How do you uninstall a split AC without losing the freon gas?

Question

How do you uninstall a split AC without losing the freon gas?

Answer 1

anytime  you have to open the system up, you'll loose the gas.

Answer 2

You get a pro and hope for the best. Some units have shutoff valves , others do not. Chances are you are not qualified or have the equipment to do this by your question. Letting refrigerant loose into the air is illegal . It must be removed by a pro , and reinstalled by the same type of person.

Answer 3

When installing the units the condenser comes precharged with enough freon for the condenser and the evaporator.  Once the system is assembled you apply your vacuum pump to the appropriate valves on the condenser and vacuum the system.  Then you "break" the vacuum by opening up the liquid and suction line valves to allow the freon to enter the system.  A new installation may require some additional freon to allow for the length of the lines.  

To deconstruct such a system you will need one or both of the following.  1. To "pump down" the system. (1 see site for discussion)  In this case it is a process of closing one valve while the compressor is running and leaving the other open.  You use the compressor to bring the freon back into the condensing unit and then close the valve.  Doing this wrong will blow up the compressor.

2. since the above process is rarely complete you can use a recovery unit (2 for example) to remove the balance of the freon.  These units pump the freon into a tank that is kept cold by a number of processes.  Once these two things are done you can legally cut the pipes to dismantle the system.  

Handling freon is legally only done by a qualified and licensed HVAC tech.  Being caught with freon and no recovery unit can incur some pretty hefty fines (4 figures).

Answer 4

Hopefully they have a high and low pressure check valve for refilling the freon and checking the operation of the unit.  A certified hvac person can come out and evacuate the system with a vacumm pump so that the freon isnt lost and can be reused or recycled.  Check with your local HVAC or electric contractors.  They can usually lead you in right direction.