EPA 608 Type I Study Guide (Small Appliances)

Type I covers small appliances: equipment manufactured, charged and hermetically sealed at the factory with 5 lb or less of refrigerant. Think household refrigerators and freezers, window AC units, dehumidifiers, water coolers and vending machines. You also need to pass Core.

What counts as a small appliance

• Factory sealed, 5 lb or less.
• Not small appliances: split systems charged in the field, even small ones, and motor vehicle AC (that's Section 609).

Recovery requirements (memorize these)

For recovery equipment made after November 15, 1993:

Equipment made before November 15, 1993 must recover 80% or reach 4 in. Hg vacuum.

Recovery equipment types

• Self-contained (active): has its own compressor and pushes refrigerant into a pressurized recovery cylinder. Works with a dead or working appliance compressor.
• System-dependent (passive): relies on the appliance's own compressor or pressure, and captures refrigerant in a non-pressurized container (such as a recovery bag). Only allowed for small appliances.

Tips for a dead compressor with passive recovery:

• Install access fittings on both the high and low sides.
• Heat and tap the compressor to release refrigerant trapped in the oil.
• Use a vacuum pump to help pull the remaining refrigerant into the container.

Access fittings

• Piercing (line tap) valves are common on small appliances. They tend to leak over time.
• Leak test them, and remove or replace them with proper fittings when service is done.

Know the refrigerant before you recover

• Read the nameplate. Don't mix refrigerants in a recovery cylinder; mixed refrigerant can't be reclaimed easily.
• Some very old appliances used sulfur dioxide, methyl formate or ammonia. These are toxic and corrosive and are not recovered with standard equipment. Follow safety procedures.
• A burned-out compressor leaves acid in the oil and a strong odor. Wear protective gear and clean the system before recharging.

Disposal

The person taking the last step in the disposal chain (often a scrap recycler or landfill) must make sure the refrigerant was recovered, usually by getting a signed statement that includes who recovered it and when.

Quick review

• 5 lb or less, factory sealed.
• 90% (working compressor) or 80% (not working), or 4 in. Hg vacuum, for equipment after Nov 15, 1993.
• Passive recovery: non-pressurized container, both sides accessed, heat and tap the compressor.
• Leak test piercing valves; remove them after service.