5.10 - Quick Reference

Module: Recovery Recycling Reclaiming Evacuation and Dehydration
Covers: Sections 5.1–5.9
Regulatory verification date: August 9, 2026
Use: Rapid review before the Module 5 practice questions and later Core/Universal certification review

1. Recover Recycle and Reclaim

The Three Rs

Three-Word Memory Aid

RECOVER → REMOVE
RECYCLE → CLEAN
RECLAIM → VERIFY

Ownership Rule

Same owner
→ recovered and/or recycled refrigerant may be reused
→ reclamation is not required solely because of that reuse

New owner
→ used refrigerant generally must be reclaimed
→ before sale or transfer for use as refrigerant

High-Priority Reminders

• Recovery does not automatically clean refrigerant.
• Recycling does not automatically make refrigerant reclaimed.
• Reclamation requires:
  • Applicable purity specifications.
  • Analytical verification.
  • An EPA-certified refrigerant reclaimer.
• A field refrigerant identifier does not prove reclamation purity.
• Same-owner reuse does not make mixed or contaminated refrigerant technically acceptable.
• For current Section 608 regulatory purposes, the reclamation purity framework incorporated into the rule is based on AHRI Standard 700-2016.

2. Recovery Equipment Categories

System-Dependent Versus Self-Contained

Memory Aid

SYSTEM-DEPENDENT
→ Appliance helps

SELF-CONTAINED
→ Recovery machine can work independently

Important Conditions

• A functional appliance compressor may be part of a system-dependent recovery method.
• Refrigerant pressure or pressure difference may also drive system-dependent recovery.
• A self-contained recovery machine commonly has its own refrigerant-moving mechanism.
• A failed appliance compressor can prevent a method that depends on that compressor.
• A recovery cylinder stores refrigerant; it is not itself the recovery machine.
• A vacuum pump is not a general-purpose refrigerant recovery machine.

15-lb Limitation

Appliance full charge > 15 lb
→ ordinary system-dependent recovery equipment prohibited

Exception:

System-dependent equipment permanently attached
as an appliance pump-out unit
→ specific exception may apply

The 15-lb threshold is based on the appliance full charge, not the amount of refrigerant remaining after a leak.

3. Recovery Equipment Certification and Service Access

Technician Versus Equipment Certification

Technician certification
→ person

Recovery-equipment certification
→ equipment model

Approved Testing Organizations

EPA currently identifies:

• AHRI
• UL

as approved recovery-equipment testing organizations.

Important Equipment Dates

Current-Generation Equipment Reminder

2017+ non-flammable refrigerants
→ Appendix B3
→ AHRI 740-2016

2017+ flammable refrigerants
→ Appendix B4
→ AHRI 740-2016
+
applicable UL 1963 safety provisions

Small-Appliance Recovery Reminder

For recovery equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993:

Functional compressor
→ recover 90%

Nonfunctional compressor
→ recover 80%

Alternative:

Evacuate small appliance to 4 in. Hg vacuum

For recovery equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993:

Recover 80%

Service-Access Terms

Equipment-Use Rule

Use recovery and recycling equipment according to the manufacturer’s directions unless those directions conflict with federal requirements.

Do not assume equipment certified for one refrigerant or safety class is automatically suitable for another.

4. Recovery Preparation

Pre-Recovery Sequence

Identify refrigerant
→ prevent mixing
→ select compatible recovery equipment
→ inspect machine
→ check oil when applicable
→ check filters and hoses
→ select recovery cylinder
→ confirm available cylinder capacity
→ evacuate empty cylinder when required
→ connect hoses correctly
→ perform safety check
→ begin recovery

Before Refrigerant Moves

Confirm:

• Correct refrigerant identification.
• Compatible recovery equipment.
• Suitable recovery cylinder.
• Sufficient cylinder capacity by weight.
• Correct hose and fitting condition.
• Correct machine-oil condition when applicable.
• Filters are not creating excessive restriction.
• Connections are tight and arranged according to the equipment manufacturer.
• Different refrigerants will not be mixed unintentionally.

Standard Manifold Color Reminder

BLUE
→ low-side access
→ low / left manifold port

RED
→ high-side access
→ high / right manifold port

YELLOW
→ center / service port

Typical Self-Contained Recovery Path

Appliance
→ manifold / service connection
→ recovery-machine inlet
→ recovery-machine outlet
→ recovery cylinder

Always follow the recovery-machine manufacturer’s actual connection diagram.

5. Recovery Methods and Recovery Speed

Normal Recovery Principle

Recover accessible bulk liquid first
→ recover remaining vapor

Liquid recovery is generally faster because more refrigerant mass can be moved per unit volume.

Factors That Increase Recovery Speed

Shorter hoses
+
larger practical hose diameter
+
fewer restrictions
+
appropriate high-side and low-side access

Temperature Effects

Cold appliance
→ lower refrigerant vapor pressure
→ slower recovery

Hot recovery cylinder
→ higher cylinder pressure
→ higher discharge back pressure
→ slower recovery

Refrigerant in Oil

Refrigerant can remain dissolved in lubricant.

As system pressure decreases:

refrigerant leaves oil gradually
→ recovery slows near the end
→ system pressure may rebound

A pressure rebound can indicate that additional refrigerant remains.

Push-Pull Recovery

• Push-pull is an optional professional bulk-liquid recovery method for suitable systems.
• It does not replace final vapor recovery.
• There is no single universal minimum charge at which push-pull must always be used.

High-Discharge-Pressure Rule

High recovery-machine discharge pressure
→ stop and diagnose
→ correct restriction / cylinder / temperature problem
→ never bypass safety controls

6. Recovery Cylinders

Recovery Versus Disposable Cylinder

Recovery cylinder
→ refillable pressure vessel
→ designed to receive recovered refrigerant

Disposable refrigerant cylinder
→ non-refillable
→ never use for refrigerant recovery

Liquid and Vapor Ports

A typical upright recovery cylinder has:

LIQUID port
→ internal dip tube
→ reaches liquid near bottom

VAPOR port
→ communicates with upper vapor space

Follow the recovery-equipment manufacturer’s connection diagram for the specific recovery method.

Maximum Fill by Weight

For the standard Module 5 calculation:

$$W_{\text{refrigerant,max}}=0.80\cdot WC$$

$$W_{\text{gross,max}}=TW+0.80\cdot WC$$

$$W_{\text{available}}=W_{\text{gross,max}}-W_{\text{gross,current}}$$

where:

• $WC$ = cylinder water capacity by weight.
• $TW$ = cylinder tare weight.
• $W_{\text{gross,current}}$ = current cylinder gross weight.

Cylinder Checklist

• Weigh the cylinder.
• Know the tare weight and allowable fill.
• Stop before the allowable weight limit.
• Use overfill protection where provided.
• Inspect for:
  • Corrosion.
  • Dents.
  • Damage.
  • Valve problems.
• Verify applicable DOT / authorized markings.
• Verify required periodic requalification.
• Secure the cylinder during transportation.
• Keep refrigerants separated and correctly identified.

Requalification Reminder

For the typical DOT 4-series recovered-refrigerant cylinder discussed in Section 5.6:

Periodic requalification
→ 5 years

Contamination Reminder

Different refrigerants
→ different recovery cylinders

unless the refrigerant is intentionally being managed as a clearly identified contaminated-refrigerant stream under an appropriate receiving procedure.

7. Evacuation and Dehydration

Purpose

After refrigerant has been properly recovered and the system has been repaired:

Evacuation / dehydration
→ remove air
→ remove water vapor
→ remove other noncondensable gases

Why Vacuum Removes Moisture

Lower absolute pressure
→ lower water boiling temperature
→ moisture vaporizes more readily
→ vacuum pump removes water vapor

Fast-Evacuation Principles

Clean vacuum-pump oil
+
short hoses
+
large hose diameter
+
few restrictions
→ faster evacuation potential

A valve-core removal tool can reduce access-port restriction when appropriate.

Micron Gauge Placement

Micron gauge
→ connected to the system
→ preferably away from the vacuum pump

A compound gauge is not precise enough to verify deep evacuation.

After Reaching the Target

Reach specified vacuum
→ isolate vacuum pump
→ evaluate the isolated system

Critical Regulatory Distinction

Approximately 500 microns is a common field benchmark, but it is not a universal EPA requirement for every system.

8. Standing Vacuum Test and Triple Evacuation

Standing Vacuum Test

Evacuate
→ isolate vacuum pump
→ keep micron gauge on system
→ observe micron rise
→ interpret trend

Vacuum-Decay Patterns

Curve shape is diagnostic evidence, not absolute proof.

Important Decay-Test Reminders

• A rising micron value means absolute pressure is rising and the vacuum is becoming shallower.

• Some initial rise can occur because of equalization or outgassing.

• Check:

  • Hoses.
  • Fittings.
  • Tools.
  • Gauge connections.

  before assuming the refrigeration system itself leaks.

• There is no universal EPA standing-vacuum isolation time for every system.

• Acceptable rise and hold time normally come from the manufacturer or service specification.

Dry-Nitrogen Break

Dry nitrogen
→ dilutes / sweeps water vapor
→ helps dehydration

Do not describe nitrogen as simply absorbing all moisture.

Nitrogen must be removed by final evacuation before charging.

Triple-Evacuation Sequence

EVACUATE
→ DRY NITROGEN BREAK
→ EVACUATE
→ DRY NITROGEN BREAK
→ FINAL EVACUATION
→ STANDING VACUUM TEST

Triple-Evacuation Reminders

• It is a dehydration technique.
• It is not a universal EPA-required procedure for every system.
• Do not memorize one universal micron sequence or nitrogen pressure.
• Triple evacuation does not repair a leak.
• A vacuum pump is primarily an evacuation/dehydration tool, not a general self-contained recovery machine.

9. Section 608 Service-Practice Requirements

Normal Decision Sequence

For an appliance subject to the main evacuation table:

Identify pressure category
→ identify full charge
→ identify recovery-equipment manufacture/import date
→ select required evacuation level

Appliances Excluded From the Main Table

The main Table 1 does not apply to:

• Small appliances.
• MVACs.
• MVAC-like appliances.

Small appliances use the separate Type I recovery requirements.

Current Required Evacuation Levels

Pressure-Unit Reminders

0 in. Hg vacuum
→ approximately atmospheric pressure
→ not a perfect vacuum

Low-pressure appliance requirement
→ 25 mm Hg absolute

The inches-of-Hg-vacuum values are relative to standard atmospheric pressure of:

29.9 in. Hg

Post-1993 Memory Table

10. Major Work and Service-Practice Exceptions

Major Maintenance Service or Repair

Major work includes removal of any of the following:

• Compressor.
• Condenser.
• Evaporator.
• Auxiliary heat-exchange coil.

It also includes work that uncovers an opening:

> 4 in² of flow area

for more than:

15 minutes

Qualifying Non-Major Work

When all conditions of the limited non-major exception are satisfied:

Medium / high / very-high pressure
→ no higher than 0 psig before opening

For low-pressure appliances:

bring appliance to no higher than 0 psig
→ use an allowed pressurization method

Non-major status alone does not automatically create the exception. All applicable regulatory conditions must be satisfied.

Leak Prevents the Normal Evacuation Level

Isolate leaking and non-leaking portions where possible

Then:

Non-leaking portions
→ evacuate to normal Table 1 level

Leaking portion
→ lowest attainable level
without substantially contaminating recovered refrigerant
→ not above 0 psig

Do not treat the entire appliance as exempt simply because one component leaks.

Oil-Change Requirement

Before removing refrigerant oil under the applicable Section 608 provision:

Appliance / isolated portion / receiver
→ no higher than 5 psig

Refrigerant dissolved in oil can boil out as pressure falls and can cause pressure rebound.

Disposal Recordkeeping Reminder

When refrigerant is recovered for disposal from an appliance with a full charge:

> 5 lb
and
< 50 lb

the technician must retain the required disposal-recovery records for:

3 years

11. High-Priority Module 5 Numbers

12. Frequently Confused Concepts

13. Recovery-to-Evacuation Workflow

Identify refrigerant
→ prevent mixing
→ select recovery equipment
→ select and weigh recovery cylinder
→ connect according to manufacturer instructions
→ recover bulk liquid where practical
→ recover remaining vapor
→ verify required Section 608 recovery endpoint
→ observe for pressure rebound when appropriate
→ perform service / repair
→ evacuate air and moisture
→ isolate vacuum pump
→ perform standing vacuum test
→ continue dehydration if needed
→ charge according to applicable service procedure

Key Tool Roles

RECOVERY EQUIPMENT
→ captures refrigerant

RECOVERY CYLINDER
→ stores recovered refrigerant

VACUUM PUMP
→ removes air and moisture vapor

MICRON GAUGE
→ measures deep absolute pressure

14. Essential Module Figures

Figure 5.1.1 – Recover, recycle, and reclaim comparison.

AI-generated instructional figure: It may contain visual inaccuracies. Use the accompanying lesson text and cited authoritative sources to verify technical and regulatory details.

Figure 5.8.1 – Vacuum decay interpretation after the vacuum pump is isolated.

AI-generated instructional figure: It may contain visual inaccuracies. Use the accompanying lesson text and cited authoritative sources to verify technical and regulatory details.

Figure 5.9.1 – Current Section 608 required evacuation levels for appliances other than small appliances, MVACs, and MVAC-like appliances.

AI-generated instructional figure: It may contain visual inaccuracies. Use the accompanying lesson text and cited authoritative sources to verify technical and regulatory details.

15. Detailed-Section Links

• Section 5.1 - Recover Recycle and Reclaim
• Section 5.2 - Recovery Equipment Categories
• Section 5.3 - Recovery Equipment Certification and Service Fittings
• Section 5.4 - Recovery Preparation
• Section 5.5 - Recovery Methods and Recovery Speed
• Section 5.6 - Recovery Cylinders
• Section 5.7 - Evacuation and Dehydration
• Section 5.8 - Standing Vacuum Test and Triple Evacuation
• Section 5.9 - Service-Practice Requirements and Exceptions