5.11 - Practice Questions

Module: Recovery Recycling Reclaiming Evacuation and Dehydration
Covers: Sections 5.1–5.10
Question type: Original EPA 608-style multiple-choice practice
Technical and regulatory verification basis: Module 5 content reviewed and current EPA/eCFR regulatory items rechecked August 10, 2026
Answers: See 5.12 - Answers and Explanations.md

Instructions

• Select the single best answer for each question.
• Complete the entire set without notes or external references when using it as a cumulative assessment.
• Record a confidence code for every answer:
  • C3 — certain and can explain the reason.
  • C2 — probably correct but not fully certain.
  • C1 — guessed between two or more choices.
  • C0 — no reliable basis for the answer.
• Enter every incorrect, C1, and C0 response in the project error log.
• Review the detailed explanations only after completing all questions.
• A correct guess is not considered mastered.
• Pay close attention to words such as recover, recycle, reclaim, full charge, before, after, major, non-major, absolute, vacuum, psig, manufacturer, leaking, and non-leaking.
• These are original project questions. They are not actual EPA examination questions and are not represented as questions from any certifying provider.

Practice Record

• Date:
• Time started:
• Time completed:
• Testing condition: Closed-book
• Question set: Module 5 Practice Set
• Correct answers: ___ / 40
• Low-confidence answers (C0–C1):
• Open P1 errors after review:
• Primary weak topic:

Coverage

Practice Questions

Question 1

Which statement best defines recover when referring to refrigerant?

A. Clean refrigerant for reuse by removing oil, moisture, and particulates

B. Remove refrigerant from an appliance and store it in an external container without necessarily processing or testing it

C. Reprocess refrigerant to the applicable purity specification and verify that purity analytically

D. Convert refrigerant vapor completely into liquid before it leaves the appliance

Question 2

Which statement best describes recycling refrigerant under the Section 608 terminology used in this module?

A. It requires laboratory verification that the refrigerant meets all reclamation specifications.

B. It means storing recovered refrigerant without cleaning it.

C. It means extracting and cleaning refrigerant for reuse in equipment of the same owner without meeting all reclamation requirements.

D. It can be performed only by an EPA-certified refrigerant reclaimer.

Question 3

Which condition distinguishes reclaimed refrigerant from refrigerant that has only been recovered or recycled?

A. It has been reprocessed to the applicable purity specifications and that purity has been verified using the required analytical method.

B. It has been transferred into any clean recovery cylinder.

C. It has passed once through a filter-drier in the field.

D. It has been allowed to stabilize at room temperature before reuse.

Question 4

A contractor recovers used refrigerant from equipment owned by Customer A. The contractor later wants to transfer that used refrigerant to Customer B for use as refrigerant. What is generally required before that transfer to the new owner?

A. The refrigerant must only be filtered once.

B. The refrigerant must be returned to the original recovery machine.

C. The refrigerant must be mixed with virgin refrigerant.

D. The used refrigerant generally must be reclaimed by an EPA-certified refrigerant reclaimer.

Question 5

Which statement correctly distinguishes self-contained recovery equipment from system-dependent recovery equipment?

A. Self-contained equipment can be used only with small appliances.

B. Self-contained equipment can remove refrigerant without assistance from components contained in the appliance.

C. System-dependent equipment always contains an independent recovery compressor.

D. System-dependent equipment is another name for a recovery cylinder.

Question 6

An appliance has a full charge of 22 lb of refrigerant. Which statement about ordinary system-dependent recovery equipment is correct?

A. It may always be used because the remaining charge may be less than 15 lb.

B. It may be used only if the appliance compressor is not operating.

C. It generally may not be used because the appliance full charge exceeds 15 lb, unless the system-dependent equipment is permanently attached as a pump-out unit.

D. It may be used only when the refrigerant is a blend.

Question 7

Which statement correctly describes the current certification framework for recovery/recycling equipment manufactured or imported on or after January 1, 2017?

A. Non-flammable-refrigerant equipment is addressed by Appendix B3 based on AHRI Standard 740-2016, while flammable-refrigerant equipment is addressed by Appendix B4 with additional applicable safety provisions.

B. All such equipment is certified only under the pre-1993 equipment rules.

C. Recovery equipment no longer requires third-party equipment testing.

D. Only disposable recovery equipment may be certified under the current framework.

Question 8

A technician uses recovery equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993 on a small appliance. Which recovery requirement is correct?

A. Recover 50% when the compressor is functional and 80% when it is not functional.

B. Recover 80% when the compressor is functional and 90% when it is not functional.

C. Recover 100% regardless of compressor condition, with no alternative endpoint.

D. Recover 90% when the compressor is functional or 80% when it is not functional; evacuating the small appliance to 4 in. Hg vacuum is also an allowed recovery endpoint.

Question 9

Before connecting recovery equipment to an appliance, what is the best first action when the refrigerant is not yet known with confidence?

A. Start the recovery machine and identify the refrigerant from discharge pressure.

B. Identify the refrigerant before recovery so compatible equipment and a suitable cylinder can be selected and mixing can be avoided.

C. Add a small amount of a known refrigerant to see whether pressures become normal.

D. Recover the unknown refrigerant into a cylinder already containing another refrigerant.

Question 10

Why is refrigerant identification an important part of recovery preparation?

A. It determines the building’s electrical service size.

B. It eliminates the need to inspect the recovery cylinder.

C. It helps prevent refrigerant mixing and supports selection of compatible recovery equipment and storage.

D. It allows the technician to judge cylinder fill by pressure alone.

Question 11

In the standard manifold arrangement taught in Module 5 for self-contained recovery, what is the normal role of the center yellow service hose?

A. It connects the manifold service port to the recovery-machine inlet.

B. It connects only to the recovery cylinder liquid port in every recovery procedure.

C. It replaces both the high-side and low-side appliance connections.

D. It is used only after the appliance has been recharged.

Question 12

Which preparation step most directly prevents overfilling a recovery cylinder before the recovery process begins?

A. Estimate the refrigerant mass from cylinder pressure.

B. Fill the cylinder until liquid appears at the vapor port.

C. Assume an empty-looking cylinder has enough capacity.

D. Determine the cylinder’s allowable fill and available capacity by weight before recovery and monitor it with a scale.

Question 13

When the appliance and recovery equipment permit it, which general recovery approach usually removes refrigerant mass most quickly at the beginning of the process?

A. Recover vapor only from the lowest-pressure point.

B. Recover accessible bulk liquid first, then recover the remaining vapor.

C. Pull a deep vacuum with an ordinary vacuum pump before using a recovery machine.

D. Heat the recovery cylinder as much as possible before starting.

Question 14

Which change generally reduces flow restriction and can improve refrigerant recovery speed?

A. Use longer, smaller-diameter hoses.

B. Add unnecessary fittings and valve restrictions.

C. Use shorter hoses with a larger practical diameter and minimize unnecessary restrictions.

D. Close both appliance service valves during recovery.

Question 15

Why can refrigerant recovery become slower when the appliance is very cold?

A. Lower appliance temperature can reduce refrigerant vapor pressure and the pressure difference available to drive recovery.

B. Cold refrigerant always becomes a noncondensable gas.

C. A cold appliance automatically increases recovery-machine discharge pressure.

D. Low temperature causes the recovery cylinder’s tare weight to increase substantially.

Question 16

What is a likely effect of allowing the recovery cylinder to become excessively hot during recovery?

A. Cylinder pressure falls and recovery always speeds up.

B. The refrigerant becomes reclaimed automatically.

C. The cylinder can then be safely filled beyond its normal weight limit.

D. Cylinder pressure rises, increasing recovery-machine discharge back pressure and potentially slowing recovery.

Question 17

A technician reaches the apparent recovery endpoint, waits briefly, and then sees appliance pressure rise again. Which explanation is most consistent with Module 5?

A. The cylinder tare weight has changed.

B. Refrigerant dissolved in system oil may be boiling out as pressure falls, so additional refrigerant may remain to be recovered.

C. The recovery machine has converted air into refrigerant.

D. The pressure rise proves the appliance contains only moisture.

Question 18

Which statement about a disposable refrigerant cylinder is correct?

A. It may be used for refrigerant recovery if it is completely empty.

B. It may be refilled once if the technician uses a scale.

C. It is non-refillable and must not be used as a recovery cylinder.

D. It is preferred over a refillable recovery cylinder for contaminated refrigerant.

Question 19

On a typical upright refillable recovery cylinder, what is the usual function of the liquid port?

A. It connects to an internal dip tube that reaches toward the liquid region near the bottom of the cylinder.

B. It opens only to the upper vapor space and never uses a dip tube.

C. It measures the cylinder tare weight.

D. It serves only as a pressure-relief connection.

Question 20

What is the preferred way to determine how full a two-phase refrigerant recovery cylinder is during recovery?

A. Compare cylinder pressure with atmospheric pressure only.

B. Shake the cylinder and listen for liquid movement.

C. Judge the level from the external temperature of the cylinder wall alone.

D. Use the cylinder markings and a scale to control fill by weight.

Question 21

A recovery cylinder has a tare weight of 28.0 lb and a water capacity of 47.5 lb. Using the standard Module 5 80% training calculation, the cylinder’s current gross weight is 42.0 lb. How much additional refrigerant capacity remains before the calculated maximum gross weight is reached?

A. 14.0 lb

B. 24.0 lb

C. 38.0 lb

D. 66.0 lb

Question 22

For the typical DOT 4-series recovered-refrigerant cylinder discussed in Module 5, what periodic requalification interval is used for examination preparation?

A. 1 year

B. 3 years

C. 5 years

D. 12 years in every case

Question 23

A recovery cylinder has a requalification date that is still current, but severe corrosion is visible on the cylinder body. What should the technician do?

A. Remove the cylinder from service and have it evaluated through the proper cylinder pathway; a current date does not make a damaged cylinder safe.

B. Continue using it because the date stamp is the only condition that matters.

C. Vent the contents so the cylinder can be thrown away immediately.

D. Paint over the corrosion and continue filling it.

Question 24

What is the best practice when recovering two known, different refrigerants from two appliances?

A. Mix both refrigerants in one clean recovery cylinder to reduce the number of cylinders needed.

B. Use cylinder pressure to decide whether the refrigerants are compatible enough to mix.

C. Mix them only if both appliances belong to the same owner.

D. Keep the refrigerants in separate, correctly identified recovery cylinders unless they are intentionally being managed as a clearly identified contaminated-refrigerant stream.

Question 25

After refrigerant has been properly recovered and the system repaired, what is the primary purpose of deep evacuation and dehydration?

A. Increase the refrigerant charge in the system.

B. Remove air, water vapor, and other noncondensable gases from the system.

C. Reclaim the recovered refrigerant to AHRI purity specifications.

D. Replace the recovery cylinder’s vapor space with liquid refrigerant.

Question 26

Where should a micron gauge preferably be connected when evaluating deep system evacuation?

A. Only on the vacuum-pump inlet.

B. On the recovery cylinder vapor port.

C. Directly to the refrigeration system, preferably away from the vacuum pump when practical.

D. On an unused electrical conduit near the compressor.

Question 27

Which statement about 500 microns is correct within this module?

A. It is a common deep-vacuum service benchmark, but it is not a universal EPA-required recovery or evacuation endpoint for every appliance.

B. It is the mandatory Section 608 recovery endpoint for every high-pressure appliance.

C. It is the required standing-vacuum rise limit for every manufacturer.

D. It is the same pressure as 0 in. Hg vacuum.

Question 28

Why is the vacuum pump isolated from the refrigeration system before a standing vacuum test is evaluated?

A. To allow the pump to add refrigerant back into the system.

B. To increase system temperature as rapidly as possible.

C. To make the micron gauge read pump pressure instead of system pressure.

D. To stop the pump from continuously removing gas so the isolated system’s pressure behavior can be observed.

Question 29

After the vacuum pump is isolated, the micron value rises slowly and then levels off at a higher value than desired. Which interpretation is most appropriate?

A. This proves a large system leak with absolute certainty.

B. Moisture, outgassing, or incomplete dehydration is likely, although the curve shape is diagnostic evidence rather than absolute proof.

C. The system is automatically ready to charge because the pressure rose.

D. The micron gauge must be disconnected immediately because any rise is normal.

Question 30

After the vacuum pump is isolated, the micron value continues to rise without approaching a stable plateau. What should this pattern suggest first?

A. The system is definitely dry and tight.

B. Triple evacuation has been completed successfully.

C. A leak is likely, so the service setup and the system should be checked for leakage.

D. The micron gauge is measuring refrigerant purity.

Question 31

Which statement best describes the purpose of a dry-nitrogen break and triple evacuation?

A. Dry nitrogen can help dilute and sweep water vapor between evacuation cycles; triple evacuation is a dehydration technique and does not repair leaks.

B. Nitrogen is added as the final refrigerant charge because it absorbs all remaining moisture permanently.

C. Triple evacuation is an EPA-required three-cycle numerical procedure for every refrigeration system.

D. Triple evacuation allows an ordinary vacuum pump to be used as a general refrigerant recovery machine.

Question 32

A high-pressure appliance has a full charge of 150 lb. The technician uses recovery/recycling equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993. What is the normal Table 1 evacuation requirement before opening the appliance?

A. 4 in. Hg vacuum

B. 10 in. Hg vacuum

C. 15 in. Hg vacuum

D. 0 in. Hg vacuum

Question 33

Using recovery/recycling equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993, which pair of normal Table 1 requirements is correct?

A. High-pressure appliance at 200 lb or more: 4 in. Hg vacuum; medium-pressure appliance at 200 lb or more: 10 in. Hg vacuum

B. High-pressure appliance at 200 lb or more: 15 in. Hg vacuum; medium-pressure appliance at 200 lb or more: 10 in. Hg vacuum

C. High-pressure appliance at 200 lb or more: 10 in. Hg vacuum; medium-pressure appliance at 200 lb or more: 15 in. Hg vacuum

D. High-pressure appliance at 200 lb or more: 25 mm Hg absolute; medium-pressure appliance at 200 lb or more: 0 in. Hg vacuum

Question 34

What is the normal Table 1 evacuation requirement for a low-pressure appliance?

A. 15 in. Hg vacuum

B. 25 mm Hg absolute

C. 0 psia

D. 500 microns for every appliance

Question 35

What does 0 in. Hg vacuum mean in the Section 608 evacuation table?

A. Approximately atmospheric pressure on the inches-of-Hg-vacuum scale, not a perfect vacuum

B. Zero absolute pressure

C. A deeper vacuum than 25 mm Hg absolute

D. The same as 500 microns absolute

Question 36

Which activity meets the current federal definition of major maintenance, service, or repair?

A. Replacing external pipe insulation without opening the refrigerant circuit

B. Tightening a cabinet fastener

C. Cleaning debris from the outside of a condenser coil

D. Removing a condenser from the refrigerant circuit

Question 37

A medium-pressure appliance is undergoing work that is not major, and all conditions of the limited non-major service exception are satisfied. To what pressure must the affected appliance or component be evacuated before it is opened?

A. 15 in. Hg vacuum

B. 25 mm Hg absolute

C. No higher than 0 psig

D. Exactly 500 microns

Question 38

A leak makes the normal Table 1 evacuation level unattainable. Which procedure best matches the current rule?

A. Treat the entire appliance as exempt and stop recovery at any convenient pressure.

B. Isolate leaking from non-leaking components where possible; evacuate non-leaking components to the normal Table 1 level and evacuate leaking components to the lowest attainable level without substantial contamination, not above 0 psig.

C. Vent the remaining refrigerant because the appliance already leaks.

D. Pressurize all portions of the appliance above atmospheric pressure before opening.

Question 39

Under the Section 608 oil-change provision discussed in this module, the applicable appliance, isolated portion, or system receiver must be at a pressure no higher than what value before refrigerant oil is removed?

A. 25 psig

B. 15 psig

C. 10 psig

D. 5 psig

Question 40

A technician recovers refrigerant for disposal from appliances whose full charges are more than 5 lb but less than 50 lb. Which current recordkeeping requirement applies?

A. Keep the required disposal-recovery records for 3 years.

B. Keep only the recovery-machine serial number for 30 days.

C. No technician records are required because the appliances contain less than 50 lb.

D. Keep the records permanently with no minimum information requirement.

Answers and detailed explanations are intentionally kept in the separate file 5.12 - Answers and Explanations.md so the questions can be completed without seeing the solutions.