The Essentials Of HVAC Recycling

Air conditioning has immensely changed how people live and work. Today, most homes and businesses rely on these systems to maintain quality indoor air and optimize thermal comfort. Although the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units are built to last, their lifespan ranges between 12 to 15 years. The question is, what happens when your unit's shelf life is over, and it needs replacement? The best solution, in this case, is recycling. This piece introduces you to HVAC recycling and why it is essential.

Fundamentals of HVAC Recycling

HVAC recycling is an eco-friendly alternative to disposing units in landfill facilities. Unlike options like plastic recycling, where you can leave items on the curbside awaiting pickup services, contractors uninstall the HVAC units for recycling. That means you don't have to remove and leave your AC unit out for trash collection when the time comes to replace it. Most HVAC contractors recycle air conditioning and heating units for components made of metals such as aluminum, brass, steel, and copper. These include motors, coils, brass fittings, furnaces, copper tubing, and metal ductwork. Moreover, refrigerant is always reclaimed because it is a potential environmental hazard that can't be left to evaporate and escape into the ozone layer.

Pros of HVAC Recycling        

HVAC recycling has the following benefits:

1.       Ecological benefits

Most air conditioners use components like refrigerants which are a danger to the environment. The reason is, many types of refrigerants contribute to ozone layer depletion and global warming. That is more so in conventional residential AC units which rely on chlorodifluoromethane (R-22), a chemical with a significantly high ozone-depleting potential (ODP). And, although newer refrigerants like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) don't harm the environment as much as their counterparts, they are greenhouses gases. By recycling your unit, you prevent any of these refrigerants from ending up in a landfill where they'll eventually leak out, evaporate, and cause environmental damage.

2.       Sustainability

The materials and minerals used to make HVAC systems components require special machines and much energy to mine and excavate. Plus, they are non-renewable resources that are depletable. When you recycle HVAC system parts, they are reused, which lowers material wastage when manufacturing new components. Recycling takes less energy than manufacturing and leads to less pollution from gas emissions. 

3.       Financial benefits

HVAC system recycling offers you the opportunity to earn some extra cash. That is so because these units have various metals like copper and steel, which are valuable. Therefore, you can offer a broken AC unit for recycling and get paid. The payout is often better when the parts are in excellent condition, and current prices are favorable. You can use the money from scrapping to buy a new unit.

For more information, reach out to a company such as Durable Metals.