View Full Version : Reusing a drier?
saratoga
06-06-2004, 09:45 PM
I pulled a drier out of a large system that wasn't more then a few years old. Unfortunately it was exposed to the bone dry tucson summer for a few weeks when the R22 was disposed of from it.
I'm curious if I can reuse it?
Also, with many chemical desicants, heating them causes the hydrated chemical to decompose into the dehydrated form and water vapor. Does this work with the stuff in driers?
afireinside
06-07-2004, 11:21 AM
I'm pretty sure if you dont seal it off after taking it out its no good...
Pandrone
06-07-2004, 11:31 AM
bah, just stick it in the oven for 2 hours or so (50c or a bit higher). Then test it in your system, if i's no good, then change :).
saratoga
06-07-2004, 02:09 PM
How do you know if its good? If the compressor doesn't sieze up?
:)
ns_ripper
06-08-2004, 02:47 AM
is such a cheap thing like a drier worth it, to put so much effort in it, you can "maybe" use it again. depending on that maybe, even worth of shortening the lifespan of your compressor?
a drier is cheap, reusing it costs more work and has more risc of screwing for instance something more expensive like a compressor.
my point is; do yourself a favor and buy a new one ;)
saratoga
06-08-2004, 03:43 PM
Well I have a stack of compressors as well, so I'm not too worried about damaging one. Point taken about the price of a drier. I'll look and see if i can buy one locally.
HawainPanda
06-09-2004, 12:27 PM
saratoga where are u buying ur parts?
saratoga
06-09-2004, 03:50 PM
So far i scavanged everything. I don't like to purchase anything until i've got a plan completely fleshed out. I have a bad habit of changing my mind constantly.
Most of the compressors i got were picked up from the city's refrigerant disposal program. They take the gasthe gas and simply pile the crap out in the desert on the edge of the dump. IM me, giac2000 on AIM, and i can tell you some more about it if you're interested. Some of the stuff I've grabbed is in very good condition.
Redwolf
06-09-2004, 05:01 PM
Reuse a drier out of a system you didn't see run... Ahhh ya right.
Never reuse a drier after it has been exposed to the atmosphere, used to help clean up the system, or you didn't put it in the last time so you don't know what the last guy did. Pretty much safe to say not to reuse one if you don't know.
Originally posted by Pandrone
bah, just stick it in the oven for 2 hours or so (50c or a bit higher). Then test it in your system, if i's no good, then change :).
is this a good practise to do this each time i change the length of the cap tube in my home made chillier
or would i it be ok to just charge it up with out doing anything to the drier, i dont have nitrogen to do a triple vacuum i only rely on the drier and pulling a vacuum of about -26 in Hg (where i need -28 in Hg to remove all moisture in the system so im relying on the drier to do some drying for me)