VIVOHOME 110V 1/4 HP 3.5 CFM Single Stage Rotary Vane Air Vacuum Pump with Oil Bottle ETL Listed

I purchased this pump based on the reviews and the price, and when it arrived, I tested it with my vacuum gauge on the port, and it quickly reached 14 microns. So I tried it for the first time, and it took about 10 minutes to pull to 180 microns. I thought to myself, "Great, let's do the next one. " Set up and start pulling a vacuum; the pressures are coming down a little more slowly this time, and it gets to around 400 microns before the pressure starts to rise. When I close the valves, the pressure drops, indicating that there is no leak in the system. When I restart the pump and open the valves, the pressures fluctuate up and down before starting to rise again. I reattached my vacuum gauge to the port, but it reads no vacuum this time. I go get my two-year-old single-stage pump, connect it, and finish pumping the lines down. I had to work much harder to get them pumped down, and it took a long time. I was not expecting this pump to fail so quickly; I was expecting it to last 6 to 9 months, but it failed after only 20 minutes of use. I disassembled it and discovered that the shaft and seal had worn out and were no longer capable of holding a vacuum. I would only use this pump for a single small job that will take less than 10 minutes.

Everleigh McGowan

| Jun 27, 2021

This pump is far too weak for our needs, and it spits oil all over the place. Before turning on the pump, make sure you read the instructions carefully. Maybe it's best for small jobs, but it's definitely not strong enough to be used as a milk pump, which is what we were looking for when this came up. Also, because you can't return it once you open the box, make sure you don't require a lot of suction when ordering it.

Phoenix Browning

| Jun 21, 2021

That's exactly how it should be. While doing an R12 system retrofit at home, I bought this to pull vacuum on my car's a/c system. I did a lot of comparison shopping before ordering this one, and it worked really well for the price. It was the best deal I could find on Amazon for a two-stage pump. I'm sure a single stage pump would have sufficed, but I was willing to take a chance on this guy for a few extra dollars. When it arrived, I was a little concerned because the packaging resembled a low-cost Chinese import. (Which it is, I suppose. ) After taking it out of the box and inspecting it more closely, it appeared to be quite sturdy. I don't do a lot of A/C work, so it'll be perfect for when I do.

Opal Kaufman

| Dec 15, 2021

I've only had it for about a month and it just slipped off the edge of the truck and cracked today, on the job, thank you. Ensure that you purchase the protection plan; you will require it! I'd appreciate it if you could find someone to take my place. I can't afford to waste hundreds of dollars per day on bad equipment because I'm just starting out. I'd finally figured out what I needed to know.

Skyler Ingram

| Dec 13, 2021

The pump takes a long time to pull vacuum and won't go below 500 microns.

Dakota Cannon

| Sep 15, 2021

To be honest, some of the negative reviews made me hesitant to order this vacuum pump. I was considering the single-stage version, but for a few dollars more, I decided to try this one. I'm glad I took the initiative. This will work for both a home and an auto air conditioning system. On my pathfinder's newly redone ac job, I used this to pull down a vacuum. It took about 5 minutes for it to pull down. After letting it sit for an hour to see if there were any leaks in the system, it was ready to use. Then, before recharging the system, I let the pump run for two hours. The unit was simple to use and was well packaged. It came with oil and instructions that were simple to follow. This is a unit I would recommend.

Lillie Cole

| Apr 07, 2021

On a Subaru Baja and a Chevy Suburban with dual AC units, it was used to draw vacuums. Both systems were drawn down, and the pump ran for several hours at a time; multiple draw downs were required as leaks were discovered and repaired. A bottle of pump oil is included with the unit, which appears to be of good quality and performs admirably. It was easier to provide a tip for the oil bottle while pouring the oil through the exhaust stack, I discovered. I would recommend this product and purchase it again if the need arises.

Rayna McLaughlin

| Apr 26, 2021

But it'll probably only be used once or twice a year. So far, everything has gone well. I'm new to HVAC system installation, but I've worked as a general contractor for 20 years. I was working on a project with six minisplits and decided to vacuum them myself. So far, I've completed three tasks and am pleased with the results. It'll be another no th before the other three are finished, but the pump appears to be in good working order.

Xavier Erickson

| Sep 10, 2021