What might indicate that a system has a leak during recovery?

An increase in pressure during the recovery process can indicate that a system has a leak. When refrigerant leaks out of the system, it can change the pressure dynamics. Typically, if there is a leak, one might expect a drop in refrigerant volume and consequently in pressure, but there are situations where a system may still show increased pressure due to other factors, such as the interaction with the ambient temperature or the internal mechanics of the equipment.

In this context, the pressure gauge reading becomes an essential diagnostic tool. If the pressure is higher than what is normal for a system undergoing recovery, it may suggest that there is refrigerant still present but potentially burdened by non-condensable gases introduced through the leak, thereby falsely indicating higher pressure readings.

Other indicators, like temperature drop, color change in refrigerant, or change in sound, might not directly correlate to a leak during the recovery process as clearly as an increase in pressure would. Temperature might drop due to robust cooling or other operational factors, while color changes in refrigerant or sound variations could signify other issues that do not directly relate to the integrity of the system's connections or seal.