When servicing a low-pressure refrigeration system, what is essential to prevent refrigerant contamination?

Using proper recovery methods is essential to prevent refrigerant contamination in a low-pressure refrigeration system. Proper recovery practices ensure that the refrigerant is removed from the system in a way that minimizes exposure to moisture, air, and other contaminants. When refrigerants are improperly recovered or allowed to mix with other substances, it can lead to degradation of the refrigerant's properties and impair system performance.

Additionally, employing the correct equipment and procedures during the recovery process helps maintain the purity of the refrigerant, which is crucial for both environmental and operational reasons, as contaminated refrigerants can be harmful to both the system and the environment when released.

While maintaining constant temperatures and minimizing access to the system can contribute to overall system performance and integrity, they do not directly address the contamination of refrigerants during recovery. Furthermore, using old refrigerant for testing is not a safe or acceptable practice, as it can introduce additional contaminants into the system that may compromise its operation.