Previous EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 5 Next EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 7

EPA 608 NEC 2023

EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 6

Free Online EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 6This free 25-question practice test covers the EPA 608 Core exam topics required for all refrigerant technicians. Topics include refrigerant migration during shutdown, manifold gauge colors, vacuum levels, compressor temperature behavior, recycling vs. reclaiming, leak detection gases, disposable cylinder rules, recovery speed and ambient temperature, on-site cleaning definitions, refrigerant classification, condenser inlet conditions, and AHRI purity standards.

TOPICS COVERED

epa 608 practice tests

How this test works

Read each question carefully

Look for absolute words like always / never — they often distinguish the right answer.

Manage your time

You have 45 min for 25 questions. Skip tough ones and come back.

Progress is auto-saved

Your answers are saved locally — a page refresh won't lose your work.

Review your answers

After submitting you'll see every explanation and your NEC references.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — completely free with no account needed.

The EPA 608 certification is required by law for any technician who purchases or handles refrigerants. It covers safe handling, leak detection, recovery, and environmental regulations.

Type I covers small appliances (≤5 lbs refrigerant), Type II covers high-pressure systems, Type III covers low-pressure systems, and Universal covers all three. Most HVAC technicians pursue Universal certification.

You must score at least 70% on each section of the exam. The Universal exam has four parts: core, Type I, Type II, and Type III.

Key facts for this test: On shutdown, refrigerant migrates to the COLDEST part (use crankcase heaters to prevent compressor flooding). High side gauge = RED; low side = blue; center port = yellow. Perfect vacuum = 0 psia. The compressor RAISES refrigerant temperature — NOT constant. Recycling cleans refrigerant but does NOT test it. Use nitrogen (not oxygen) for pressure testing — oxygen is a fire hazard. Disposable cylinders CANNOT be used for recovery. Cold weather SLOWS recovery (lower vapor pressure). AHRI Standard 700 = purity standard for reclaimed refrigerant.

25

Questions

45 min

Time

70%

Pass

Timer starts immediately. Progress is auto-saved.

EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 6 — Question List

Question 1: When a refrigeration system is shut down, refrigerant migrates to the ___________ part of the system.

coldest part
hottest part

Question 2: What is the typical color of high pressure gauge in manifold gauge?

red
blue
yellow
white

Question 3: If ALL atmospheric pressure is removed from a container, it is said to be a ___________.

partial vacuum
perfect vacuum
No vacuum
zero atmospheric pressure

Question 4: The temperature of refrigerant in compressor is almost constant.

True
False

Question 5: In which of the following process, the moisture and acids are removed from the refrigerant without testing refrigerant?

Recycling
Recovering
Reclaiming
Disposing

Question 6: Which of the following gas is typically used in refrigerant system leak detection?

nitrogen
oxygen
hydrogen
helium

Question 7: Can a disposable (non-refillable) refrigerant cylinder be used for refrigerant recovery?

Yes
No

Question 8: At low ambient temperatures, the time required for the refrigerant recovery process ___________.

increases
decreases
remains same

Question 9: The process of cleaning refrigerant for immediate reuse by oil separation or filter-drying — WITHOUT testing to a purity standard — is called ___________.

Recycle
Reclaim
Recover
Filtering

Question 10: A refrigerant that contains NO chlorine atoms is ___________.

HCFC
CFC
HFC

Question 11: The refrigerant state at the ENTRY of the condenser in a refrigeration system is ___________.

Low pressure liquid
High pressure liquid
Low pressure vapor
High pressure vapor

Question 12: Which of the following purity standard specifies the refrigerant is completely reclaimed?

ARI-700
ARI- 740
ARI-721

Question 13: A crankcase heater is installed on a compressor to prevent ___________.

The compressor from overheating during operation
Refrigerant from migrating into the compressor oil during the off-cycle
Oil from leaking out of the compressor
The compressor from running too fast

Question 14: When liquid refrigerant enters the compressor suction port instead of vapor, the resulting compressor damage is called ___________.

Liquid flooding
Liquid slugging
Compressor burnout
Acid formation

Question 15: A receiver is a storage vessel installed in the liquid line after the condenser. Its primary purpose is to ___________.

Cool the refrigerant below its boiling point
Store excess liquid and ensure steady liquid supply to the expansion valve
Separate oil from refrigerant vapor
Measure the amount of refrigerant charged into the system

Question 16: What does "BTU" stand for, and what does one BTU represent?

Basic Temperature Unit — the freezing point of water
British Thermal Unit — heat needed to raise 1 lb of water by 1°F
Building Temperature Unit — used to rate compressor size
Boiling Temperature Unit — the boiling point of refrigerant

Question 17: In the United States, air conditioning and refrigeration capacity is often measured in "tons." One ton of refrigeration equals ___________.

6,000 BTU per hour
12,000 BTU per hour
24,000 BTU per hour
1,000 BTU per hour

Question 18: The purpose of a pressure relief valve (safety relief) on a refrigerant system or storage cylinder is to ___________.

Maintain constant operating pressure in the system
Automatically release refrigerant if pressure becomes dangerously high
Prevent refrigerant from flowing backward in the system
Control the flow rate of refrigerant to the evaporator

Question 19: Compared to a halide torch, an electronic leak detector has what key advantage?

It uses an open flame that is safer indoors
It works for all refrigerant types and is more sensitive to small leaks
It requires no batteries and never needs calibration
It can detect nitrogen and oxygen leaks as well

Question 20: Which type of compressor uses pistons and cylinders — similar to a car engine — to compress refrigerant vapor?

Scroll compressor
Reciprocating (piston) compressor
Centrifugal compressor
Screw compressor

Question 21: Scroll compressors have largely replaced reciprocating (piston) compressors in new residential air conditioners because scroll compressors are ___________.

Cheaper to manufacture and easier to repair in the field
Quieter, more efficient, and have fewer moving parts
Capable of operating in a deep vacuum without damage
Compatible with any refrigerant without oil changes

Question 22: On a system with a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV), which measurement is used to verify correct refrigerant charge?

Superheat at the evaporator outlet
Subcooling at the liquid line
Suction pressure only
Discharge temperature at the compressor outlet

Question 23: Which condition reduces the heat transfer efficiency of an evaporator coil?

High suction pressure
Ice or frost buildup on the coil surface
Low head pressure
High ambient temperature outside the building

Question 24: When refrigerant vapor changes to liquid in the condenser, it ___________.

Absorbs heat from the outdoor air
Releases latent heat to the surrounding air
Stays the same temperature and absorbs sensible heat
Changes to a superheated vapor at high pressure

Question 25: To pass any section of the EPA Section 608 certification exam (Core, Type I, II, or III), a technician must score at least ___________.

60 percent
70 percent
80 percent
90 percent

Study Tip: The EPA 608 exam is closed book. Memorize: recovery is required before opening any refrigerant system. Venting refrigerant is illegal. Know the ODP and GWP values for R-22, R-410A, R-134a, R-32, and R-454B.

EXAM CARD EPA 608

Questions25

Time limit45 min

Pass score70%

RegulationEPA Section 608

DifficultyIntermediate

Last reviewedJun 2026

Timer starts immediately. Progress is auto-saved.

Source: EPA Section 608 (40 CFR Part 82)