Commercial Refrigerant Analysis Service in Chicago
Refrigerant is the key to air conditioning and refrigeration. For these mechanical systems to work properly, the refrigerant must be pure. The only way to know if your equipment is running on uncontaminated refrigerant is to have a professional perform an analysis.
At Murphy & Miller, we analyze recovered, recycled, and reclaimed refrigerant for problems that can cause inefficient operation and equipment failure. Our services are extremely valuable for your business because they help you lower your repair costs and prolong the life of your air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Our refrigerant analysis techniques are eco-friendly and meet all provisions of the Clean Air Act.
In addition to refrigerant analysis, we also offer corresponding oil and vibration analysis. When paired together, these services help address unacceptable wear conditions inside the compressor.
To learn more about the refrigeration analysis process, or to schedule services for your Chicago building, please contact Murphy & Miller today at 1-312-427-8900.
What Is the Purpose of Refrigerant Analysis?
Recovering, recycling, and reclaiming refrigerant are popular techniques to keep down the cost and environmental impact of running air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers. However, your efforts could backfire if the refrigerant is contaminated. Impure refrigerant can damage the internal components of a cooling system, decrease its efficiency, and shorten its lifespan. Refrigerant analysis is a simple way to find contaminants and take corrective action before recharging your equipment.
What Contaminants Can a Refrigerant Analysis Reveal?
We test your refrigerant for the following contaminants:
- Moisture: Water leaks, moist air entering the system, and improper service procedures are the most common reasons for high moisture content in refrigerant lines. This can lead to ice formation in the evaporator or expansion valve, degradation of lubricating oils, acid formation, and metal corrosion.
- Acids: Decomposition of oil and refrigerant at high temperatures in the presence of air or moisture can cause acid to form in refrigerant lines. Inorganic acids present the biggest concerns because they are highly reactive and water soluble. Their presence can cause cooling equipment to degrade much faster than usual.
- Particulates: Solid contaminants may include chemical compounds, metallic particles, or dirt. Particulates can enter the system from normal wear and tear, corrosion, materials left in the system during maintenance, and chemical breakdown of refrigerant lines. Solids can etch compressor cylinder walls, damage motor insulation, plug lubrication holes and expansion valves, and cause bearing failure.
- Organic matter: Sludge, tar, and wax are examples of organic matter that may be present in contaminated refrigerant. They usually form as organic materials in the system decompose, including oil, insulation, gaskets, and varnish. As the organic matter circulates, it can plug small orifices and capillary tubes or cause expansion valves to stick. The contaminants can also coat heat transfer surfaces, causing inefficient cooling.
- Non-condensable gases: These are any chemically inert gases that don’t liquefy with the refrigerant when it travels through the condenser. They can enter the system through air in-leakage, incomplete evacuation, chemical reactions, or decomposition of materials at high temperatures. Their presence decreases cooling efficiency and speeds up unwanted chemical reactions within the refrigerant.
Schedule Refrigerant Analysis Service in Chicago
When the performance of your mission-critical mechanical equipment is at stake, you only want an experienced contractor to perform refrigerant analysis. At Murphy & Miller, we have over 80 years of industry experience. If you’re looking for affordable, effective, energy-saving HVAC testing services, choose Murphy & Miller the next time you need refrigerant analysis in Chicago.
To keep your cooling and refrigeration systems up and running, please schedule refrigerant analysis with Murphy & Miller today. You can contact us online or by phone at 1-312-427-8900 to get started.