What is recommended when recovering refrigerant from a household refrigerator with a non-running compressor?

When recovering refrigerant from a household refrigerator with a non-running compressor, installing high and low side access valves is recommended. This method allows for proper recovery of the refrigerant from the entire system, ensuring that any refrigerant present in both the high side and low side can be accessed effectively.

By attaching access valves, a technician can connect recovery equipment to both sides of the system. This is crucial because refrigerant may still exist in the high-side piping, and without access to both sides, some refrigerant may remain in the system, which is not only inefficient but may also lead to environmental issues.

Using a passive recovery device without the appropriate access points may not be as effective since it could limit the amount of refrigerant that can be collected. Additionally, recovering only from the low side will not yield all the refrigerant, as some of it may be trapped in the high side due to its state and the fact that the compressor is not operational. Therefore, installing access valves is essential for a thorough and compliant recovery process.