10.5 - Type I Memorization Sheet

Module: Universal Review and Mock Examinations
Purpose: One-page-target rapid review of the highest-priority Type I facts before Universal mock examinations
Covers: Type I material consolidated from Sections 7.1–7.8
Regulatory verification basis: Current Module 7 material verified August 11, 2026
Use: Memorize the classification, recovery, access, compressor-condition, and disposal rules below; return to Module 7 when a condition or exception is unclear

1. Type I = Small Appliances

A small appliance must satisfy all four conditions:

Fully manufactured at a factory
+
Factory charged
+
Hermetically sealed at a factory
+
5 lb or less of refrigerant

Fast Classification Rule

≤5 lb ALONE
≠
TYPE I

A field-connected residential split system with 4 lb of refrigerant is not automatically Type I because it does not meet the complete factory-manufactured / factory-charged / factory-sealed definition.

2. Common Type I Examples

Typical small appliances include:

Household refrigerators.
Household freezers.
Room and window air conditioners.
Portable air conditioners that meet the complete definition.
Packaged terminal air conditioners.
Packaged terminal heat pumps.
Dehumidifiers.
Under-the-counter ice makers.
Vending machines.
Drinking-water coolers.

Do Not Automatically Classify as Type I

MVACs.
MVAC-like appliances.
Refrigerated-cargo systems.
Field-assembled or field-connected equipment.
Factory-sealed equipment containing more than 5 lb.
Equipment that merely looks physically small.

EQUIPMENT SIZE
≠
TYPE I CLASSIFICATION

3. Type I Recovery Requirements

Current Recovery Table

Recovery Condition	Required Result
Recovery/recycling equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993	80% recovery
Recovery/recycling equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993 + appliance compressor functional	90% recovery
Recovery/recycling equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993 + appliance compressor not functional	80% recovery
Alternative	Evacuate appliance to 4 in. Hg vacuum

Memorize

POST-1993 EQUIPMENT
+
APPLIANCE COMPRESSOR WORKS
→ 90%

POST-1993 EQUIPMENT
+
APPLIANCE COMPRESSOR FAILED
→ 80%

PRE-1993 RECOVERY EQUIPMENT
→ 80%

ALTERNATIVE
→ 4 in. Hg vacuum

Exam Traps

The date applies to the recovery/recycling equipment, not the appliance.
The 80% / 90% decision uses the appliance compressor, not the recovery-machine compressor.
Type I 80% recovery is not the same concept as the 80% recovery-cylinder fill reminder.

4. Functional Versus Failed Compressor

Operating Compressor

With system-dependent recovery:

OPERATE THE APPLIANCE COMPRESSOR

The compressor helps move refrigerant:

low side
→ compressor
→ high side
→ recovery connection

High-priority Type I operating-compressor concept:

OPERATING COMPRESSOR
→ conventional high-side recovery

Useful aids when appropriate:

Controlled warming.
Defrost heater, if equipped and permitted.
Allowing trapped liquid to vaporize.

Failed Compressor

If the appliance compressor does not operate:

NO COMPRESSOR PUMPING ASSISTANCE

High-priority failed-compressor concept:

ACCESS HIGH SIDE
+
ACCESS LOW SIDE

Both-side access helps overcome:

Capillary-tube restriction.
Slow pressure equalization.
Refrigerant trapped in the compressor shell and oil.
Refrigerant trapped in cold heat exchangers or tubing pockets.

Helpful Type I exam techniques include:

Controlled heat.
Carefully tapping / sharply striking the compressor as taught in the Type I recovery procedure.
Defrost heater if equipped and permitted.
The special vacuum-pump / nonpressurized recovery container example taught for the failed-compressor case.

Never use an open flame to heat the appliance or compressor.

Fast Comparison

Item	Compressor Works	Compressor Failed
Appliance compressor assists recovery	Yes	No
Type I system-dependent emphasis	Operate compressor	Do not depend on compressor
Access emphasis	High-side recovery may be sufficient in the taught operating-compressor method	High + low side
Post-1993 percentage	90%	80%
Controlled heat / trapped refrigerant	May help	Especially important
4 in. Hg vacuum alternative	Available	Available

5. Access Fittings and Process Stubs

Process Stub

PROCESS STUB
→ length of tubing
→ provides refrigerant access
→ can be resealed after service

A process stub is not a valve.

Piercing / Solderless Access Fitting

PIERCING ACCESS VALVE
→ clamp-on temporary access fitting

Before installation, consider:

Tubing diameter.
Tubing material.
Tubing condition.
Fitting design.
Manufacturer instructions.

Do not choose:

Capillary tube.
Sharp bend.
Crushed section.
Corroded section.
Brazed joint.

End-of-Service Rule

Current Type I test-topic emphasis:

SOLDERLESS ACCESS FITTING
→ REMOVE AT CONCLUSION OF SERVICE
→ RESTORE / RESEAL TUBING
→ LEAK CHECK

Access-Fitting Exam Traps

PROCESS STUB
≠
PIERCING VALVE

TEMPORARY ACCESS FITTING
≠
PERMANENT REPAIR

ACCESS FITTING
≠
RECOVERY EQUIPMENT

Prepare the recovery setup before creating controlled refrigerant access so avoidable release is minimized.

6. Self-Contained Recovery

SELF-CONTAINED RECOVERY MACHINE
→ has its own independent recovery compressor / pumping means

Key reminders:

Use an approved recovery cylinder.
Confirm refrigerant compatibility.
Avoid refrigerant cross-contamination.
Monitor recovery-machine discharge pressure.
Control cylinder pressure / temperature safely.
Follow the recovery-machine and cylinder instructions for port selection and setup.

Do Not Confuse

SELF-CONTAINED RECOVERY MACHINE
≠
VACUUM PUMP

A vacuum pump is normally an evacuation/dehydration tool.

7. Type I Service Sequence

For ordinary service:

CLASSIFY APPLIANCE
→ IDENTIFY REFRIGERANT
→ IDENTIFY SERVICE ACTIVITY
→ DETERMINE COMPRESSOR CONDITION
→ CHOOSE RECOVERY METHOD
→ REACH TYPE I ENDPOINT
→ PERFORM REPAIR
→ LEAK CHECK
→ EVACUATE / DEHYDRATE AS APPROPRIATE
→ RECHARGE
→ VERIFY OPERATION

Compressor Replacement

COMPRESSOR REPLACEMENT
→ RECOVER REFRIGERANT FIRST
→ THEN OPEN CIRCUIT

A failed compressor changes the recovery technique.

It does not eliminate the recovery requirement.

8. Type I Disposal

Service Versus Disposal

REPAIR + RETURN TO SERVICE
→ TYPE I SERVICE RULES

END OF USEFUL LIFE
→ SAFE-DISPOSAL RULES

Small-Appliance Disposal Certification Exception

For refrigerant recovery performed solely for disposal of a small appliance:

TECHNICIAN-CERTIFICATION EXCEPTION MAY APPLY

but:

RECOVERY REQUIREMENT REMAINS
+
COMPLIANT RECOVERY EQUIPMENT REMAINS REQUIRED
+
VENTING PROHIBITION REMAINS

The disposal exception does not authorize uncertified compressor replacement or other ordinary service.

9. Final Processor: Recover or Verify

For a small appliance entering final disposal:

FINAL PROCESSOR
→ RECOVER remaining refrigerant
OR
→ VERIFY acceptable prior recovery

Prior-Recovery Signed Statement

Memorize:

NAME
+
ADDRESS
+
DATE

A sticker alone is not sufficient EPA verification.

Qualifying Contract

REGULAR COMMERCIAL SUPPLIER
→ qualifying contract pathway may be used

The contract alternative is not intended for an occasional individual consumer drop-off.

If Refrigerant Already Leaked Out

A leaked-out statement may apply when the refrigerant loss resulted from:

SYSTEM FAILURE
ACCIDENT
UNAVOIDABLE OCCURRENCE

It does not apply to:

DELIBERATE LINE CUTTING
INTENTIONAL / NEGLIGENT RELEASE

Final-Processor Record Retention

SIGNED STATEMENTS / CONTRACTS
→ KEEP 3 YEARS

Do not confuse this with the separate technician disposal-record range:

>5 lb and <50 lb

A Type I small appliance contains:

≤5 lb

so that separate mid-sized-appliance technician record range normally does not apply to Type I small appliances.

10. Type I Numbers to Know Cold

Number / Date	Type I Meaning
5 lb or less	Maximum charge in the complete small-appliance definition
November 15, 1993	Recovery/recycling-equipment date boundary
90%	Post-1993 recovery equipment + functional appliance compressor
80%	Pre-1993 equipment, or post-1993 equipment + nonfunctional appliance compressor
4 in. Hg vacuum	Alternative Type I recovery endpoint
3 years	Final processor keeps required signed statements / contracts

11. Highest-Priority Type I Exam Traps

Trap 1

≤5 lb
→ automatically Type I

Wrong. Use all four small-appliance conditions.

Trap 2

Appliance manufacture date
→ determines 80% / 90%

Wrong. The date belongs to the recovery/recycling equipment.

Trap 3

Recovery-machine compressor works
→ 90%

Wrong. The condition concerns the appliance compressor.

Trap 4

Failed compressor
→ no recovery required

Wrong. Technique changes; recovery remains required.

Trap 5

Failed compressor
→ use only high-side access

Wrong for the taught Type I failed-compressor concept. Use both high- and low-side access.

Trap 6

Piercing valve
→ process stub

Wrong. Stub = tubing; piercing valve = temporary access device.

Trap 7

Leave solderless access fitting installed permanently

Wrong for current Type I exam emphasis. Remove it after service and restore the tubing.

Trap 8

Disposal certification exception
→ permission to vent

Wrong.

Trap 9

Sticker on appliance
→ sufficient prior-recovery verification

Wrong.

Trap 10

Deliberately cut lines
→ leaked-out exception

Wrong.

12. Type I Final Memory Map

TYPE I
→ SMALL APPLIANCE

FACTORY MANUFACTURED
+
FACTORY CHARGED
+
HERMETICALLY SEALED
+
≤5 lb

POST-1993 + COMPRESSOR WORKS
→ 90%

POST-1993 + COMPRESSOR FAILED
→ 80%

PRE-1993 RECOVERY EQUIPMENT
→ 80%

ALTERNATIVE
→ 4 in. Hg vacuum

OPERATING COMPRESSOR
→ high-side recovery emphasis

FAILED COMPRESSOR
→ high + low access
→ controlled heat / trapped-refrigerant techniques

PROCESS STUB
→ tubing

PIERCING / SOLDERLESS FITTING
→ temporary
→ remove after service
→ reseal + leak check

FINAL PROCESSOR
→ recover
OR
→ verify prior recovery

SIGNED STATEMENT
→ NAME + ADDRESS + DATE

REQUIRED DISPOSAL RECORDS
→ 3 YEARS

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