EPA 609 Refrigerant Recovery & Recycling 2

Question 1

What type of container must recovered refrigerant be stored in?

Accepted Answer

DOT-approved recovery cylinders that are clearly labeled

Answer

Recovered refrigerant must be stored in DOT-approved recovery cylinders that are properly labeled with the refrigerant type and recovery date.

Question 2

Can R-134a and R-12 be mixed in the same recovery cylinder?

Accepted Answer

No — different refrigerants must NEVER be mixed

Answer

Mixing refrigerants creates a contaminated blend that is extremely difficult to separate and reclaim, and may damage the reclaimer's equipment.

Question 3

What must technicians do if they discover that a vehicle's A/C system contains a refrigerant other than what is labeled?

Accepted Answer

Recover it into a separate cylinder for contaminated refrigerant

Answer

Unknown or mixed refrigerants must be recovered into a dedicated 'contaminated' or 'unknown' cylinder to prevent cross-contamination.

Question 4

Recovery cylinders must be checked and retired when they reach:

Accepted Answer

Their retest date or show signs of damage/corrosion

Answer

DOT recovery cylinders must be hydrostatically retested periodically (typically every 5 years) and retired if damaged or past their retest date.

Question 5

The maximum fill level for refrigerant recovery cylinders is:

Accepted Answer

80% of water capacity by weight

Answer

Recovery cylinders must never be filled beyond 80% of their water capacity by weight to allow for refrigerant expansion.

EPA 609 - EPA Section 609 Refrigerant Certification Practice Test