What precaution should be taken before performing maintenance on refrigerant systems?

Before performing maintenance on refrigerant systems, it is essential to verify that the system is de-energized and evacuated. This step ensures safety by preventing accidental activation of the system while work is being conducted and also reduces the risk of exposure to refrigerants, which can be hazardous to health. Evacuating the system removes any remaining refrigerant and reduces the potential for pressure-related hazards.

In a refrigeration system, high-pressure conditions can lead to sudden releases of refrigerant or other components when maintenance is attempted. Therefore, ensuring that the system is both de-energized (not connected to power) and evacuated (removal of refrigerant) is a critical safety measure, protecting the technician from injury and minimizing the risk of refrigerant emissions, which is important for environmental preservation and compliance with regulations.