On a system with an operating compressor, recovery equipment must be capable of recovering

On a system with an operating compressor, recovery equipment must be capable of recovering

• A. 80% refrigerant or achieving 3 inches of vacuum.
• B. 90% refrigerant or achieving 4 inches of vacuum.
• C. 100% refrigerant.
• D. 70% refrigerant or achieving 5 inches of vacuum.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is the required performance for recovery equipment when the system’s compressor is operating. EPA rules say you must either remove at least 90% of the refrigerant in the system or evacuate the system to a vacuum of 4 inches of mercury (inHg). This ensures most refrigerant is captured even with the compressor on, and that the system is sufficiently evacuated to minimize remaining refrigerant. The 90%/4 inHg vacuum standard matches what practitioners must achieve in practice. Other options propose lower recovery percentages or a different vacuum target, or 100% recovery, which aren’t the regulatory requirement for an operating system.

The key idea is the required performance for recovery equipment when the system’s compressor is operating. EPA rules say you must either remove at least 90% of the refrigerant in the system or evacuate the system to a vacuum of 4 inches of mercury (inHg). This ensures most refrigerant is captured even with the compressor on, and that the system is sufficiently evacuated to minimize remaining refrigerant. The 90%/4 inHg vacuum standard matches what practitioners must achieve in practice. Other options propose lower recovery percentages or a different vacuum target, or 100% recovery, which aren’t the regulatory requirement for an operating system.