve the performance of air conditioners, but also an important measure to ensure safety.

III- Correct Operation of Vacuuming

1. Turn off the power:

Before vacuuming, be sure to turn off the power to the air conditioning system to ensure safe operation.

2. Connect the vacuum pump:

Connect the vacuum pump to the low-pressure port of the air conditioning system, making sure the connection is tight and leak-free.

3. Start the vacuum pump:

Turn on the vacuum pump switch and start the vacuuming process. At the same time, observe the numerical changes of the pressure gauge to ensure that the internal pressure of the system gradually decreases.

4. Hold time:

Depending on the size of the system and the type of refrigerant, the vacuuming process can take anywhere from a few minutes to tens of minutes. During this period, the vacuum pump must be kept running stably.

5. Close the valve and disconnect:

When the pressure gauge value reaches the specified requirements, close the low-pressure valve and vacuum pump switch of the air conditioning system. Then disconnect the vacuum pump from the system.

6. Maintain pressure and leak detection:

Let the system maintain a certain pressure for a period of time (usually 5-10 minutes) and observe whether the pressure gauge value is stable. If the value drops, there may be a leak in the system that requires further inspection and repair.

IV. Conclusion:

Vacuuming your air conditioning system is a seemingly simple but crucial step. It can not only improve the refrigeration efficiency of the air conditioner, prevent ice blockage and corrosion, ensure the purity of the refrigerant, and detect the tightness of the system, but also ensure our safety. Therefore, when producing, installing or repairing air conditioning systems, be sure to pay attention to the vacuuming steps and ensure that each step is performed according to specifications. Only in this way can we enjoy the coolness and comfort brought by air conditioning while ensuring the safety of our lives and property.