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Recovery Bottle Weight

Updated: Mar 2


In order to determine how much refrigerant can be added in a used recovery bottle, first the neck of the recovery bottle must be read. This will show the WC (water column capacity) and the TW (tare weight). The bottle can only be filled with refrigerant to 80% of the WC. Next, the digital scale must be turned on and zeroed. Weigh the recovery bottle for the total weight of the recovery bottle and refrigerant.


To determine the total weight of the bottle with refrigerant inside, multiply .8 by the WC. Then add the TW. Follow the calculations below step by step to determine how much refrigerant can still be added in the recovery bottle.


Example: Finding the Allowable Capacity Remaining Inside a Recovery Bottle


The Recovery Bottle has a WC of 47.6 lb and a TW of 27.5 lb

.8 x 47.6 lb WC = 38.1 lb Allowable Capacity

38.1 + 27.5 lb TW= 65.6 lb Max Weight Allowed for the Bottle with Refrigerant

47.6 lb Actual Weight

65.6 lb – 47.6 lb = 18 lb Allowable Capacity Remaining


This video explains the Recovery Bottle Weight Calculations during Step 4- https://youtu.be/xOy3twD-pmg



Check out our book “Refrigerant Charging and Service Procedures for Air Conditioning”.

The full outline is available at https://www.acservicetech.com/the-book


If you have already purchased our book, be sure to tell local HVACR Instructors about our book and what you think of it. We would love to get the book into the hands of the next generation of HVACR Technicians!


Published: 4/5/2019


Author: Craig Migliaccio

About the Author:Craig is the owner of AC Service Tech LLC and the Author of the book “Refrigerant Charging and Service Procedures for Air Conditioning”. Craig is a licensed Teacher of HVACR, Sheet Metal, and Building Maintenance in the State of New Jersey of the USA. He is also an HVACR Contracting Business owner of 15 years and holds an NJ HVACR Master License. Craig creates educational HVACR articles and videos which are posted at https://www.acservicetech.com & https://www.youtube.com/acservicetechchannel

6 Comments


Brian Smith
Brian Smith
6 days ago

Understanding the exact weight of a recovery bottle is crucial not only for safe refrigerant handling but also for optimizing HVACR efficiency and compliance with safety standards. The step-by-step calculation method Craig provides ensures technicians accurately assess allowable capacity and prevent overfilling hazards. For those who enjoy integrating technology and practical tutorials into learning, platforms like magis tv apk provide an excellent resource for streaming technical videos, demonstrations, and hands-on guides, complementing traditional HVACR training materials. Leveraging digital video tutorials alongside technical manuals can enhance skill acquisition, procedural accuracy, and equipment safety awareness, making learning more interactive for HVACR tips, refrigerant handling protocols, and professional service guidance.

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facep
Jan 26

I found your breakdown of recovery bottle weight calculations to be very clear and practical. The step-by-step explanation really helps readers grasp the technical details without feeling overwhelmed. While exploring similar topics, I came across an article on https://southerndry.com/ that offered a complementary approach to equipment optimization, which I found quite informative. This post is a solid resource for anyone looking to understand recovery systems better.

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Dec 13, 2025

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