What is the purpose of service valves in refrigerant circuits?

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Service valves are used to isolate parts of a refrigerant circuit so you can work on the system without releasing refrigerant. By opening or closing these valves, you create a controlled path for recovery equipment, a charging procedure, or a leak-test setup. This lets you safely recover refrigerant, add charge, or test for leaks while keeping the rest of the system sealed off and under proper pressure. It’s about making service work safe and environmentally compliant, not about venting refrigerant or altering the electrical or filtration components of the system.

Venting refrigerant to the atmosphere isn’t the purpose of these valves and is illegal in many situations. Regulating electrical current to the compressor is done by electrical controls, not by service valves. Filtering refrigerant impurities is handled by filters and driers, not by the valves that isolate sections for service and testing.