Pulling a vacuum on an HVAC system is necessary for installing, fixing, and repairing HVAC units.
When a vacuum is pulled, there is two ways to measure it with either a manifold gauge and micron gauge.
What is a Micron Gauge Used for in HVAC?
A micron gauge is used to read the pressure inside an HVAC system.
Analog manifold gauges are the original equipment used to measure air pressure and are still widely used.
Micron gauges are a modern digital way to measure air pressure and are much more precise.
For example, when vacuuming down an HVAC system, 500 microns is considered a good measurement.
Using analog gauges, this can be very hard to read and requires more skill compared to a digital micron gauge which displays the number.
Both units will work to measure a vacuum, with most technicians these days using micron gauges.
There are many good units are available, with some of our favorite picks below.
As always be sure to read the reviews on Amazon or elsewhere to be sure a unit is a good fit for you.
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Our Picks for the Best Micron Gauge for HVAC
- Appion AV760
- CPS Vacuum Gauge
- NAVAC NMV1
The Appion AV760 is a very good micron gauge that I tested for a month pumping down commercial rooftop units.
It has two layers of filter protection for the sensor, which is a nice feature.
Bluetooth is built-in and works with an app that can be installed on a smartphone with many added options such as record.
The Bluetooth range is roughly 20-30 feet but can go farther at times.
The CPS Vacuum Gauge is a good mid-range unit that works very well when pulling a vacuum.
I used one while installing a mini-split, and it had no problems displaying a vacuum under 500 Microns.
There are some comments online about it leaking along with the battery compartment being hard to access, but I had no issues.
NAVAC is a company that makes many types of HVAC equipment, including the NMV1 micron gauge.
It has buttons for power, unit, set, and save/calibrate.
The unit is not fancy but quick and easy to use and is a good basic micron gauge.
Summary
Buying any HVAC equipment can be expensive and should be researched to get the best fit for your scenario.
A busy HVAC tech will often have 2-3 different micron gauges, a digital manifold gauge, as well as an old fashion manifold gauge.
A part time tech will only need one good unit and likely a manifold gauge.
If you are a home do-it-yourself type person doing repairs or installing a low-cost budget unit will likely be best.
Do you have a favorite micron gauge unit? Let us know in the comments below.