How to Get Copper Out of an Air Conditioner

Air conditioners do have copper in them: in the coils, in the pipes that join the indoor and outdoor units, and in the winding of the compressor. But the first step is not a tool. Every air conditioner must have its refrigerant recovered by a licensed technician before it is cut, opened or scrapped.

Degas it first: it is the law

Refrigerant is under pressure, and releasing it into the air is an offence. Cutting a line on a charged unit can also cause cold burns. Recovering it is a job for a technician who holds a refrigerant handling licence from the Australian Refrigeration Council. We only accept degassed units, and we cannot degas them at the yard. Keep the degassing certificate if you are given one.

Where the copper is

• The coils. The indoor and outdoor units each have a coil of copper tube threaded through thin aluminium fins.
• The pipes. The copper lines that run between the indoor and outdoor units.
• The compressor. The sealed black unit in the outdoor unit, with a copper-wound motor inside.
• The fan motors, in both units.

The casing is steel and the fins are aluminium.

Strip it, or bring it whole?

For one or two household units, bring them whole and degassed: we buy them as a grade of their own. If you have a number of units, taking them apart sorts the metal into separate grades:

• Coils go as AL/CU radiator. Do not try to pull the fins off the tube. They are bonded on, so bring the coil whole.
• Copper pipe cut clean of joints goes as No. 1 copper. Pipe with brazed joints or fittings goes as No. 2.
• Compressors go as compressors, drained of oil.
• Fan motors go as electric motors.
• The steel casing goes as light iron.

Taking a degassed unit apart

1. 01Check it has been degassed. If you are not sure, treat it as charged and do not cut it.
2. 02Take off the casing panels. They are held on with screws.
3. 03Cut the pipes close to the coil and the compressor.
4. 04Unbolt the coil and lift it out whole.
5. 05Unbolt the compressor and the fan motors.