by Joe Wheeler

Murray Weightman, president of Cryo-Line, discussed the demands placed on C-21 contractors in the wake of EPA regulations designed to halt the release of CFCs into the atmosphere. Cryo-Line is a state-of-the-art refrigerant recovery facility that recently opened in Henderso.

Weightman presented the material at the March meeting of the Southern Nevada Air Conditioning Refrigeration Service Contractors Association, and used "EPA Regulations for HVAC, Clear Air Act 608 Training Manual" to demonstrate the proper procedures and documentation for recovering refrigerant.

"It’s a requirement of anybody (who recovers refrigerant) that they certify," Weightman said. "You must use U.L.or EPA recovery equipment. You can’t use a high pressure machine on a low pressure unit. You can’t transfer or sell refrigerant from one owner to another unless it meets ARI.700 standards." He stressed the EPA’s insistence that control is maintained over used refrigerant. "It can’t even be given away for free," he said.

He spoke of the CFC Refrigerant Floor Tax. The tax applies to anyone holding more than 400 pounds of virgin refrigerant, regulated CFCs. The tax is currently $8.05 per pound.

To illustrate the EPA’s enforcement of the regulations, Weightman described a federal "bounty" system set up to capture wrong doers.

The EPA, Weightman said, "Offers a $10,000 bounty to anyone who furnishes information that leads to the criminal conviction of violators." Clark County was recently hit by allegations made by a disgruntled employee concerning mishandling of CFCs. If found to be guilty, the county could face fines of up to $27,500 per day, a figure of some $20 million.

"My favorite story is one in which a service tech shows up to repair a unit," Weightman said. "The owner says, ‘I’ve got a new video camera, do you mind if I tape you as you work?’ The service technician says he doesn’t mind and the guy tapes him fixing the unit." The man turned the tape into the EPA for the $10,000 bounty.

The EPA is serious about the issue of CFCs, and Weightman went over some actions that have gotten C-21 contractors fined. "Knowingly venting. Not being certified. Not using approved recovery equipment. Filling out of date recovery cylinders. Filling non-refillable recovery cylinders."

Good record keeping is essential when dealing with this sensitive, and potentially very expensive, subject. Weightman said that everyone in the business of using refrigerant is required to keep records of CFCs use, recovery and disposal. "Wholesalers who sell refrigerant keep invoices of who buys refrigerant. Reclaimers records the name and address of anyone who sells refrigerant," he said. "These records are sent to the EPA once a year."

Weightman’s company recovers used refrigerant at no cost to contractors.

Keep Records!

Keep a log of refrigerant related jobs;

Record certification numbers;

Identify where leaks are and the method used to repair;

Record to what level the system was drawn down;

Record the amount of refrigerant added;

Record the amount sent out for reclamation;

SNARSCA Golf Tournament

It’s time to make plans to attend the SNARSCA Chill Willy Golf Tournament.

June 15, 16 in Mesquite, Nevada. Call Bob Billiu at MSI-HVAC for more information at (702) 795-4746