3 Refrigerant Handling and Service Procedures Free Online FlashCards

What does refrigerant recovery mean?

Recovering removes refrigerant from an appliance and stores it in an external container; it does not require testing or cleaning.

What can a pressure or vacuum decay test establish?

A pressure or vacuum decay test can show that a system is leaking, but it does not by itself locate the leak.

What is the rule on intentional refrigerant venting?

Intentional venting during maintenance, service, repair, or disposal is generally prohibited. Limited de minimis releases during good-faith recovery or service are allowed.

What vacuum endpoint can satisfy the small-appliance recovery requirement?

For small appliances containing five pounds or less of refrigerant, evacuation to 4 inches of mercury vacuum is also recognized as meeting the recovery requirement.

What pressure limit applies before removing refrigerant-containing oil?

Before removing oil, reduce the pressure in the appliance or isolated section to 5 psig or less. Alternatively, drain the oil into a system receiver reduced to that pressure.

What evacuation level applies to a newer high-pressure appliance charged with at least 200 pounds?

For a high-pressure appliance with a charge of 200 pounds or more manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, the required evacuation level is 10 inches of mercury vacuum.

Do Section 608 leak-repair requirements cover appliances using only HFC substitutes?

Section 608 leak-repair requirements do not apply to appliances containing only substitute refrigerants such as HFCs.

Which appliances generally fall under the AIM Act HFC leak-repair program?

As of 2026, the program generally covers appliances with a full charge of at least 15 pounds of an HFC or HFC substitute with a GWP greater than 53. Residential and light-commercial air-conditioning and heat-pump appliances are exempt.

What records must be kept when disposing of appliances containing 5–50 pounds of refrigerant?

For disposal of appliances containing 5–50 pounds of refrigerant, keep recovery location and date, refrigerant type, monthly recovered quantities, and quantities transferred for reclamation or destruction. Retain these records for three years.

What does refrigerant recycling do?

Recycling cleans recovered refrigerant, typically by oil separation and filtration. It may be reused in equipment owned by the same person, but it is not reclamation.

What distinguishes refrigerant reclamation?

Reclamation reprocesses refrigerant to applicable purity specifications and verifies its purity using the prescribed analytical method. It must be performed by an EPA-certified reclaimer.

When is an initial verification test performed?

An initial verification test checks the repair before refrigerant is added back to the appliance.