HVAC VACUUM PUMPS

Vacuum pumps are used in one of the final processes in the repair process. After you’ve diagnosed and repaired any leaks or other issues in the system it is time to recharge it and Before recharging you want to make sure the system doesn’t have any unwanted glasses, air, or water. If these were to remain in the system, it would turn the oil it runs on into sludge and leave behind damaging impurities causing its efficiency to decrease.
vacuum pump is calculated in its “CFM or Cubic Feet per Minute. To estimate what are your CFM needs, look at the tonnage of the systems you work on for efficient cleaning. Take the square root of that number and you’ll get the approximate CFM you need to have to work with. Typical residential systems need 4-5 CFM, while commercial and rooftop systems which are generally larger need as much as 6-8 CFM.
Vacuum pumps use an air compressor, suck the air out to create a vacuum. They create good vacuums if you have a strong compressor, but they can be very loud and noisy. They also break down in humid climates. Diaphragm pumps are capable of creating adequate vacuums, but nowhere near complete vacuums which means are weak. They are common in hospitals and laboratories but are not adequate for HVAC work because they are big machines. 

Best HVAC Vacuum Pumps:

These are our analysis for the best HVAC Vacuum pumps:

•     ZENY 3,5CFM Single-Stage Vacuum Pump
•     Kozyvacu TA350 Single-Stage Rotary Vane Vacuum Pump
•     Robinair VacuMaster Economy Vacuum Pump – 2-Stage, 5 CFM

Reviews for the Best HVAC Vacuum Pumps
Let’s take a look at some of the best HVAC Vacuum Pumps to help you do your job quickly and effectively with lesser flaws. 

Best Overall:

ZENY 3.5CFM Single-Stage Vacuum Pump

PROS

•     Economical
•     Oil view window provided
•     Heat dissipating system
•     Durable and shockproof base.
•     Not noisy

CONS

•     complaints of oil leaking after about a year of operation.

Review:

This HVAC vacuum pump is made with long work hours in mind to be operated for longer duration tasks. Strong cooling fan allows the pump to run without overheating. It’s also one of the quietest vacuums to operate has almost no noise. The casing is a durable aluminum alloy preventing rust, and the exhaust port has an exhaust cap to prevent dirt and bugs from getting inside. It also has a solenoid valve, and automatically cuts out in case of a power failure, to reduce the chances of damage and short circuit.
It has a direct drive motor to make it easier to be turned on. The oil drain plug is present at the bottom of the unit, to make it easier to empty. There’s an oil-viewing glass that shows the condition of the oil and lets you know how much of it is left. Refilling your oil in time increases the pump’s life by preventing a motor burnout.
The vacuum comes with a non-slip handle, which is cushioned with soft foam or cloth to make it easier to hold. Every purchase has a bottle of vacuum oil. The ZENY 3.5CFM Single-Stage Vacuum Pump works on 400 psi and comes with a 4-foot hose given. The hose measures ¼ inch and is available in blue, red, and yellow color.
You must ensure that your manifold gauge can accommodate these measurements If it doesn’t, you may have to get a vacuum pump adapter to make it work, which is an added expense. There have been often customer complaints about the longevity of the pump. Their main point of protest is it starts leaking oil in about a year. This continues even after tightening the screws at the bottom, keeps leaking. 

Bottom Line

This vacuum is an amazing purchase. The shockproof base is a great incentive. Some customers complain about leaking oil, but those same customers give it high praise, so it balances out and makes it worth buying anyways 

Runner-up:

Kozyvacu TA350 Single-Stage Rotary Vane Vacuum Pump

PROS

•     Efficient cooling fan
•     Easy direct start system
•     Less noisy
•     Lightweight
•     Portable
•     works best at small jobs
•     Aluminum caste base.

CONS 

•     low power rating.

Review:

Small and portable, the Kozyvacu TA350 Single-Stage Rotary Vane Vacuum Pump is ideal for tight places and small short-time jobs. It comes with a ¼ horsepower motor that’s strong enough and capable of displacing about 100 liters of air a minute. It also comes with an on-off switch nonslip handle making easier to start and grip. The unit weighs 10.6 pounds only.
The motor is thermally protected by an efficient cooling fan preventing heating up of equipment after a longer duration working. It also has a high torque design that incorporates a direct fast start. The hose dimensions are ¼ inch for the flare male and ½ inch for the Acme female. This is a less noisy machine.
The oil reservoir can hold up to 280 ml providing you more time to refill it, and there’s a viewing glass at the front which shows oil levels. The drain valve is located at the bottom of the reservoir. It’s angled to reduce the draining time and ensure that all oil is out so that no burnout. The refill process is easier thanks to an oil fill port that is accessible from all sides and eases our refilling job.
Apart from air suction, it can be used for many other operations, including automatic milking and wine degassing. This vacuum works best on small jobs, and there have been customer complaints regarding its low power rating, which keeps it too slow for larger jobs. There have also been complaints about the quality and durability of the thread connectors on the unit. The recharging process could also be troublesome and hectic. 

Bottom Line

This is a good vacuum pump for small jobs. The low power rating and the recharging troubles are an issue, but they don’t outshine the value of this vacuum and it still manages to be a choice. 

Best 2 Stage Vacuum Pump:

Robinair VacuMaster Economy Vacuum Pump 

PROS

•     Easy oil changing port
•     Perfect for indoor work
•     Easy and fast start operation
•     Durable heavy-duty motor
•     Portable design
•     Lightweight

CONS

•     Parts are not readily available for repairs in local markets

Review:

The Robinair VacuMaster Economy Vacuum Pump – 2-Stage, 5 CFM is a compact yet powerful vacuum capable of pumping up to 140 liters of air per minute. It’s factory rated for up to 35 microns which is quite less. The inlet fitting is made with maximum airflow while at the same time preventing oil from flowing back and no leakage. There are finned aluminum surfaces designed to increase heat transfer, and they keep the pump cooler and efficient It’s a precious feature for HVAC technicians who work for long hours on these units continuously.
The oil reservoir is made of aluminum metal and can hold about 7.5 ounces (22o ml). There’s a filing port that can be accessed by you from either side, making it easier to refill. The drain valve is also angled for complete drainage. It’s present at the bottom of the vacuum pump. It comes with ¼ inch male flare and a 3/8 inch acme inlet fittings, and 3/8 female flare with ½ inch adapter. The unit is a bit heavier than other options in the market and weighs 21 pounds which is heavy to carry.
There’s some difficulty finding spare parts for the machine when something breaks down in the market. This makes repair impossible, so the pump ends up getting discarded at the end. This is a big deal because plastic blades are prone to breaking after about 9 months of continued use, and it may take a while to find replacements in the market so start looking early, and stock up on your spares precautionary. There have also been problems with light oil leakage sometimes. 

Bottom Line 

If you’re looking for a powerful 2 stage HVAC vacuum, then this is the best. Hoard your parts though, especially if you’re a continuous user. And look out for occasional oil spills to fix it sooner. They’re light and largely benign, but can be messy and hectic to clean up.

Best Vacuum Pump Kit:

Kozyvacu AC Repair Kit with 1-Stage 3.5 CFM Vacuum Pump

PROS

•     Big oil tank
•     150 microns full vacuum
•     Durable aluminum metal housing
•     Less noisy when in operation
•     100 liters of air per minute displacement

CONS

•     Oil leakage reported by customers after a few months of use.

Review:

The Kozyvacu AC Repair Kit with 1-Stage 3.5 CFM Vacuum Pump comes with a high torque design which is along with an easy start-up. This is ideal for HVAC repair in tight spots or places with poor lighting provided.  The die-cast aluminum housing also helps in such places, since it protects the unit from damage in case of accidental bumps. The motor is also thermally protected to prevent heating up and to ensure that you can run the unit uninterrupted without causing any breakdowns. This pump delivers less than 150 microns when in operation. That’s well below the requirements for AC systems, which is 500 microns which is too efficient.
The oil level indicator may give incorrect readings on the first use on the calibrating part. If this happens, draining oil from the reservoir and refilling the tank will improve the problem. The connectors to the manifold may get loose after a while, and you may need to replace the hoses. 

Bottom Line

There are a lot of great features on this product that make it a worthwhile investment for efficient work. You should, however, keep checking the manifold connections, and the conditions of the connector hoses for maintenance. 

Conclusion

Hopefully, we’ve cleared up some of your major questions on vacuum pumps and provided a good jumping-off point. The list might help you see which features you’ll need to keep your jobs working at the highest standard. Just remember that your vacuum pump will suck enough so the work doesn’t have to.