313D Refrigerant Handling and Recovery 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under EPA Section 608, what is the maximum allowable leak rate for a residential comfort cooling system containing 50 or more pounds of refrigerant before repair is required?
- 5% per year
- 10% per year
- 15% per year (Correct answer)
- 20% per year
Correct answer: 15% per year
EPA Section 608 sets the leak rate threshold for comfort cooling appliances at 15% of the total charge per year before a repair is mandated.
Question 2: Which refrigerant cylinder color code is used to identify R-410A?
- Sky blue
- Rose/pink (Correct answer)
- Orange
- Tan/beige
Correct answer: Rose/pink
R-410A cylinders are color-coded rose/pink per ARI Standard 700 to distinguish them from other refrigerants.
Question 3: A technician recovers refrigerant into a recovery cylinder that is already at 80% liquid capacity. What should be done next?
- Continue recovery — 80% is safe for most cylinders
- Stop recovery and use a new or properly sized cylinder (Correct answer)
- Vent the vapor space to make room
- Heat the cylinder to compress the liquid further
Correct answer: Stop recovery and use a new or properly sized cylinder
Recovery cylinders must never be filled beyond 80% liquid capacity to allow for thermal expansion and prevent dangerous pressure buildup.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of the desiccant filter-drier in a recovery machine?
- To cool the recovered refrigerant before storage
- To remove moisture and contaminants from recovered refrigerant (Correct answer)
- To boost the pressure of low-pressure refrigerants
- To separate oil from the recovered refrigerant vapor
Correct answer: To remove moisture and contaminants from recovered refrigerant
The filter-drier in a recovery machine removes moisture and particulate contaminants to protect the machine's compressor and valves.
Question 5: Which of the following refrigerants is classified as an A2L (mildly flammable) refrigerant?
- R-22
- R-410A
- R-32 (Correct answer)
- R-134a
Correct answer: R-32
R-32 is classified A2L — lower flammability limit above 3.5% by volume and a burning velocity ≤10 cm/s — unlike the A1 refrigerants R-22 and R-410A.
Question 6: When recovering refrigerant from a system with a known motor burn, the technician should use:
- Standard recovery equipment with a new filter-drier after recovery
- Recovery equipment equipped with an acid-rated filter to capture contaminants (Correct answer)
- A direct-connect hose to the recovery cylinder only — no machine needed
- The existing system compressor to push refrigerant into recovery cylinders
Correct answer: Recovery equipment equipped with an acid-rated filter to capture contaminants
Acid-laden refrigerant from a burned compressor requires an acid-rated filter in the recovery machine to protect its components and prevent cross-contamination.
Question 7: According to EPA regulations, technicians must keep records of refrigerant recovery for commercial appliances containing more than how many pounds of refrigerant?
- 5 pounds
- 15 pounds
- 20 pounds (Correct answer)
- 50 pounds
Correct answer: 20 pounds
EPA Section 608 requires that service records be kept for appliances containing more than 20 pounds of refrigerant, documenting the amount recovered and disposed of.
313D Refrigerant Handling and Recovery 2
Under EPA Section 608, what is the maximum allowable leak rate for a residential comfort cooling system containing 50 or more pounds of refrigerant before repair is required?