What are the Best HVAC Vacuum Pumps on the Market Today?
Buying a reliable, well built HVAC vacuum pump is becoming difficult in 2021. More and more brands and models are entering the market and knowing which is the best one for your needs can be confusing.
However, to help you we have researched some of the top-rated vacuum pumps currently available. This is part of our in-depth analysis of the industry, (read about the basics of vacuum pumps here, and our buyer’s guide on what you should be looking for here).
In part 3 of the series, we have selected 5 of the best vacuum pumps available for professionals. For our findings at a glance check out the summary panels below. For a comprehensive review of each of our picks, keep on reading.
Best HVAC Vacuum Pumps
BEST OVERALL: Robinair 15500 Economy VacuMaster
- Robinair's VacuMaster Economy Vacuum Pump is designed for air conditioning and refrigeration service; featuring a 2-stage rotary vane design, 7.5 ounce oil capacity, and non-skid feet
- 5 CFM free air displacement; factory rated to 35 microns
- 1/3 HP, 115V/60 Hz thermally protected motor
- Features an inlet fitting engineered for maximum airflow, while preventing oil backflow, and finned aluminum surfaces that dissipate heat faster, keeping the pump cooler and extending life
- 1/4 inch MFL & 3/8 inch ACME inlet fittings, 3/8 inch FFL x 1/2 inch Acme adapter, easy to read sight glass, easy access oil fill port, and angled oil drain valve for faster, more complete draining
The Robinair 15500 Economy VacuMaster is a high-quality two-stage positive-displacement roughing pump with a flow rate of 5CFM and a micron rating of 35 microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating small- to medium-sized HVAC units.
This professional-use, the horizontal rotary-vane pump is designed to provide powerful torque to generate a deep vacuum that allows for complete moisture removal, whereas its high pumping capacity minimizes evacuation time.
It is powered by a 110V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor that delivers 250W power. Additionally, its compact and lightweight design makes it portable, and it features surge protection, protective fuses, and oil level indicators; as well as fused thermal overload protection.
It is also backed by a limited 1-year warranty. Lastly, its high performance, high pumping capacity, and superb build quality make it our top choice HVAC vacuum pump in 2021.
BEST BUDGET: ZENY VP-125+ 3.5CFM Vacuum Pump
- High Efficiency and Low Noise, Heavy-duty Aluminum Alloy Casing
- Oil Drain Plug Positioned at Bottom of Oil Reservoir,Internal High Volume Cooling Fan for Extended U
- Exhaust Port with Exhaust Cap, Direct Drive Motor Allowing Easy Starting Which is Maintenance Free
- Oil Sight Glass For Monitoring Oil Levels, ON/OFF Switch
- Non Slip Cushion Handle, Comes With a Bottle of Vacuum Oil
ZENY VP-125+ is a budget-grade, high-quality, and mid-range performance single-stage positive-displacement roughing pump with a flow rate of 3.5 CFM and a micron rating of 38 microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating low-sized HVAC units.
This rotary pump features a compact, light-weight design that makes it portable; whereas operationally, this well-synchronized single-stage standalone modular pump allows for the generation of deep vacuum.
This is adequate for the complete evacuation of moisture and non-condensable from low-sized HVAC units. It is powered by a 115V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor that delivers 186W power.
Additionally, it features surge protection, protective fuses, and oil level indicators; as well as fused thermal overload protection.
Even so, it has a short warranty. Nonetheless, its price-to-performance and price-to-quality ratio make it the best budget model this year.
BEST KIT: Kozyvacu KZTA35011 Complete Tool Kit
- The Kozyvacu 1/4 HP 3 CFM 1-Stage Rotary Air Vacuum Pump is a powerful, efficient, and low-noise device with a cooling fan for extended use. It includes an R-134A valve for automotive air conditioning dispensing and can connect to all R-134a refrigerant cans with 1/4" Male threads.
- The Die-cast Aluminum Alloy Casing makes this vacuum pump both sturdy and lightweight. It also comes with brass fitting tethered safety caps, which prevent oil leaks during transportation and handling.
- The HVAC service gauge set is ideal for diagnosing and repairing AC systems, providing accurate readings of R12, R22, R134a, and R410a refrigerants.
- The vacuum pump is designed for easy oil changes, with a convenient Oil Fill Port for spill-free pouring and an Oil Drain Plug located under the reservoir for quick draining. Additionally, checking the spillage meter helps ensure the oil level is correct.
- The package includes: 1 TA350 Vacuum Pump, 1 Vacuum Pump Oil, 1 Vacuum Pump Manual, 1 Manifold for Auto AC, 1 Three Colors Hose, 1 Manifold Manual, 1 Carry Bag, 1 Low-Pressure Quick Coupler, and 1 High-Pressure Quick Coupler.
Kozyvacu KZTA35011 is a complete AC repair tool kit, that comes with a high-quality, mid-range performance roughing pump; along with a handy manifold gauge set, vacuum pump oil, three color-coded hoses, low-pressure and high-pressure quick couplers, R134a can tap, and a carry bag.
The Kozyvacu TA350 vacuum pump is a budget-grade, single-stage positive-displacement pump with a flow rate of 3.5 CFM and a micron rating of 150 microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating low-sized HVAC units.
The pump is powered by a 120V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor that delivers 186W power. Additionally, it features surge protection, protective fuses, and oil level indicators; as well as fused thermal overload protection.
The incorporation of the basic repair tools and matching them with the pumping capacity of TA350 ensures high work efficiency which makes Kozyvacu KZTA35011 the best overall HVAC vacuum pump kit for 2021.
HVAC Vacuum Pump Reviews
The following vacuum pumps have been selected for our top 5 review round up based on the following factors. We have taken into account build quality and price point, operational power and functionality, brand/model reputation and overall customer feedback and satisfaction.
This has provided what we believe to be the definitive top 5 best vacuum pumps available today.
1. BEST OVERALL: Robinair 15500 Economy VacuMaster
This is a well-designed, two-stage positive-displacement roughing pump with a flow rate of 5CFM and a micron rating of 35microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating small- to medium-sized HVAC units.
This rotary-vane pump is made from proprietary components that have been designed to create a compact, light-weight, and well-synchronized 2-stage pump; but on the downside, it makes it difficult for one to find spare parts.
Nonetheless, this pump is compatible with a FJC-6014 adapter, which needs to be purchased separately.
Operation-wise, this modular pump comes as a standalone system with two paired units – the motor unit and vacuum pump unit – that have all the required components integrated into their builds.
This well-designed vacuum pump is made by the renowned and reputable American manufacturer of high-quality machines and hardware, Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, through its Massachusetts-based subsidiary, Robinair.
This model is part of the VacuMaster series of HVAC vacuum pumps and is categorized into the economic category of VacuMaster pumps.
This compact, light-weight vacuum pump can evacuate an HVAC system whose tonnage is within 30-40 tons; and this makes it a professional-use model.
It is also economically-priced. Its compact build, and well-positioned handle that features the switch assembly, makes it easy to handle and operate.
As mentioned earlier, it is a standalone modular build, and its motor unit features a built-in capacitor stock housed in the handle-switch case, while a solenoid and pressure gauge is fitted on the top of the housing gasket.
The entire pump weighs about 21 pounds, which makes a relatively lightweight, especially when the weight-to-performance ratio is considered.
Its aluminum housing and use of durable composite materials for its component parts account for its low-weight. It is 13inches long, 5inches wide, and 10inches high; and has a silver-black color scheme.
The pump is segmented into a motor and pump unit by a pressure-sealed gasket, whose finned housing gasket allows for heat dissipation, and prevents heat transfer from the motor compartment to the pump compartment. At the top of the housing gasket is an oil fill plug.
The inlet fitting of the pump is easily accessible and can be easily connected to the HVAC unit, either directly or via adapters.
The brass intake port of the pumping chamber features a valve with a 3/8-inch female flare and a ¼-inch male flare, alongside a ½-inch ACME adapter and a ½-inch ACME inlet fitting; and all come with their tethered caps. Its rotary vanes are made from strong and durable composite materials.
Lifetime filtration is provided by the intake screen and internal exhaust filter. The intake screen prevents foreign particles from entering the working chamber, while the exhaust filter serves to separate exhaust flow from the oil vapor, hence preventing contamination of the oil with exhausted fluid.
Regarding exhausting of the working chamber, the exhaust fitting is placed on top of the (working) chamber which allows for easy venting of the HVAC fluids from the pump.
This model is powered by a high-torque, heavy-duty motor whose horizontal alignment on bearings allows for sealed bearing.
This 110V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor can deliver 1/3HP or about 250W. Shaft coupling in the motor-pump assembly is based on the integral close-coupled design, and hence motor speed directly determines the speed of the rotary vanes.
The use of an AC motor requires the pump to be electrically grounded, and its 6-foot long power cable features a 3-blade plug terminal that fits well into a grounded outlet socket.
The handle-switch case holds the rocker switch securely, as well as positions it close to the sure-grip handle which creates convenience when starting or turning off the pump. The molded handle allows for easy carriage and is made from a non-conductive material which ensures that it stays cool during pump operation.
Its motor housing features aluminum fins on its external surface, which creates a heat sink surface that allows for rapid heat dissipation through radiation and convection (depending on ambient ventilation).
Two-stage pumps tend to be quieter than single-stage pumps, though both can release exhaust fumes due to oil combustion caused by the motor.
Nonetheless, this RobinAir model does produce noise, which can be discomforting for some people, but is still much quieter when compared to single-stage pumps.
Likewise, this model does produce exhaust fumes, though this is dependent on how long the motor is running, and this makes it unsuitable for evacuating large-capacity HVAC units because it would require the motor to run for long periods of times.
Moreover, this not only generates lots of exhaust fumes – which even though they can be vented, some can still leak into the room; but also causes the pump to heat up, and depending on the ambient temperature which affects heat dissipation (it could be inadequate) could lead to overheating.
It is for this reason that one is advised to use this pump outdoors when evacuating 40-ton HVAC systems or be inside a well-ventilated room.
On a positive note, its motor is thermally-protected which prevents its windings, rotor shaft contacts, and internal circuitry from being damaged should the motor overheat.
Besides, its thermal overload protection system comes with an accessible fuse port, which allows for easy replacement of burnt fuses.
Its oil capacity is 7.5 ounces (Oz), which is enough to lubricate the motor unit and the shafts of the rotary vanes.
Its oil reservoir design ensures that large volumes of oil are stored in compact space, and they can still be delivered smoothly to the lubricated parts. There is an oil drain valve positioned at the bottom of the working chamber casing.
Therefore, the positioning of the oil refill port at the top, and oil drain port at the bottom, allows for quick drainage and refill of oil.
Ideally, the oil needs to drain after using the pump to evacuate a medium-capacity HVAC unit, but the use of filters that prevent oil contamination allows the user to use this model for several evacuation cycles before draining the oil.
Moreover, there is a sight glass at the side panel of the working chamber casing which indicates the oil level.
An important operational precaution that must be observed when using this model is to place the pump lower than the HVAC head unit, as this allows gravity to pre-empt oil suction from the pump and into the HVAC unit; as well as prevents vaporization of oil due to depressurization of the oil reservoir when the pump is working.
Its base plate features non-skid feet that obviate the need for bolting or clamping the pump to the floor or worktable; while the overall build design allows for smooth dulling of vibrations caused by the rotating motor.
This model comes with a 1-year limited warranty, which does not cover user-caused damage.
2. FJC 6912 Vacuum Pump 5.0 Cfm
This is a high-quality, mid-range performance single-stage positive-displacement roughing pump featuring twin-port technology that gives it a flow rate of 5 CFM and a micron rating of 75 microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating low- to medium-sized HVAC units.
This rotary pump features a compact, light-weight design, whereas operationally, its well-synchronized single-stage allows for the generation of a deep vacuum that supports complete evacuation of moisture and non-condensable from the HVAC unit.
Design-wise, it is a modular pump designed as a standalone system with two paired units, the motor unit, and vacuum pump unit; and all their complementary accessories are integrated into the pump.
This well-designed vacuum pump is designed and manufactured by FJC Products, and its model number is 6912.
This portable, professional-use vacuum pump comes with a secure-grip handle and can evacuate HVAC systems whose tonnage range is 30-40 tons.
Its standalone modular build features a built-in capacitor stock housed in the motor unit. Unlike Robinair 15500 Economy VacuMaster, the FJC 6912 does not come with a pressure gauge and its brass intake port features a ¼-inch male flare and a 1/2-inch ACME fitting, along with their tethered caps.
Moreover, it is noisier during operation as compared to Robinair 15500. Even so, one can separately acquire an FJC KIT6 along with a R134a/R22/R502 manifold gauge set.
FJC 6912 weighs about 24pounds and is 13.8inches long, 6.8inches wide, and 13.1inches tall. Its color scheme is black and silver.
Its segmentation into the motor and pump units is achieved by a pressure-sealed gasket, whose finned housing gasket allows for heat dissipation, and prevent heat transfer across the two compartments.
At the top of the housing gasket is an oil fill plug and intake port for the pumping chamber. This makes the inlet fitting easy to access and connect to the HVAC unit, either directly or via adapters.
This FJC pump supports filtration of HVAC fluids which ensures that particulate matter does not enter the pumping chamber and exhaust fumes in this chamber do not contaminate the oil.
The exhaust port of the pumping chamber is positioned at the top where it extends as the exhaust fitting, which allows for easy venting of the HVAC fluids from the pump.
FJC 6912 is powered by a 110V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor that can deliver 1/3HP or 250W of power.
This high-torque, the heavy-duty motor is horizontally-aligned to allow for shaft coupling to be achieved through an integral close-coupled design which allows the pump power to be directly controlled by the motor.
This motor can achieve a maximum running speed of 1725 revolutions-per-minute (rpm). As expected, the use of AC motor requires the pump to be electrically grounded, and its power cable features a 3-prong plug terminal that fits well into a grounded outlet socket. An easy-to-access switch allows for easy turning on and off of the motor.
Moreover, its motor is thermally-protected which prevents its windings and internal circuitry from being damaged should during overheating episodes. Additionally, its thermal overload protection system comes with a replaceable fuse.
Its handle insulated handle ensures that it does not become hot during use. It’s motor and pump housing features fins on its external surface, which creates a heat sink surface that allows for rapid heat dissipation through radiation and convection.
Nonetheless, it is advisable that one uses this pump in a well-ventilated room where convection currents can easily carry away heat and leaking exhaust fumes.
Its oil capacity is 180ml, which is enough to lubricate the unit. The positioning of the oil refill port allows for quick oil refills, while the placement of the drain plug allows for quick and effective oil drainage. The oil level can be viewed through a sight glass at the side panel of the working chamber casing.
As expected, this pump must be placed lower than the HVAC unit to prevent vaporization or suctioning of the oil during HVAC evacuation.
Just like Robinair 15500, FJC 6912 has a base plate that rests on non-skid feet and its overall build design allows for dampening of vibration when the motor is running. Moreover, this FJC comes with a 1-year limited warranty, which does not cover user-caused damage.
Bottom-line
The FJC 6912 is a mid-range performance single-stage positive-displacement roughing pump featuring twin-port technology that gives it a flow rate of 5 CFM and a micron rating of 75 microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating low- to medium-sized HVAC units.
This rotary pump features a compact, light-weight design that makes it portable; whereas operationally, its well-synchronized single-stage allows for the generation of deep vacuum that is adequate for the complete evacuation of moisture and non-condensable from low-sized HVAC units.
It is powered by a 110V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor that delivers 250W power. Additionally, it features surge protection, protective fuses, and oil level indicators; as well as fused thermal overload protection. It is also backed by a limited 1-year warranty.
- Related Content: An overview of the HVAC vacuum pump
3. BEST BUDGET: ZENY VP-125+ 3.5CFM Vacuum Pump
This is a budget-grade, high-quality, mid-range performance single-stage positive-displacement roughing pump with a flow rate of 3.5 CFM and a micron rating of 38 microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating low-sized HVAC units.
It can also be used to evacuate medium-sized HVAC units, but one must be cognizant of the tonnage limit imposed by the CFM rating.
This rotary pump features a compact, light-weight design that makes it portable; whereas operationally, this well-synchronized single-stage standalone modular pump allows for the generation of a deep vacuum that is adequate for complete evacuation of moisture and non-condensable from low-sized HVAC units.
This well-designed vacuum pump is designed and manufactured by ZENY Products. Its model number is VP 125+, and its part number is FBA_D1-1090A@#JA0681.
This portable, easy-to-use and maintain vacuum pump comes with an insulated and cushioned non-slip handle; and can evacuate HVAC systems whose tonnage range is 10-15 tons.
Its standalone modular build features a built-in capacitor stock housed in the motor unit. Unlike FJC 6912, this ZENY model does come bundled with color-coded 2.5-inch gauges (which feature protective sleeves), valves, hoses, and ACME adapter with R134A quick adapter.
Even so, like FJC 6912, the ZENY copper intake port features a ¼-inch male flare and a 1/2-inch ACME fitting, along with their tethered caps; and this ZENY model noisier during operation as compared to Robinair 15500.
ZENY VP-125+ weighs about 12 pounds and is 12.6inches long, 10.6inches wide, and 6.3 inches high, which makes it slightly smaller and lighter than FJC 6912.
Its segmentation into the motor and pump units is achieved by a pressure-sealed gasket, whose non-finned housing gasket prevents heat transfer across the two compartments.
At the top of the housing gasket is the intake port for the pumping chamber. This makes the inlet fitting easy to access and connect to the HVAC unit, either directly or via adapters. Its oil drain plug is located at the bottom of the oil reservoir, which allows for easy drainage.
This ZENY pump supports filtration of HVAC fluids which ensures that particulate matter does not enter the pumping chamber and exhaust fumes in this chamber do not contaminate the oil.
The exhaust port of the pumping chamber is positioned at the top of the pumping chamber where it extends as a vented exhaust fitting.
ZENY VP-125+ is powered by a 115V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor that can deliver 1/4HP or about 186W of power. This medium-torque, medium-duty motor is horizontally-aligned to allow for shaft coupling to be achieved through integral close-coupled design.
The motor needs to be grounded, and this achieved by plugging it into a grounded power socket via a top-plug attached to a 1.2-meter long electrical cord.
This model has an easy-to-access switch that allows for easy turning on and off of the motor. Also, its motor is thermally-protected, and its thermal overload protection system features a replaceable fuse.
The casing of the pump and motor units feature external fins that create a heat sink surface. Still, it is advisable that one uses this pump in a well-ventilated room where convection currents can easily carry away heat and leaking exhaust fumes.
This pump has an oil capacity of 320ml, which is adequate for lubrication and cooling of the rotating parts. Oil level can be viewed through a sight glass at the side panel of the die-cast aluminum casing of the pumping chamber. As expected, this pump must be placed lower than the HVAC unit.
Just like Robinair 15500 and FJC 6912, this ZENY model has a shock-proof base plate that rests on non-skid feet, and its overall build design allows for dampening of vibration when the motor is running. On the downside, this ZENY pump comes a limited warranty that only lasts for 30 days.
4. BEST KIT: Kozyvacu KZTA35011 Complete Tool Kit
This is a complete AC repair tool kit, that comes along with a Kozyvacu TA350 vacuum pump.
The TA350 is a budget-grade, high-quality, and mid-range performance single-stage positive-displacement roughing pump with a flow rate of 3.5 CFM and a micron rating of 150 microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating low-sized HVAC units only, especially automobile HVAC units.
Like ZENY VP-125+, this TA350 rotary pump features a compact, light-weight design that makes it portable.
Operationally, this well-synchronized single-stage standalone modular pump allows for the generation of a deep vacuum that is adequate for the complete evacuation of moisture and non-condensable from low-sized HVAC units.
The pump of this kit is powered by a 110V/120V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor that delivers 186W power.
This pump and the AC repair kit are designed, made, and assembled together by the Washington-based company, Kozyard LLC, as part of its Kozyvacu line of products. The model number for the assembled unit is KZTA35011.
This package ships the vacuum pump, along with a handy pressure gauge set (that can be assembled as a manifold gauge set), vacuum pump oil, three color-coded hoses, low-pressure and high-pressure quick couplers, R134a can tap, and carry bag; as well as manuals for the vacuum pump and manifold set.
The manifold gauge set features two pressure gauges with one providing a reading scale with a range of 0-140 psi, while the other provides a reading scale whose range is 0-400 psi.
This class 1.6-gauge set has a gauge diameter of 2.75inches, and its ¼-inch manifold fittings support ¼-inch hoses; and 3 hoses are provided – a red, blue, and yellow hose, with each being 3-feet long.
The body of the manifold set is made from anodized aluminum, and each of the 70mm (2.75inches) pressure features a protective boot. This manifold has a built-in central sight-glass and uses a diaphragm-valve mechanism.
Kozyvacu TA350 vacuum pump shares operational and design similarities with the ZENY VP-125+, with the main difference being that it generates far less vacuum as compared to ZEPY pump, and this limits the TA350 pump to use in evacuating low-sized, low-capacity HVAC units.
The portable, easy-to-use and maintain TA350 vacuum pump comes with an insulated and molded secure-grip handle, and can evacuate HVAC systems whose tonnage is less than 10 tons. Its standalone modular build features a built-in capacitor stock housed in the motor unit.
Moreover, its intake port features a ¼-inch male flare and a 1/2-inch ACME fitting, along with their tethered caps. Still, this TA350 model is noisier during operation as compared to Robinair 15500.
Kozyvacu TA350 weighs about 12 pounds and is 10.6inches long, 4.7inches wide, and 8.7inches high, and its color scheme is red and silver.
Also, its segmentation into the motor and pump units is achieved by a pressure-sealed gasket, whose finned housing gasket allows for heat dissipation and prevents heat transfer across the two compartments.
At the top of the housing gasket is the intake port for the pumping chamber. Expectedly, this makes the inlet fitting easy to access and connect to the HVAC unit, either directly or via adapters. Its oil drain plug is located at the bottom of the oil reservoir, which allows for easy drainage.
Additionally, this pump supports the filtration of HVAC fluids. Its exhaust/discharge port is positioned at the top of the pumping chamber where it extends as a vented exhaust fitting.
As mentioned earlier, the TA350 pump is powered by a 120V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor, and its power rating is 1/4HP or 186W of power.
This medium-torque, medium-duty motor is horizontally-aligned to allow for shaft coupling to be achieved through integral close-coupled design. As expected, the motor needs to be grounded, and this achieved by plugging it into a grounded power.
TA350 pump comes with an easy-to-access switch, and its motor is thermally-protected, with its thermal overload protection system featuring a replaceable fuse.
Just like ZENY VP-125+, the casing of Kozyvacu TA350 features external fins on the motor and pump unit which creates a large heat sink surface. Still, it is advisable that one uses this pump in a well-ventilated room.
Kozyvacu TA350 pump has an oil capacity of 280ml, and the oil level can be viewed through a sight glass at the side panel of the die-cast aluminum casing of the pumping chamber. As expected, this pump must be placed lower than the HVAC unit.
Just like Robinair 15500 FJC 6912, and ZENY VP-125+ models, the Kozyvacu TA350 pump comes with a shock-proof base plate that rests on non-skid feet, and its overall build design allows for dampening of vibration when the motor is running. Like Robinair 15500 and FJC 6912, this repair kit comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
- Related Content: An HVAC Vacuum Pump Buyer’s Guide
5. XtremepowerUS 71097 HVAC Repair Kit
This is a complete HVAC repair tool kit whose centerpiece is the XtremePowerUS 71096 vacuum pump.
This is a high-quality, mid-range performance single-stage positive-displacement roughing pump with a flow rate of 3 CFM and a micron rating of 38 microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating low-sized HVAC units.
This makes the XtremePowerUS pump a more powerful model than ZENY VP-125+ as it can generate a deeper vacuum. Still, this XtremePowerUS pump is a rotary vane model that features a compact, light-weight design that makes it portable.
Likewise, the pump is powered by a 110V/120V, 60Hz AC continuous-use motor that delivers 186W power.
This pump and the HVAC repair kit are designed, manufactured, and assembled together by XtremePowerUS.
This kit is shipped as a package that contains a vacuum pump, along with a handy manifold gauge with 2 silicone-dampened pressure gauges, three 36-inch long hoses, oil bottle, storage bag, and assorted accessories, including adapters for connecting the kit to R134a, R410a, R12, and R22 fittings.
The manifold gauge set features two pressure gauges with one providing a reading scale with a range of 0-150 psi, while the other provides a reading scale whose range is 0-500 psi. The hoses are red, blue, and yellow in color.
The XtremePowerUS pump vacuum pump share operational and design similarities with the ZENY VP-125+, including depth of vacuum, with the variance being the flow rate where ZENY has a greater flow rate.
The portable and easy-to-use XtremePowerUS pump comes with an insulated secure-grip handle, and can evacuate HVAC systems whose tonnage range is 10-15 tons.
Its modular build features a built-in capacitor stock housed in the motor unit. However, unlike the vacuum pumps reviewed above, the intake port of XtremePowerUS pump only features a ¼-inch male flare and a tethered cap.
XtremePowerUS pump weighs about 12.1 pounds and is 14.2inches long, 12.3inches wide, and 10.3inches high, and its color scheme is black and silver.
Also, its segmentation into the motor and pump units is achieved by a pressure-sealed gasket, whose non-finned housing gasket prevents heat transfer between the two compartments.
At the top of the housing gasket is the intake port for the pumping chamber, and this positioning makes inlet fitting easy to achieve, either directly or via adapters.
Additionally, its oil drain plug is located at the bottom of the oil reservoir, which allows for easy drainage. Furthermore, this pump supports filtration of HVAC fluids; and the positioning of its exhaust/discharge port at the top of the pumping makes venting of evacuated fluids easy.
This pump is powered by a 186-watt motor with a running speed of 1720 rpm. This medium-torque, medium-duty motor is horizontally-aligned to allow for shaft coupling to be achieved through an integral close-coupled design which permits the pump speed to be almost equally matched with the motor speed.
Also, the motor needs to be grounded, and this achieved by plugging it into a grounded power by an electrical cord whose terminal is a 3-blade top plug.
Additionally, this model comes with an easy-to-access switch, and its motor is thermally-protected.
This thermal overload protection system features a replaceable fuse. Just like ZENY VP-125+, the casing of the model features external fins on the motor and pump unit which creates a large heat sink surface for fast heat dissipation. Nonetheless, it is advisable that one uses this pump in a well-ventilated room.
This XtremePowerUS pump has an oil capacity of 320ml, and the oil level can be viewed through a sight glass at the side panel of the die-cast aluminum casing of the pumping chamber.
As expected, this pump must be placed lower than the HVAC unit. Also, this pump comes with a shock-proof base plate that rests on non-skid feet. Passive vibration dampening is supporting by its build design.
Bottom-line
XtremepowerUS 71097 is a complete HVAC repair tool kit whose centerpiece is the XtremePowerUS 71096 vacuum pump.
This is a high-quality, mid-range performance single-stage positive-displacement roughing pump with a flow rate of 3 CFM and a micron rating of 38 microns, which makes it suitable for evacuating low-sized HVAC units.
It comes with a handy manifold gauge set, vacuum pump oil, three color-coded hoses, and a carry bag. The pump is powered by This pump is powered by a 186-watt motor with a running speed of 1720 rpm.
- Related Content: Buying the best HVAC tool bag
HVAC Vacuum Pump Buyer’s Guide
What is A Vacuum Pump Used for?
In the context of the HVAC industry, a vacuum pump is used to repair and maintain refrigeration systems.
Often, in order to assess the fault or carry out repairs, the refrigerant inside the system needs to be drained out. Called refrigerant recovery, the process involves removing refrigerant gas from the system. It is then stored so that it can be re-entered into the system (or safely disposed of if necessary) for use later.
The HVAC vacuum pump is an important device in the procedure as it is used to remove any contaminants from the system. Without the pump, contaminants may reenter the refrigeration system, causing future issues.
Types of HVAC Vacuum Pumps
There are three different types of HVAC pumps to carry out the above-explained process. Let’s take a look at them now.
- Oil Filled Rotary Vane Pump – This is the most common type of HVAC pump a technician will use when carrying out evacuation procedures. The majority of the devices in this review-round up are oil-filled rotary pumps.
- Diaphragm Pump – The diaphragm pump doesn’t provide as strong a vacuum as the rotary vane, (around 85%).
- Vacuum Generator – With a vacuum rate of around 93%, this type of pump is a go-to for many technicians. However, they are noisy and require a small air compressor in order to function.
Factors to consider when buying an HVAC Vacuum Pump
There are a number of factors to consider when looking to buy a new HVAC vacuum pump. Let’s take a look at some of the main ones now.
Cubic Feet Per Minute (CFM)
Cubic feet per minute is the measurement that provides details of the performance of the pump. A high CFM means a faster evacuation process. It is how much air the pump can evacuate from the system per minute.
A working professional will want as high a CFM is as reliably possible. Commercial pumps have a CFM of around 8 to 10. Home users will not need such high speeds. A CFM of around 4 to 6 would suffice and is what you can expect from more budget models.
Vacuum level
Measured in microns, the vacuum level tells you how well the pump performs in creating a vacuum. 0 microns is a perfect vacuum. Unfortunately, no HVAC vacuum pump is able to achieve this (it is the territory of lab experiments).
Clearly, the lower the micron in terms of the vacuum level, the better. Read the specifications of the pump you would like to buy, and compare it to the competition.
Two-Stage vs. One Stage Vacuum Pumps
A two-stage vacuum pump is the recommended type as it uses two sets of rotors and two sets of vanes. This increases performance due to the fact the first vacuum pump components create a medium-sized vacuum. The second then use the exhaust from the first to increase the vacuum level. The sum total is a more powerful, complete vacuum.
In- built, anti-suck function
In instances where you lose power during the evacuation process, there is a danger that the contaminants will be sucked back into the system. To avoid this some pumps are fitted with an anti-suck back mechanism. It is a handy back-up feature definitely worth having.
Oil Sight Glass
A pump with an oil sight glass allows you to see the oil inside the reservoir so you can monitor the levels as you work. It is a simple design addition, but again, worth having as it makes operating the pump easier.
What size HVAC Vacuum Pump should you go for?
The size of the pump you use is dependant on the type and size of the system you are working on. As mentioned above, a pump with a CFM capability of up to 8 to 10 will be adequate for most commercial uses.
However, how can you calculate the required CFM in order to be sure?
The answer is a simple calculation…
The following formula will give you the CFM rating for a given application:
CFM squared = Maximum System Tonnage
So for example, when evacuating a 49-tonne system, the minimum CFM rating your vacuum pump should be capable of is 7.
How to use an HVAC Vacuum Pump
Your best resource for learning how to use an HVAC vacuum pump is via Youtube. There are a number of great instructional videos created by industry technicians. Below we have selected one of our favorites.