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EPA 608 Type I
Practice Test

Type I certifies you to service small appliances: products manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with five pounds or less of refrigerant. The section is short on system design and long on recovery mechanics, because most Type I work is getting refrigerant safely out of a sealed system that was never built to be opened — which is why access methods, passive versus active recovery, and the required recovery levels dominate the questions.

100
Questions
25
Per Attempt
70%
To Pass
Lifetime
Cert Validity
Practice
Take the Type I Practice Test
25 questions drawn at random from a bank of 100. Every answer comes with an explanation, and you can retake it as many times as you like.
Question 1 of 250 correct so far
Safety and pressure hazards

What is the risk of overfilling a recovery cylinder when recovering many small appliances in sequence?

Scope
What EPA 608 Type I Covers
Small appliances — factory-sealed systems holding 5 pounds of refrigerant or less.
What counts as a small appliance
13 practice questions in the bank below.
Recovery requirements and levels
18 practice questions in the bank below.
System-dependent (passive) recovery
12 practice questions in the bank below.
Self-contained (active) recovery
10 practice questions in the bank below.
Sealed-system access and piercing valves
14 practice questions in the bank below.
Safety and pressure hazards
14 practice questions in the bank below.
Disposal and verification
11 practice questions in the bank below.
Leak repair exemptions
8 practice questions in the bank below.
Who needs this section
Appliance repair technicians, and anyone servicing window units, household refrigerators, vending machines, or water coolers.

Key Takeaways

The EPA 608 Type I exam is 25 multiple-choice questions and requires 70% to pass. It covers small appliances — factory-sealed systems holding 5 pounds of refrigerant or less. Certification never expires, and the exam is open-book.

  • Free practice bank: 100 questions, every answer explained
  • 25 questions per attempt, randomized · unlimited retakes
  • Core must be passed alongside any Type section
  • Exam cost is typically $20–$40 at an EPA-approved testing organization
Answer Key
All 100 Type I Questions Explained
The full bank with correct answers and the reasoning behind each one. Use it to study before you test, or to review after an attempt.

1. Which definition matches a "small appliance" under Section 608?

  1. Any appliance a single technician can carry
  2. A product manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant
  3. Any residential appliance regardless of charge
  4. Any appliance with a charge under 50 pounds
Answer: B — A product manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant
All three elements matter: factory manufactured, factory charged, and hermetically sealed, with five pounds or less. A residential split system is field-charged and field-piped, so it is not a small appliance no matter how small the charge — that work requires Type II.

2. Which of the following is NOT a small appliance?

  1. A household refrigerator
  2. A window air conditioner
  3. A residential split-system heat pump
  4. A vending machine
Answer: C — A residential split-system heat pump
A split system is assembled and charged in the field, which disqualifies it regardless of charge size. Refrigerators, freezers, window units, packaged terminal units under five pounds, water coolers, dehumidifiers, and vending machines all meet the definition.

3. Recovery equipment used on small appliances and manufactured after November 15, 1993 must recover what percentage of the refrigerant when the appliance compressor is operating?

  1. 70%
  2. 80%
  3. 90%
  4. 95%
Answer: C — 90%
Ninety percent applies when the appliance's own compressor is running and helping push refrigerant out; the requirement drops to 80% when the compressor is not operating. Either standard may be met instead by evacuating the appliance to 4 inches of mercury vacuum.

4. If the compressor in a small appliance is not operating, the required recovery level is:

  1. 70%
  2. 80%
  3. 90%
  4. 100%
Answer: B — 80%
With no compressor assistance the standard is 80%, because there is less pressure available to move refrigerant out of the system. Evacuating to 4 inches of mercury vacuum satisfies the requirement either way, which is why many technicians simply pull to that level and stop guessing at percentages.

5. What vacuum level satisfies the recovery requirement for a small appliance?

  1. 15 inches of mercury
  2. 10 inches of mercury
  3. 500 microns
  4. 4 inches of mercury
Answer: D — 4 inches of mercury
Four inches of mercury is the Type I recovery standard. The deeper levels — 10 and 15 inches — belong to Type II high-pressure appliances, and 500 microns is a dehydration target, not a recovery requirement. Mixing these up is one of the most common Type I mistakes.

6. System-dependent recovery equipment is best described as:

  1. Equipment that relies on the appliance's internal pressure or its own compressor to move refrigerant into a non-pressurized container
  2. A reclamation machine used on the job site
  3. A recovery cylinder connected directly to a vacuum pump
  4. Equipment with its own compressor that pulls refrigerant out of the appliance
Answer: A — Equipment that relies on the appliance's internal pressure or its own compressor to move refrigerant into a non-pressurized container
Passive equipment has no compressor of its own — it depends on the appliance. That is why it is limited to small appliances and why it is much slower than self-contained recovery. The container it fills must be non-pressurized, which is a defining feature of the method.

7. When using system-dependent recovery on a small appliance whose compressor does not run, access must be made:

  1. On the high side only
  2. On both the high and low sides of the system
  3. On the low side only
  4. Through the process tube only
Answer: B — On both the high and low sides of the system
Without a working compressor there is nothing to migrate refrigerant across the metering device, so refrigerant trapped on one side stays there unless you open both sides. With a working compressor, a single low-side access can be sufficient because the compressor moves the charge for you.

8. Which technique legitimately speeds up passive recovery from a small appliance?

  1. Heating the compressor shell with a torch
  2. Connecting the recovery container to a nitrogen cylinder
  3. Warming the appliance and chilling the recovery container so refrigerant migrates toward the cold side
  4. Striking the compressor housing to dislodge refrigerant
Answer: C — Warming the appliance and chilling the recovery container so refrigerant migrates toward the cold side
Refrigerant migrates to the coldest point, so warming the system gently — a heat blanket or warm environment, never an open flame — and putting the recovery container in ice water creates the pressure difference that drives the transfer. A torch on a charged system is a decomposition and rupture hazard.

9. Self-contained recovery equipment differs from system-dependent equipment because it:

  1. Requires no EPA certification
  2. May only be used on appliances holding less than 5 pounds
  3. Cannot be used on small appliances
  4. Has its own compressor and can pull refrigerant from an appliance with no working compressor
Answer: D — Has its own compressor and can pull refrigerant from an appliance with no working compressor
Active recovery machines carry their own compressor, so they work regardless of the appliance's condition and they can be used on any appliance size the machine is rated for. They are also the only option once you leave the small-appliance category.

10. A piercing (line-tap) valve installed on a small appliance being repaired should be:

  1. Replaced with a brazed access fitting if the appliance stays in service, because piercing valves tend to leak over time
  2. Installed only on the high side
  3. Removed and the hole plugged with sealant
  4. Left permanently in place for future service
Answer: A — Replaced with a brazed access fitting if the appliance stays in service, because piercing valves tend to leak over time
Bolt-on piercing valves seal against a rubber gasket that hardens and leaks with age, which is fine on an appliance headed for disposal and unacceptable on one returning to service. Best practice is to braze in a proper process fitting once recovery is complete.

11. The safest way to relieve pressure before cutting into a sealed small appliance is to:

  1. Cut the process tube with a tubing cutter and let the charge escape
  2. Recover the refrigerant through an access fitting to the required level first
  3. Heat the tubing until the solder joint releases
  4. Puncture the line with an awl
Answer: B — Recover the refrigerant through an access fitting to the required level first
Recovering first is both the legal requirement and the safe practice. Releasing the charge violates the venting prohibition, and cutting or heating a pressurized line risks a refrigerant-and-oil discharge into your face along with the toxic decomposition products a torch produces.

12. Why should a small appliance never be pressurized with air or oxygen to test for leaks?

  1. It voids the manufacturer's warranty
  2. Air will not show a leak
  3. Oxygen mixed with compressor oil under pressure can explode, and air introduces moisture
  4. It is permitted only above 150 psig
Answer: C — Oxygen mixed with compressor oil under pressure can explode, and air introduces moisture
The oxygen-and-oil explosion hazard is the reason the rule and every manufacturer prohibit it, and the moisture in compressed air starts acid formation in the system. Use dry nitrogen through a regulator, and keep the test pressure within the manufacturer's limit for the appliance.

13. Who is responsible for verifying that refrigerant has been recovered from a small appliance before it is scrapped?

  1. The original manufacturer
  2. The homeowner only
  3. No verification is required for appliances under 5 pounds
  4. The last person in the disposal chain, such as the scrap recycler or landfill operator
Answer: D — The last person in the disposal chain, such as the scrap recycler or landfill operator
The rule puts verification on the final person in the disposal chain, who must either recover the refrigerant themselves or obtain a signed statement that a certified technician already did. That is why appliance recyclers ask for documentation and why a "we just took the freon out" claim is not sufficient.

14. Do the leak repair requirements apply to a small appliance?

  1. No, because leak repair requirements apply only to appliances with a full charge of 50 pounds or more
  2. Yes, at a 20% annual leak rate
  3. No, because small appliances never leak
  4. Yes, at a 10% annual leak rate
Answer: A — No, because leak repair requirements apply only to appliances with a full charge of 50 pounds or more
The leak repair provisions are triggered by a full charge of 50 pounds or more, which no small appliance reaches. You still may not vent, you still must recover before service and disposal, and good practice is still to fix the leak — the exemption is from the regulatory repair-and-verify process, not from the venting prohibition.

15. A recovery device is connected to a small appliance and the pressure reading rises after the machine is shut off. This most likely indicates:

  1. The recovery is complete
  2. Refrigerant is still boiling out of the oil and the system needs more recovery time
  3. The recovery machine is defective
  4. The appliance has a leak to atmosphere
Answer: B — Refrigerant is still boiling out of the oil and the system needs more recovery time
Refrigerant dissolved in compressor oil comes out slowly, so pressure rebounds after the machine stops. The correct response is to restart recovery and continue until the pressure holds at the required level — stopping at the first reading is the classic way to leave a quarter of the charge in the system.

16. Before beginning recovery, a recovery cylinder should be:

  1. Filled to 80% with nitrogen
  2. Warmed to at least 100°F
  3. Weighed, with the tare weight noted, and checked against the hydrostatic retest date
  4. Vented to atmosphere to equalize pressure
Answer: C — Weighed, with the tare weight noted, and checked against the hydrostatic retest date
You cannot honor the 80% fill limit without knowing the tare weight and watching a scale, and a cylinder past its retest date should not be filled at all. Venting it to equalize would itself be a violation.

17. A packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) in a hotel room qualifies as a small appliance when it:

  1. Is installed through an exterior wall
  2. Serves a single room
  3. Uses R-410A rather than R-22
  4. Was factory-charged and hermetically sealed with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant
Answer: D — Was factory-charged and hermetically sealed with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant
The test is always the same three conditions plus the charge limit, not what the unit is used for or where it is mounted. Most PTACs meet it; a few larger models exceed five pounds and fall under Type II instead, so check the nameplate rather than assuming.

18. When recovering from a small appliance into a non-pressurized container using passive recovery, the container must be:

  1. A container designed and approved for refrigerant recovery, not left open to atmosphere
  2. Vented continuously to prevent overpressure
  3. A DOT cylinder pressurized to 50 psig
  4. Any bucket capable of holding liquid
Answer: A — A container designed and approved for refrigerant recovery, not left open to atmosphere
Non-pressurized does not mean open — the container still has to hold refrigerant without releasing it, or the entire exercise would violate the venting prohibition. Use equipment intended for the purpose and keep it closed once charged.

19. A homeowner asks you to remove a working window air conditioner they are throwing away. You should:

  1. Cut the lines and dispose of it — the charge is small
  2. Recover the refrigerant to the required level before the unit leaves your control
  3. Leave the refrigerant in place; the recycler will handle it
  4. Vent the charge outdoors, away from the house
Answer: B — Recover the refrigerant to the required level before the unit leaves your control
There is no small-charge exemption from the venting prohibition. Recover it, and document that you did — the recycler at the end of the chain is required to have that verification and will refuse the unit without it.

20. A "process tube" on a small appliance is:

  1. The capillary tube feeding the evaporator
  2. The suction line between evaporator and compressor
  3. A short length of tubing on the compressor used at the factory for charging, which a technician can use for access
  4. A drain line for condensate
Answer: C — A short length of tubing on the compressor used at the factory for charging, which a technician can use for access
The process tube is a factory charging stub, usually pinched and brazed shut. It is the preferred access point because a process-tube adapter gives a proper connection without piercing the tubing, and it can be re-sealed correctly when the job is done.

21. Recovery from a small appliance is required before:

  1. Only disposal
  2. Only major repairs
  3. Transporting the appliance
  4. Any service, maintenance, or repair that opens the sealed system, and before disposal
Answer: D — Any service, maintenance, or repair that opens the sealed system, and before disposal
The trigger is opening the system, whatever the reason, plus disposal. Simply moving or transporting a sealed appliance does not require recovery — the refrigerant stays contained, which is the entire point of a hermetically sealed system.

22. While recovering from a small appliance, the recovery machine shuts down on high pressure. The most likely cause is:

  1. The recovery cylinder is overfilled or too warm, raising discharge pressure
  2. The hoses are too large in diameter
  3. The appliance charge is too small
  4. The recovery cylinder is too cold
Answer: A — The recovery cylinder is overfilled or too warm, raising discharge pressure
The machine has to push refrigerant into the cylinder, so cylinder pressure sets discharge pressure. An overfilled or sun-warmed cylinder raises it until the high-pressure cutout trips. Cooling the cylinder or switching to an empty one is the fix — never defeat the cutout.

23. Type I certification alone permits a technician to:

  1. Service any appliance with less than 50 pounds of refrigerant
  2. Service small appliances only
  3. Service small appliances and residential split systems
  4. Purchase any refrigerant but service only sealed systems
Answer: B — Service small appliances only
Each Type is a scope of practice, and Type I stops at small appliances. Working on a residential split system requires Type II. Certification also gates refrigerant purchase, so a Type I technician can buy refrigerant — but only lawfully use it within the scope they are certified for.

24. After recovery is complete and before a small appliance is recharged, the system should be:

  1. Charged immediately to save time
  2. Pressurized with air to check for leaks
  3. Evacuated to remove moisture and non-condensables, then charged by weight
  4. Flushed with water
Answer: C — Evacuated to remove moisture and non-condensables, then charged by weight
Opening a system admits air and moisture, and small appliances use capillary tubes that plug easily with ice or debris. Evacuate to dehydrate, then charge by weight to the nameplate value — a critically charged capillary-tube system has no charging tolerance to work with.

25. A small appliance holds R-134a and its compressor runs. Which single approach satisfies the recovery requirement most reliably?

  1. Recover until the gauge reads 0 psig
  2. Recover for exactly ten minutes
  3. Recover until the recovery machine sounds different
  4. Recover to 4 inches of mercury vacuum and confirm the level holds
Answer: D — Recover to 4 inches of mercury vacuum and confirm the level holds
Pulling to 4 inches of mercury and verifying it holds satisfies the requirement without having to estimate a percentage of the original charge, which you usually cannot measure in the field. Zero psig only means the system reached atmospheric pressure — a substantial amount of refrigerant is still in there.

26. Recovery hoses used on small appliances should have low-loss fittings in order to:

  1. Minimize the refrigerant released each time a hose is connected or disconnected
  2. Allow use with any refrigerant
  3. Prevent the hose from kinking
  4. Increase recovery speed
Answer: A — Minimize the refrigerant released each time a hose is connected or disconnected
Low-loss fittings close off the hose end so refrigerant trapped in the hose is not dumped to atmosphere on disconnect. Those releases are small individually but add up across a working day, and minimizing them is part of the good-faith practice the de minimis provision assumes.

27. System-dependent recovery is NOT permitted when:

  1. The appliance holds 3 pounds of refrigerant
  2. The appliance holds more than 5 pounds of refrigerant
  3. The compressor is operating
  4. The ambient temperature is above 70°F
Answer: B — The appliance holds more than 5 pounds of refrigerant
The five-pound limit is a rule, not a guideline — above it you need self-contained equipment. Warm ambient temperature actually helps passive recovery and a working compressor makes it easier still, so neither of those disqualifies the method.

28. A scrap yard accepting household refrigerators must:

  1. Assume the refrigerant was removed by the previous owner
  2. Crush the units to release refrigerant safely
  3. Recover the refrigerant itself or obtain signed verification that a certified technician already did
  4. Store the units outdoors for 30 days before processing
Answer: C — Recover the refrigerant itself or obtain signed verification that a certified technician already did
The rule places verification on the last person in the disposal chain precisely so nobody can assume someone upstream handled it. In practice a signed statement travels with the appliance, or the yard performs recovery under its own certified technician.

29. After recovering through a process-tube adapter and completing a repair, the process tube should be:

  1. Left open to atmosphere
  2. Capped with tape
  3. Cut off flush with the compressor shell
  4. Pinched off and brazed closed after evacuation and charging
Answer: D — Pinched off and brazed closed after evacuation and charging
A pinch-off followed by a brazed seal restores the hermetic system the appliance was designed as. Tape or a bare pinch will leak, and cutting the stub flush leaves nothing to work with the next time the appliance needs service.

30. A window air conditioner has lost most of its charge twice in one year. The rule requires the technician to:

  1. Recover any remaining refrigerant before opening the system and not vent — but no formal leak repair process applies
  2. Retrofit the appliance to a lower-GWP refrigerant
  3. Retire the appliance within 30 days
  4. File a leak-rate calculation with EPA
Answer: A — Recover any remaining refrigerant before opening the system and not vent — but no formal leak repair process applies
The leak repair program starts at a 50-pound full charge, so a window unit never enters it. The obligations that do apply — recover before opening, never vent — apply every time. Repeatedly recharging a known leaker is poor practice and hard to defend as good faith.

31. What is the maximum refrigerant charge for an appliance to qualify as a "small appliance" under Section 608?

  1. 5 pounds
  2. 2 pounds
  3. 10 pounds
  4. 50 pounds
Answer: A — 5 pounds
A small appliance holds five pounds or less of refrigerant and is manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory. Both halves of that definition matter — a five-pound charge assembled in the field is not a small appliance, and Type I does not cover it.

32. Which of these is NOT a small appliance?

  1. A household refrigerator
  2. A window air conditioner
  3. A residential split-system heat pump
  4. A vending machine
Answer: C — A residential split-system heat pump
A split system is charged and connected in the field, so it is neither factory-sealed nor a single hermetic unit, and its charge normally exceeds five pounds. Refrigerators, window units, and vending machines are all factory-sealed products under the limit.

33. Why does the small-appliance definition require factory charging and hermetic sealing?

  1. To simplify pricing
  2. To meet DOT rules
  3. Because a factory-sealed unit has no service valves, which is what makes the simplified recovery rules workable
  4. To reduce shipping weight
Answer: C — Because a factory-sealed unit has no service valves, which is what makes the simplified recovery rules workable
A sealed unit has no service ports, so the technician has to create access with a piercing or tapping valve. The recovery requirements in Type I are written around that reality — the evacuation levels and the passive-recovery allowances only make sense for equipment with no factory service connections.

34. A drinking-water cooler holds three pounds of R-134a and was sealed at the factory. Which certification covers servicing it?

  1. Type I
  2. Type II
  3. Type III
  4. No certification is needed
Answer: A — Type I
It meets both tests — five pounds or less and factory-sealed — so it is a small appliance and Type I applies. Type II covers high-pressure equipment above the small-appliance threshold and Type III covers low-pressure chillers.

35. Does the small-appliance category depend on the type of refrigerant in the unit?

  1. Yes, only CFCs qualify
  2. Yes, only HFCs qualify
  3. No — it depends on the charge size and how the unit was built
  4. Only for units over 1 pound
Answer: C — No — it depends on the charge size and how the unit was built
The definition turns on charge size and factory sealing, not on chemistry. A five-pound factory-sealed unit is a small appliance whether it holds R-12, R-134a, or R-600a, and the venting prohibition applies to it either way.

36. A packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) with a four-pound factory charge is being serviced. Is it a small appliance?

  1. No, PTACs are always Type II
  2. Only if it uses R-22
  3. Only if it is older than 1995
  4. Yes, if it was manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed at the factory
Answer: D — Yes, if it was manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed at the factory
A PTAC that arrives factory-charged and sealed with four pounds meets the definition. The label matters less than the two tests: charge at or below five pounds, and sealed in the factory rather than assembled and charged on site.

37. When recovering from a small appliance with a working compressor using self-contained equipment made on or after November 15, 1993, what recovery level is required?

  1. 80% of the charge
  2. 90% of the charge
  3. 99% of the charge
  4. 100% of the charge
Answer: A — 80% of the charge
Recovery equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993 must remove 90% of the charge when the appliance compressor works, and 80% when it does not. Older equipment is held to 80% in both cases. Getting these paired numbers straight is most of Type I.

38. Using recovery equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, what percentage of the charge must be recovered from a small appliance?

  1. 80%
  2. 90%
  3. 99%
  4. 100%
Answer: A — 80%
Pre-November 15, 1993 equipment is held to 80% recovery regardless of whether the appliance compressor runs. The two-tier 90%/80% split applies only to equipment manufactured on or after that date.

39. What recovery level applies when the small appliance compressor is not operating and the equipment was made after November 15, 1993?

  1. 80% of the charge
  2. 90% of the charge
  3. 95% of the charge
  4. No recovery is required
Answer: A — 80% of the charge
A dead compressor drops the requirement from 90% to 80%, because without the compressor there is far less to drive the refrigerant out. The alternative route to compliance is evacuating the appliance to four inches of mercury vacuum.

40. Instead of meeting a percentage, a technician may satisfy the small-appliance recovery requirement by evacuating to what vacuum?

  1. 4 inches of mercury vacuum
  2. 15 inches of mercury vacuum
  3. 500 microns
  4. 29 inches of mercury vacuum
Answer: A — 4 inches of mercury vacuum
Four inches of mercury vacuum is the alternative compliance path for small appliances. It is a shallow vacuum by servicing standards — nothing like the deep vacuum used for dehydration — because the point here is charge removal, not moisture removal.

41. Recovery equipment used on small appliances must be certified by an EPA-approved laboratory to meet which standard?

  1. The Type I recovery efficiency requirements
  2. AHRI 700
  3. ASHRAE 15
  4. DOT 4BA
Answer: A — The Type I recovery efficiency requirements
The laboratory certifies that the machine achieves the required recovery efficiency for small appliances. AHRI 700 is refrigerant purity, ASHRAE 15 is system safety, and DOT 4BA is a cylinder spec — none of them is the recovery-equipment standard.

42. Why does a warm small appliance give up its charge more readily during recovery?

  1. Higher temperature raises the internal pressure, increasing the differential driving refrigerant out
  2. Warm refrigerant is lighter
  3. Heat breaks down the oil
  4. It does not matter
Answer: A — Higher temperature raises the internal pressure, increasing the differential driving refrigerant out
Recovery runs on pressure difference. Warming the appliance raises its saturation pressure and pushes more refrigerant toward the lower-pressure recovery cylinder. Gentle warming and chilling the cylinder are the two standard ways to speed a stubborn small-appliance recovery.

43. What happens to recovery time if the recovery cylinder sits in direct sun on a hot day?

  1. It speeds up
  2. No change
  3. It slows down because the cylinder pressure rises and reduces the differential
  4. The refrigerant is ruined
Answer: C — It slows down because the cylinder pressure rises and reduces the differential
A hot cylinder sits at a higher pressure, so the machine must push against a bigger head and moves less refrigerant per minute. It is also an overfill risk, since the 80% limit exists to leave room for exactly that expansion.

44. System-dependent recovery may be used on which equipment?

  1. Any appliance under 50 pounds
  2. Any appliance with a working compressor
  3. Only low-pressure chillers
  4. Only small appliances
Answer: D — Only small appliances
Passive recovery is restricted to small appliances. It relies on the appliance\u2019s own compressor or its internal pressure to push refrigerant out, which is only adequate on a charge of five pounds or less in a factory-sealed unit.

45. In system-dependent recovery, what provides the motive force to move the refrigerant?

  1. The appliance\u2019s own compressor or its internal pressure
  2. The recovery machine\u2019s compressor
  3. A vacuum pump only
  4. Gravity alone
Answer: A — The appliance\u2019s own compressor or its internal pressure
Passive recovery has no pump of its own — it borrows the appliance\u2019s compressor or simply lets internal pressure push refrigerant into an evacuated container. That is exactly why it is limited to small appliances and why a dead compressor changes the procedure.

46. When using passive recovery on a small appliance with an inoperative compressor, what helps drive the refrigerant out?

  1. Running the compressor harder
  2. Adding nitrogen to the charge
  3. Accessing both the high and low side, and warming the appliance or striking the compressor housing to release trapped refrigerant
  4. Nothing can be done
Answer: C — Accessing both the high and low side, and warming the appliance or striking the compressor housing to release trapped refrigerant
With no compressor, you open both sides so refrigerant is not trapped behind a closed valve or a plugged capillary, and you encourage the remaining charge out with gentle heat or vibration. Adding nitrogen would contaminate the recovered refrigerant and is not a recovery technique.

47. A passive recovery device must be used with a container that is:

  1. Pressurised
  2. Open to atmosphere
  3. Filled with nitrogen
  4. Evacuated beforehand, so refrigerant flows into it
Answer: D — Evacuated beforehand, so refrigerant flows into it
Passive recovery works on a pressure difference, so the receiving container is evacuated first and the appliance pressure pushes refrigerant into it. A container at atmospheric pressure gives almost no differential, and one open to atmosphere would simply vent the charge.

48. Why is system-dependent recovery not permitted on an appliance with a burned-out compressor when using the compressor as the pump?

  1. A burned-out compressor cannot pump, so the alternative access and heating methods must be used instead
  2. It is permitted
  3. Burnouts release no refrigerant
  4. The refrigerant is destroyed
Answer: A — A burned-out compressor cannot pump, so the alternative access and heating methods must be used instead
If the compressor is the pump and the compressor is dead, there is nothing driving recovery. The procedure shifts to opening both sides and coaxing the charge out with heat or vibration, and the recovery requirement drops to 80% or four inches of mercury.

49. What is the main advantage of self-contained recovery equipment on small appliances?

  1. It is cheaper
  2. It requires no cylinder
  3. It has its own compressor, so it works regardless of the appliance compressor\u2019s condition and reaches the higher 90% level
  4. It needs no certification
Answer: C — It has its own compressor, so it works regardless of the appliance compressor\u2019s condition and reaches the higher 90% level
Active equipment brings its own pump, so a dead appliance compressor is no obstacle and the higher 90% recovery requirement is attainable. That independence is why most technicians carry a self-contained machine rather than relying on passive devices.

50. Self-contained recovery equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993 and used on small appliances must recover what share of the charge from an appliance with a working compressor?

  1. 80%
  2. 99%
  3. 95%
  4. 90%
Answer: D — 90%
Ninety percent is the requirement when the appliance compressor operates. The figure drops to 80% when it does not, and both apply only to equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993.

51. Before connecting self-contained recovery equipment that last handled a different refrigerant, a technician should:

  1. Follow the manufacturer\u2019s changeover procedure to clear residual refrigerant and oil
  2. Nothing special
  3. Add fresh refrigerant
  4. Bypass the filter
Answer: A — Follow the manufacturer\u2019s changeover procedure to clear residual refrigerant and oil
Residual refrigerant and oil inside the machine will cross-contaminate the next recovery, which can render a cylinder unsaleable and risks charging a system with an unknown mixture. Manufacturers publish an evacuate-and-purge changeover, usually with a filter change.

52. What does the recovery machine\u2019s low-pressure cutout protect against?

  1. Overcharging the cylinder
  2. Overheating the refrigerant
  3. The machine running on after the appliance is empty and pulling itself into a damaging deep vacuum
  4. Leaks in the hose
Answer: C — The machine running on after the appliance is empty and pulling itself into a damaging deep vacuum
Once the appliance is empty the machine has nothing to draw, and continuing to run it can damage the compressor and, on some designs, pull air past seals into the recovered charge. The cutout stops it at a set pressure.

53. What is the purpose of a piercing (saddle) valve on a small appliance?

  1. To measure superheat
  2. To braze a joint
  3. To relieve pressure to atmosphere
  4. To create a service access point on tubing that has no factory service port
Answer: D — To create a service access point on tubing that has no factory service port
Factory-sealed appliances ship with no service valves, so the technician has to create access. A saddle valve clamps to the tubing and pierces it, giving a port for recovery gauges. It is an access method, not a permanent repair.

54. Why are bolt-on piercing valves considered unsuitable as a permanent installation?

  1. Their gaskets commonly leak over time
  2. They are too expensive
  3. They are illegal
  4. They cannot be removed
Answer: A — Their gaskets commonly leak over time
The rubber gasket that seals a saddle valve against the tubing degrades and leaks, so a valve left on becomes a chronic leak source. Good practice is to recover through it, then remove it and braze the tubing, or fit a proper brazed process tube.

55. After recovery through an access fitting, the preferred way to close a small-appliance tube is:

  1. Leave the piercing valve in place
  2. Wrap it with tape
  3. Pinch it off and braze the end closed
  4. Cap the piercing valve
Answer: C — Pinch it off and braze the end closed
A pinched and brazed tube is a permanent, leak-free closure. Caps and left-in-place saddle valves both rely on gaskets and threads that eventually leak, which is why the brazed pinch-off is the standard finish.

56. Before brazing near a small-appliance sealed system, a technician must:

  1. Pressurise with oxygen
  2. Do nothing special
  3. Add extra oil
  4. Recover the refrigerant first, because heating refrigerant produces toxic decomposition products
Answer: D — Recover the refrigerant first, because heating refrigerant produces toxic decomposition products
Heating refrigerant produces acid gases and, from chlorinated refrigerants, phosgene. Recovery comes first, then a nitrogen purge while brazing to prevent internal oxidation. Oxygen must never be used to pressurise — it reacts explosively with refrigerant oil.

57. Why is the tubing on a small appliance often described as fragile during service access?

  1. It is thin-walled and easily kinked or crushed, which restricts flow and can trap the charge
  2. It is made of plastic
  3. It is always aluminium
  4. It is under vacuum
Answer: A — It is thin-walled and easily kinked or crushed, which restricts flow and can trap the charge
Small-appliance tubing is thin-walled to keep cost and charge down. A kink from a clamp or a careless bend restricts flow, traps refrigerant behind the restriction, and can make the recovery percentage impossible to reach.

58. A capillary-tube system is being recovered. Why open both the high and low sides where possible?

  1. To speed up the process only
  2. To check superheat
  3. Because a capillary can restrict flow and leave refrigerant trapped on one side
  4. To add oil
Answer: C — Because a capillary can restrict flow and leave refrigerant trapped on one side
A capillary is a deliberate restriction, and during recovery it slows equalisation to a crawl. Opening both sides gives the refrigerant a direct path out of each half of the system instead of forcing it through the capillary.

59. Why must a technician never use a torch on a sealed system still containing refrigerant?

  1. It wastes fuel
  2. It is permitted
  3. It discolours the copper
  4. Refrigerant decomposes into toxic and corrosive gases, and trapped pressure can rupture the tubing
Answer: D — Refrigerant decomposes into toxic and corrosive gases, and trapped pressure can rupture the tubing
Two hazards stack: the refrigerant breaks down into acid gases and phosgene, and a sealed system heated with a charge inside is a pressure vessel being weakened. Recovery first removes both risks.

60. What hazard arises from a small appliance that has been charged with a flammable hydrocarbon such as R-600a?

  1. Ignition risk during service, so ignition sources must be controlled and the correct procedures followed
  2. None, hydrocarbons are inert
  3. It cannot be recovered
  4. It has high ODP
Answer: A — Ignition risk during service, so ignition sources must be controlled and the correct procedures followed
Isobutane (R-600a) is an A3 — highly flammable — and is common in newer household refrigerators. The charge is small, but service requires ignition-source control, adequate ventilation, and recovery equipment rated for flammable refrigerant.

61. How can you tell whether a household refrigerator contains a flammable refrigerant before servicing it?

  1. By its colour
  2. By smell
  3. From the data plate and any flammable-refrigerant warning label on the unit
  4. You cannot tell
Answer: C — From the data plate and any flammable-refrigerant warning label on the unit
The data plate states the refrigerant, and units charged with A3 refrigerants carry a flammability marking. Reading it before opening anything is the whole of the precaution — assuming R-134a on an appliance charged with R-600a is how ignitions happen.

62. What is the risk of overfilling a recovery cylinder when recovering many small appliances in sequence?

  1. Nothing, cylinders are strong
  2. Loss of certification
  3. Slower recovery only
  4. Hydraulic rupture, because liquid cannot compress and expands with temperature
Answer: D — Hydraulic rupture, because liquid cannot compress and expands with temperature
Past the 80% fill point there is no vapour space left to absorb liquid expansion, and a modest temperature rise then generates extreme pressure. Weighing the cylinder rather than trusting a gauge is the control, and the tare weight is stamped on the collar.

63. Why should a technician avoid breathing the vapour when a small appliance is opened in a confined space?

  1. Refrigerant displaces oxygen and can cause asphyxiation without warning
  2. It smells bad
  3. It causes immediate blindness
  4. It is flammable in all cases
Answer: A — Refrigerant displaces oxygen and can cause asphyxiation without warning
Most refrigerants are heavier than air and accumulate low in an enclosed space, pushing oxygen out. There is no reliable warning before the effects start, which is why ventilation is the control rather than relying on smell.

64. Liquid refrigerant contacting skin causes what injury?

  1. A chemical burn from acid
  2. Nothing
  3. Frostbite, because the liquid boils far below freezing at atmospheric pressure
  4. An allergic rash
Answer: C — Frostbite, because the liquid boils far below freezing at atmospheric pressure
At atmospheric pressure common refrigerants boil well below freezing, so a splash takes heat out of tissue fast enough to freeze it. Gloves that liquid cannot soak through, and eye protection, are the minimum for handling liquid.

65. Who must ensure refrigerant is recovered from a small appliance before it is scrapped?

  1. The original purchaser
  2. No one
  3. The manufacturer
  4. The final person in the disposal chain, unless they hold signed verification that recovery already occurred
Answer: D — The final person in the disposal chain, unless they hold signed verification that recovery already occurred
The rule puts the duty on the last handler — the scrap yard or recycler — but lets them discharge it with a signed statement that a certified technician already recovered the charge. Without that statement the final handler carries the violation.

66. What must a signed recovery verification statement include?

  1. Identification of the appliance and a statement that refrigerant was recovered, signed by a responsible party
  2. Only a date
  3. The purchase price
  4. The technician\u2019s home address
Answer: A — Identification of the appliance and a statement that refrigerant was recovered, signed by a responsible party
The statement has to identify what was recovered from and assert that recovery happened, with a signature that makes someone accountable. It is the document that transfers liability, so a vague or unsigned note does not do the job.

67. How long should verification records for disposed small appliances be kept?

  1. 30 days
  2. 1 year
  3. 3 years
  4. They need not be kept
Answer: C — 3 years
Three years is the general retention period for Section 608 records, verification statements included. They are what an inspector asks for, and the absence of one puts the burden back on the final handler.

68. A scrap dealer receives refrigerators with no verification statements. What should they do?

  1. Crush them anyway
  2. Vent the charge and document it
  3. Recover the refrigerant themselves using a certified technician, or refuse the load until verification is provided
  4. Nothing — liability sits upstream
Answer: C — Recover the refrigerant themselves using a certified technician, or refuse the load until verification is provided
Absent verification, the duty lands on the dealer as the final handler. They either arrange recovery by a certified technician or decline the load. Crushing a charged appliance is a venting violation and the enforcement exposure is theirs.

69. Does the recovery obligation apply to a small appliance that the owner believes is already empty?

  1. No, empty appliances are exempt
  2. Only for CFC units
  3. Only for units over 2 pounds
  4. Yes — recovery or verified evacuation is still required, because a belief is not a measurement
Answer: D — Yes — recovery or verified evacuation is still required, because a belief is not a measurement
A system can hold a partial charge with almost no gauge pressure showing, especially in cold ambient. The obligation is discharged by actually recovering or by holding verification, not by an assumption that the unit leaked out years ago.

70. Are small appliances subject to the leak repair requirements that apply to larger appliances?

  1. Yes, at a 10% annual leak rate
  2. Yes, at a 35% annual leak rate
  3. No — the leak repair provisions apply to appliances with a charge above the small-appliance threshold
  4. Only if they contain R-22
Answer: C — No — the leak repair provisions apply to appliances with a charge above the small-appliance threshold
The leak repair regime is written for appliances holding more than fifty pounds, so small appliances fall outside it entirely. The venting prohibition, recovery requirements, and technician certification still apply to them — the exemption is narrow and specific.

71. A five-pound sealed appliance leaks its whole charge over a year. What does the owner owe under the leak repair rule?

  1. A 30-day repair
  2. A leak-rate calculation and follow-up verification
  3. Nothing under the leak repair rule, because small appliances are outside it
  4. An immediate retrofit
Answer: C — Nothing under the leak repair rule, because small appliances are outside it
The leak repair provisions have a charge threshold that a five-pound appliance does not reach, so none of the calculation, repair-deadline, or verification obligations attach. Recovering the remaining charge before service or disposal is still required.

72. Why does the rule set a charge threshold before leak repair obligations attach?

  1. The provisions target the appliances where leakage represents a significant emission and where repair is economically practical
  2. Small systems never leak
  3. To protect manufacturers
  4. It is arbitrary
Answer: A — The provisions target the appliances where leakage represents a significant emission and where repair is economically practical
The threshold aims the regime at the equipment where leaks release meaningful quantities and where tracking and repair make sense. That is a judgement about where the emissions are, not a statement that small systems are leak-proof.

73. A technician finds a leak on a small appliance during service. What is good practice even though the leak repair rule does not apply?

  1. Recharge and say nothing
  2. Vent and replace the unit
  3. Recover the charge, repair the leak or advise replacement, and avoid knowingly recharging a leaking system
  4. Add stop-leak and recharge
Answer: C — Recover the charge, repair the leak or advise replacement, and avoid knowingly recharging a leaking system
Repeatedly topping up a known leaker means repeatedly releasing refrigerant, which runs straight into the venting prohibition even where the leak repair provisions do not reach. Recovering, repairing or recommending replacement is both the lawful and the honest route.

74. A residential dehumidifier is factory-sealed with a 1.5-pound charge. Which section covers it?

  1. Type I
  2. Type II
  3. Type III
  4. None
Answer: A — Type I
It is factory-charged, hermetically sealed, and well under five pounds, so it is a small appliance and Type I applies. Dehumidifiers, like window units and water coolers, sit squarely in this category.

75. Does a unit\u2019s age affect whether it is a small appliance?

  1. Yes, only pre-1995 units qualify
  2. Yes, only post-2000 units qualify
  3. No — the test is charge size and factory sealing
  4. Only for CFC units
Answer: C — No — the test is charge size and factory sealing
Age plays no part. A 1988 refrigerator and a 2026 one are both small appliances if they were factory-charged and sealed at five pounds or less. What changes with age is the refrigerant inside, not the category.

76. An ice machine holds six pounds of R-404A and was factory sealed. Is it a small appliance?

  1. Yes, ice machines always are
  2. Only if it is a countertop model
  3. Yes, if under 10 pounds
  4. No — the charge exceeds five pounds
Answer: D — No — the charge exceeds five pounds
Six pounds is over the threshold, so it falls outside the small-appliance definition no matter that it was factory sealed. It is a high-pressure appliance, and servicing it calls for Type II.

77. A technician recovers 4.6 pounds from a 5-pound small appliance with a working compressor using 2015 equipment. Is the requirement met?

  1. No, 100% is required
  2. Yes — 4.6 of 5 pounds is 92%, above the 90% requirement
  3. No, 95% is required
  4. Only if evacuated to 4 inches Hg as well
Answer: B — Yes — 4.6 of 5 pounds is 92%, above the 90% requirement
Ninety-two percent clears the 90% requirement that applies to post-November 1993 equipment on an appliance whose compressor runs. The four-inch-of-mercury route is an alternative to the percentage, not an additional hurdle.

78. Which factor does NOT change the required small-appliance recovery percentage?

  1. Whether the appliance compressor operates
  2. The refrigerant type in the appliance
  3. The manufacture date of the recovery equipment
  4. Neither the compressor nor equipment date
Answer: B — The refrigerant type in the appliance
The two variables in the rule are the compressor\u2019s condition and whether the recovery equipment was made before or on/after November 15, 1993. Refrigerant chemistry does not move the percentage, though it certainly affects handling and safety.

79. Why is four inches of mercury a shallow vacuum compared with a dehydration vacuum?

  1. It is actually deeper
  2. Dehydration targets a few hundred microns to boil off moisture, far deeper than four inches of mercury
  3. They are identical
  4. Four inches of mercury is measured differently
Answer: B — Dehydration targets a few hundred microns to boil off moisture, far deeper than four inches of mercury
Four inches of mercury is only a modest reduction below atmospheric, adequate for pulling out most of a charge. Boiling water out of a system needs a few hundred microns — a vastly deeper vacuum measured on a different instrument entirely.

80. What should a technician do if the recovery machine stops pulling before the required level is reached?

  1. Vent the remainder
  2. Add nitrogen
  3. Record it as complete
  4. Check for restrictions, trapped refrigerant, a saturated filter, or a cylinder at too high a pressure
Answer: D — Check for restrictions, trapped refrigerant, a saturated filter, or a cylinder at too high a pressure
A stall almost always has a physical cause: a kinked tube, refrigerant trapped behind a capillary, a loaded filter-drier, or a warm cylinder raising the discharge pressure. Venting the remainder to finish the job is a violation.

81. Recovering liquid rather than vapour from a small appliance is generally:

  1. Impossible on sealed systems
  2. Faster, where the equipment and access allow it
  3. Prohibited
  4. Only for Type III
Answer: B — Faster, where the equipment and access allow it
Liquid carries far more mass per unit volume, so pulling liquid first moves the bulk of the charge quickly and leaves only vapour for the slow tail of the recovery. On many small appliances access limits this, but where it is possible it is the faster route.

82. A system-dependent recovery setup uses which component to trap refrigerant?

  1. A pressurised tank
  2. An evacuated non-pressurised container
  3. An open bucket
  4. The appliance itself
Answer: B — An evacuated non-pressurised container
The receiving container is evacuated so appliance pressure drives refrigerant into it. Presenting a pressurised container would leave no differential, and an open container would simply vent the charge to atmosphere.

83. Passive recovery on an operating small appliance typically uses the compressor to:

  1. Cool the cylinder
  2. Measure the charge
  3. Heat the refrigerant
  4. Pump refrigerant from the low side toward the access point and out to the container
Answer: D — Pump refrigerant from the low side toward the access point and out to the container
The appliance compressor is doing the work a recovery machine would otherwise do, pushing refrigerant toward the access fitting. Once the compressor stops being able to pump — or was never working — the technique shifts to heat and vibration.

84. Why is passive recovery slower than active recovery?

  1. The hoses are smaller
  2. It depends on the appliance\u2019s own limited pressure or compressor rather than a dedicated pump
  3. It uses no cylinder
  4. It is not slower
Answer: B — It depends on the appliance\u2019s own limited pressure or compressor rather than a dedicated pump
A dedicated recovery compressor is sized for the job and can generate a much larger pressure differential than a small appliance can produce on its own. Passive recovery works, but on the appliance\u2019s terms rather than the technician\u2019s.

85. Self-contained recovery equipment used on small appliances must still be:

  1. Manufactured before 1993
  2. Certified by an EPA-approved laboratory
  3. Rated for 50 pounds
  4. Owned by the appliance owner
Answer: B — Certified by an EPA-approved laboratory
Certification by an EPA-approved laboratory applies to the equipment model regardless of appliance size, and the label on the machine is the evidence. Being self-contained changes the recovery percentage available, not the certification requirement.

86. A recovery machine\u2019s throughput on small appliances is most limited by:

  1. Cylinder colour
  2. The refrigerant\u2019s ODP
  3. Ambient humidity
  4. Hose length and diameter, and the pressure differential between appliance and cylinder
Answer: D — Hose length and diameter, and the pressure differential between appliance and cylinder
Long, thin hoses throttle flow and a warm cylinder reduces the differential the machine works across. Short, large-diameter hoses and a cool cylinder are the two cheapest ways to shorten a recovery.

87. After recovery is complete, the recovery machine should be:

  1. Left connected under vacuum
  2. Purged of refrigerant per the manufacturer\u2019s instructions before storage
  3. Filled with nitrogen and sealed
  4. Drained of oil into the cylinder
Answer: B — Purged of refrigerant per the manufacturer\u2019s instructions before storage
Refrigerant left inside the machine cross-contaminates the next job and is refrigerant you have not accounted for. Manufacturers specify a self-clearing or purge cycle at the end of recovery for exactly this reason.

88. A process tube on a hermetic compressor is normally used for:

  1. Mounting the unit
  2. Factory charging, and later for service access and pinch-off
  3. Draining oil
  4. Electrical ground
Answer: B — Factory charging, and later for service access and pinch-off
The process tube is how the factory evacuated and charged the unit, and it is the natural service access afterwards. Recovering through it and then pinching and brazing it closed avoids adding a saddle valve that will eventually leak.

89. Why braze rather than solder a small-appliance refrigerant joint?

  1. Solder is illegal
  2. There is no difference
  3. Solder is more expensive
  4. Brazing alloys give a stronger, higher-temperature joint suited to system pressures
Answer: D — Brazing alloys give a stronger, higher-temperature joint suited to system pressures
Brazing filler metals melt above 840°F and produce a joint that holds refrigerant pressure over the life of the appliance. Soft solder is far weaker and can creep or fail under operating pressure and vibration.

90. Flowing dry nitrogen through tubing while brazing prevents:

  1. Frostbite
  2. Internal oxidation that sheds scale and plugs the metering device
  3. Leaks at the joint
  4. Overheating the filler
Answer: B — Internal oxidation that sheds scale and plugs the metering device
Heating copper in air forms a black oxide scale on the inside that flakes loose and lodges in the capillary or expansion valve. A low-flow nitrogen purge displaces the oxygen so the inside of the tube stays clean.

91. A saddle valve installed years ago is found leaking on a service call. Best practice is to:

  1. Tighten it
  2. Recover the charge, remove the valve, and braze the tubing properly
  3. Add sealant
  4. Paint over it
Answer: B — Recover the charge, remove the valve, and braze the tubing properly
The gasket is the failure point and tightening buys little time. Recovering, removing the valve, and making a brazed repair turns a recurring leak into a permanent fix — and stops the repeated releases a chronic leaker produces.

92. Before opening a sealed system, a technician should verify:

  1. The warranty status
  2. The serial number only
  3. The paint colour
  4. That the charge has been recovered and the system is not under pressure
Answer: D — That the charge has been recovered and the system is not under pressure
Cutting into a pressurised system sprays liquid refrigerant and can whip the tubing. Confirming recovery and that the system sits at or near atmospheric pressure is the check that prevents both the injury and the venting violation.

93. Safety glasses are required when servicing small appliances mainly because:

  1. Dust is common
  2. Liquid refrigerant can splash and cause immediate eye injury by freezing tissue
  3. Of bright light from brazing only
  4. Of noise
Answer: B — Liquid refrigerant can splash and cause immediate eye injury by freezing tissue
A liquid splash into an eye freezes tissue instantly and can cause permanent damage. Brazing adds its own need for eye protection, but the refrigerant splash risk is present from the moment gauges go on.

94. What is the correct response to a refrigerant vapour release in a small enclosed room?

  1. Continue working
  2. Ventilate the area and leave until it clears
  3. Light a match to test for it
  4. Open a window and keep brazing
Answer: B — Ventilate the area and leave until it clears
Refrigerant vapour pools low and displaces oxygen, and an open flame turns it into acid gases and phosgene. Ventilating and clearing the space is the response; introducing an ignition source is the opposite of one.

95. Recovery cylinders used on small-appliance work must be:

  1. Any container that holds pressure
  2. Plastic
  3. Open-topped
  4. DOT-approved, within their hydrostatic test date, and filled to no more than 80% by weight
Answer: D — DOT-approved, within their hydrostatic test date, and filled to no more than 80% by weight
Only DOT-approved cylinders inside their five-year retest interval may be filled, and the 80% limit leaves the vapour space that absorbs liquid expansion. Improvised containers have no relief device and no pressure rating.

96. Which party most often ends up holding the recovery obligation for discarded household refrigerators?

  1. The homeowner
  2. The final person in the disposal chain, such as the scrap processor, absent verification
  3. The utility
  4. The manufacturer
Answer: B — The final person in the disposal chain, such as the scrap processor, absent verification
Appliances change hands several times on the way to scrap, and the rule fixes the duty at the end of that chain unless a signed verification travels with the unit. Processors therefore either recover themselves or insist on the paperwork.

97. Utility appliance-recycling programs typically satisfy the rule by:

  1. Venting in a controlled way
  2. Using certified technicians to recover refrigerant and documenting it before the unit is crushed
  3. Crushing units quickly
  4. Exempting themselves
Answer: B — Using certified technicians to recover refrigerant and documenting it before the unit is crushed
These programs recover the charge with certified technicians and keep the documentation, which is what lets the unit be crushed lawfully. There is no controlled-venting allowance — the venting prohibition has no volume or programme exemption.

98. A verification statement should be retained by:

  1. The technician only
  2. Nobody
  3. The refrigerant supplier
  4. The final disposer, as their evidence that recovery occurred
Answer: D — The final disposer, as their evidence that recovery occurred
The statement exists to protect the final handler, so it is theirs to keep for the retention period. A copy in the technician\u2019s file is sensible, but the party who needs to produce it on demand is the one who would otherwise carry the violation.

99. Small appliances are exempt from leak repair requirements but NOT from:

  1. Any Section 608 requirement
  2. The venting prohibition, recovery requirements, and technician certification
  3. DOT cylinder rules only
  4. Safety rules only
Answer: B — The venting prohibition, recovery requirements, and technician certification
The exemption is narrow: it lifts the leak-rate calculation and repair-deadline regime, nothing else. Venting remains illegal, recovery before service or disposal remains required, and the technician still has to be certified.

100. Why can repeatedly recharging a leaking small appliance still create liability?

  1. It cannot
  2. Each recharge replaces refrigerant that escaped, and knowingly allowing repeated releases runs into the venting prohibition
  3. Only if over 5 pounds
  4. Only for CFCs
Answer: B — Each recharge replaces refrigerant that escaped, and knowingly allowing repeated releases runs into the venting prohibition
The leak repair rule may not reach a five-pound unit, but the venting prohibition does. Topping up a system you know is leaking means knowingly putting refrigerant into the atmosphere on a schedule, which is the conduct the prohibition targets.
Other Sections
Keep Practicing
Practice Test

EPA 608 Core

Refrigerant fundamentals, regulations, safety, and recovery practice.

100 questions
Practice Test

EPA 608 Type II

High-pressure and very high-pressure appliances — residential and commercial AC, heat pumps, and refrigeration.

100 questions
Practice Test

EPA 608 Type III

Low-pressure appliances — centrifugal chillers operating below atmospheric pressure.

100 questions
Full Exam

EPA 608 Universal

All four sections in one 100-question attempt, scored section by section.

100 questions

Read the full EPA 608 certification guide for exam costs, testing organizations, and how to choose between Type I, II, III, and Universal.

FAQ
EPA 608 Type I Questions
How many questions are on the EPA 608 Type I exam?
The Type I section is 25 multiple-choice questions. 25 multiple-choice questions taken with Core. 70% passes. Type I is the only section some certifying organizations also offer as a mail-in, non-proctored exam.
What score do I need to pass EPA 608 Type I?
You need 70% — 18 of 25 questions — to pass. Each section is scored independently, so passing Core does not offset a failing Type I score, and you must pass both to be certified for type i work.
Who needs EPA 608 Type I certification?
Appliance repair technicians, and anyone servicing window units, household refrigerators, vending machines, or water coolers. Small appliances — factory-sealed systems holding 5 pounds of refrigerant or less.
Is this practice test the real EPA 608 exam?
No. This is free study material written from the published rule in 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F — it does not reproduce exam content. The real exam is proctored and administered by an EPA-approved certifying organization, and it is open-book, so bring your study guide.
Does EPA 608 Type I certification expire?
No. Section 608 certification is issued for life under the current rule. There is no renewal requirement and no continuing education, though you must keep proof of certification at your place of business.
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