It pays to 'shop' around. (auto service equipment)

Proper equipment can generate service income

We all know that it's fun to shop for and purchase new shop "toys," but the equipment purchased must justify itself as a worthwhile investment.

A wide array of equipment is available in today's market. Here are some of the items worth considering:

Air conditioning equipment

As you know, you must now use a certified recovery/recycling machine to perform air conditioning service on either R-12 or R-134a systems.

If you are planning to offer A/C service, you must purchase at least one of these units that permits you to capture and recover refrigerant gases and oils from a vehicle's system without venting refrigerant into the air. The machine also filters out debris and moisture, permitting you to cleanly recharge the system while complying with EPA regulations.

You'll also need additional equipment such as a hand-held leak detector capable of identifying all refrigerants, including CFC, HFC and HCFC.

A refrigerant purity detector that scans samples for moisture and other contaminants is also a …