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This article was originally published on September 23, 2023, and updated on November 3, 2025. As the HVAC/R industry continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia has become a preferred natural alternative to traditional chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant compounds. Ammonia's low environmental impact and high efficiency make it an attractive choice—but only when used with properly selected components. Because ammonia is corrosive to certain materials and can be hazardous at high concentrations, every part of your system, including pressure transducers, must be carefully matched to its demands. As a product director specializing in pressure sensors for 30 years, I know what to look out for when it comes to selecting an OEM pressure transducer for applications dealing with refrigeration and ammonia. Read this article to learn why ammonia remains a leading refrigerant choice, what challenges it presents, and which four factors to consider when selecting a pressure transducer for ammonia applications. Factors include accuracy, material compatibility, process connections and approvals/certifications.

This article was originally published on March 14, 2022 and updated on November 3, 2025. Maintaining measurement accuracy in high-purity and cryogenic environments presents unique challenges. Pressure instruments in these systems are exposed to extreme temperatures, sensitive media and tight contamination controls that can quickly compromise their reliability. To ensure safe, stable performance, pressure gauges in these settings must maintain purity, prevent leaks and withstand low-temperature conditions. High-purity gauges are engineered to meet these demands — providing precise readings and control in gas delivery systems, semiconductor production and other ultra-clean applications. In this review, you will learn about the Ashcroft® HPS High-Purity Pressure Gauge with Reed Switch, including how it operates, its features and benefits and the specifications it has for measuring pressure in cryogenic applications and other high-purity processes.

This article was originally published on May 2, 2022, and updated on October 29, 2025. Maintaining accurate temperature measurement in industrial environments can be challenging. Exposure to extreme heat, cold, vibration, or pressure can affect sensor performance and reliability. Resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) and thermocouples are the most common instruments used to deliver stable, repeatable temperature readings in these demanding conditions. With decades of experience in pressure and temperature measurement, Ashcroft® designs temperature sensors that combine proven accuracy with rugged construction to meet the needs of diverse industries. In this Product Review, you’ll learn how RTDs and thermocouples operate, explore the features and benefits of Ashcroft’s temperature sensors and compare which model best fits your application.

Across industries like manufacturing, energy, HVAC, and process control, accurate pressure measurement is critical to maintaining safety, efficiency, and product quality. Over time, even high-quality pressure transducers can experience drift — a gradual deviation between actual and measured pressure caused by vibration, temperature changes, or normal wear. Calibration restores accuracy by comparing the transducer’s output to a known reference standard and adjusting as needed. But with multiple calibration methods available, the right approach depends on your environment, equipment and accuracy requirements. As a recognized leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, Ashcroft addresses this challenge with customers frequently. In this article, you’ll learn why pressure transducer calibration is essential, how zero and span adjustability preserve accuracy over time, the difference between primary and secondary calibration standards, and the lab and field methods that are best suited for both every day and hazardous applications.

This article was originally published on November 30, 2021, and updated on October 22, 2025. When measuring pressure in challenging environments involving extreme temperatures, your instrument must perform accurately and reliably. Temperature exposure can come from many sources, including the process media and the ambient temperature surrounding the sensor. Each affects the transducer differently, but media temperature has the most direct impact because it acts on the sensing diaphragm and internal components. As media temperature rises or falls, it can distort readings, shorten sensor life or even damage components. With more than 175 years of pressure and temperature measurement expertise, Ashcroft is recognized as an industry authority in helping customers maintain reliable measurement in even the harshest environments. In this article, you’ll learn how process media temperature can impact pressure transducer performance, what causes output changes and how to minimize errors through proper design and installation. Understanding this information will help ensure you protect your instruments from performance drift or premature failure.

This article was originally published on April 11, 2022 and updated on October 20, 2025. Pressure gauges are instruments designed to deliver reliable and accurate readings in demanding applications. Yet, even the most durable gauges can lose accuracy or fail prematurely if they aren’t stored correctly. Many issues that appear as calibration drift or pointer error actually begin long before the gauge is installed—during storage and handling. As a trusted authority in pressure and temperature instrumentation for more than 170 years, Ashcroft has seen how improper storage can shorten the life of an otherwise high-quality gauge. In this article, you’ll learn how to properly store a pressure gauge, how environmental conditions affect performance, and what steps ensure your instruments remain ready for use.