5 Recovery Equipment and Procedures
Learn how to select recovery equipment, meet small-appliance refrigerant recovery targets, perform service recovery, and apply handling rules and specific exceptions.
Small appliances and the core rule
Small appliances are factory-manufactured, charged, hermetically sealed appliances containing pounds or less of refrigerant. Examples include household refrigerators, window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and water coolers. Section 608 Type I requirements govern servicing these appliances.
Before opening a sealed refrigerant circuit for service or disposal, recover the refrigerant with appropriate equipment. Keep refrigerant contained and do not intentionally vent it.
Choose and prepare equipment
Two basic kinds of equipment are used.
has its own compressor or other means to draw refrigerant from the appliance and move it into an external container. For small appliances, the equipment must meet EPA certification requirements for the appliance and refrigerant involved.
relies on the appliance’s compressor or internal pressure to move refrigerant. It may not be used with an appliance containing more than pounds of refrigerant unless permanently attached as a pump-out unit.
A service setup may also need compatible hoses and fittings, an approved cylinder, and a scale to monitor the cylinder’s contents. Use equipment intended for the refrigerant being recovered. Keep different refrigerants separate, do not exceed the cylinder’s allowable capacity, and follow the equipment label and manufacturer’s instructions.
targets and endpoints
Before opening or disposing of a , recover refrigerant to the applicable target. The percentage refers to the amount recovered from the appliance, not to a pressure reading.
For equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, recover at least .
For equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, recover at least if the compressor is operational.
For equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, recover at least if the compressor is not operational.
As an alternative, evacuate the appliance to a -inch-mercury vacuum.
Follow the -equipment manufacturer’s instructions to achieve the applicable level. The vacuum endpoint is an alternative compliance route, not a percentage target.
Service procedure
Use this sequence for service :
Identify the appliance and refrigerant. Confirm that the appliance meets the small-appliance definition and identify its refrigerant before connecting equipment. Select equipment approved for that appliance and refrigerant.
Prepare the setup. Inspect the hoses, fittings, device, and cylinder. Use an appropriate cylinder, secure it, and monitor its weight so it is not overfilled.
Connect the equipment. Attach hoses and fittings as directed by the equipment manufacturer. Use low-loss practices to limit releases when connecting and disconnecting. Follow appliance and -equipment instructions for access, operating sequence, and compressor condition.
Recover the refrigerant. Operate the equipment according to its instructions. If the compressor is not functioning, use the method and target for a non-operational compressor; do not assume the appliance compressor can assist.
Confirm the endpoint. Verify the required percentage or the four-inch-mercury-vacuum endpoint using the equipment’s prescribed method. Open the sealed system for repair only after confirming the required endpoint.
Keep refrigerant contained and identified. Do not intentionally vent it during service.
Handling recovered refrigerant
Refrigerant recovered during a repair may generally be returned to the appliance from which it was recovered, or to another appliance owned by the same person, without first being recycled or reclaimed. This exception does not apply to motor-vehicle air conditioners (MVACs) or MVAC-like appliances. If refrigerant is to be used elsewhere, follow the requirements that apply to its condition and intended use; recovered refrigerant is not thereby reclaimed refrigerant.
removes refrigerant and stores it in an external container. cleans refrigerant for reuse, while processes it to applicable purity specifications.
Small amounts released during good-faith efforts to recover refrigerant, such as unavoidable losses while connecting or disconnecting hoses, are treated differently from intentional venting. Use practices and fittings that minimize such releases.
Exceptions and certification conditions
Several conditions affect equipment use, obligations, or certification:
Compressor failure: For equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, the target is when the compressor is not operational and when it is operational. The four-inch-mercury-vacuum alternative is also available.
Older equipment: Equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, has an requirement. For service and disposal, use equipment meeting the applicable certification and performance rules.
Disposal work: A person recovering refrigerant from small appliances in the waste stream is not required to hold Section 608 technician certification solely for that disposal . The equipment must still meet applicable performance standards. Servicing or repairing an appliance is different: technicians generally need Type I or Universal Section 608 certification. An apprentice may work under the required close and continuous supervision of an appropriately certified technician.
Owner’s permanently attached pump-out unit: A person who services, repairs, or disposes of only appliances they own, and that contain pump-out units, is exempt from the requirement to use certified, . This narrow exception does not remove the obligation to handle refrigerant properly.
Manufacturer instructions: Use certified equipment according to its manufacturer’s directions unless those directions conflict with Section 608 requirements.