Posted by Me in Iowa on July 27, 1999 at 21:12:27:
In Reply to: freon tanks revisited posted by Jack Smith on July 27, 1999 at 16:00:12:
Well I work on comercial refrigeration (grocery stores, convenience stores, warehouses). We cannot refill our new tanks because the have a check valve in them. We have to buy a recovery tank which comes in 15, 30, 50, 125, 250 pounds and probably other sizes. We have to cut tanks in half so scrap yard will take them. Alot of concern with filling old tanks comes with moisture (i think) as the tanks are thin. I was very suprised the burst plug didn't give first. or did yours have these. if they didn't the are older style. What color were your tanks different refrigerants can acheive higher pressures. The old tanks can be refilled with freon have done it many times, before the EPA and Al Gore stepped in. You also can run into problems with a tank that has been reused for freon that a motor burn out has made the oil acidic and will weaken steel tank from inside. I have seen pictures from Reps of the peices left over from explosion usually some heat involved. if you tanks have a black t-handle on top there is no check valve (most of the time) new ones usually green or other color.