How to Remove Air Conditioner without Losing Gas?

Hey Indira. I saw you wanted to know how to remove air conditioner without losing gas. You will have to pump down to achieve this. Here, you will have to trap all the gas back into the outdoor compressor unit. Let me show you how it is done.

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1. Turn on the AC in cooling mode at the lowest temperature. You need the compressor to be running actively for the gas to move, so let it run for about 5 to 10 minutes before you start.

2. Locate the two brass valves on the outdoor unit. Remove the hex caps from the "liquid line" (the thinner pipe) and the "suction line" (the thicker pipe) using an adjustable wrench.

3. Close the liquid line valve completely with an Allen key. By turning this clockwise until it stops, you are shutting the gate which stops the liquid refrigerant from flowing into the indoor unit.

4. Wait for about 30 to 60 seconds while the unit is still running. During this time, the compressor is sucking all the remaining gas back from the indoor unit and pipes into the outdoor coil.

5. Close the suction line valve (the thicker pipe) once the sound of the compressor changes. As soon as the compressor sounds slightly deeper or strained, quickly close the thicker pipe's valve with your Allen key to trap the gas inside.

6. Immediately turn off the power to the AC. Once both valves are closed, the compressor shouldn't run for more than a few seconds, or it could overheat or get damaged.

7. Disconnect the pipes and wires safely. Now that the gas is trapped in the outdoor unit, you can unscrew the flare nuts and remove the unit.

So this is how you can remove an AC without gas leakage.

Get Your AC Removed without Leaks with Technicians of NoBroker​

Dismantling an AC may require professional intervention, so I would recommend you hire an AC technician for the job. However, I can give you a brief idea of the process as I got it uninstalled from a professional and closely observed the person. So, if you’re wondering how to remove air conditioner without losing gas, I got you covered. You need some specialised equipment to perform the task.

How to Remove an Air Conditioner without Losing Gas?

We had to shift to a new place, so we got our AC dismantled without losing the gas. For this, I learned you need to first pump out the gas from the system. Here are some steps I remember the technician followed while uninstalling the AC.

1. He started by closing the valve for supplying gas to the evaporator.

2. Then, he turned the AC on cooling mode. 

3. After waiting for the system to shut down automatically, he closed the valve on the vent line.

4. Then, he removed the front panel using screwdrivers and disconnected all the wires.

5. He then removed the brackets which were securing the AC on the wall. 

6. Finally, he removed the AC unit from the wall.

So, this is how to remove split AC without losing gas. 

The important thing here is to close the small diameter valve on the discharge line first, then close the larger diameter valve. The professional told me this will trap the refrigerant or gas within the compressor. I hope this gives you some idea. If you’re unsure about doing it by yourself, call an AC technician. You can read