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EPA 608 NEC 2023

EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 7

Free Online EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 7This free 25-question practice test covers core EPA 608 topics for refrigerant certification. Topics include pressure-temperature relationships, compressor burnout diagnosis, AHRI purity standards, recycling vs reclaiming, manifold gauge colors, refrigeration cycle states, recovery speed and temperature, ASHRAE flammability classifications, refrigerant transfer rules, and HFC composition. New questions cover heat pumps, low-loss fittings, refrigerant safety, Section 609, leak repair timeframes, and more.

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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: Higher pressure = higher boiling point (always). Compressor burnout = acid and carbon contaminate the whole system — always acid-test the oil. ARI-700/AHRI 700 = purity standard for reclaimed refrigerant. Recycling = on-site cleaning, no test, same owner only. Blue gauge = low side; red gauge = high side. Condenser outlet = high pressure liquid. Warm system = faster recovery; cold system = slower recovery. A3 = lower toxicity + highly flammable (propane, isobutane). Only RECLAIMED refrigerant can be sold to another person.

25

Questions

45 min

Time

70%

Pass

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EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 7 — Question List

Question 1: A liquid under HIGHER pressure results in a ___________ boiling point.

Low boiling point
High boiling point

Question 2: When recovering refrigerant from a system where the compressor has burned out, you should check for ___________.

Low vapor pressure at compressor suction
low oil pressure in compressor
sign of contamination in oil
sign of heavy dust in compressor

Question 3: Which of the following purity standard specifies the refrigerant is completely reclaimed?

ARI-700
ARI- 740
ARI-721

Question 4: 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 5: What is the typical color of low pressure gauge?

Red
Blue
Yellow
White

Question 6: The refrigerant state at the EXIT (outlet) of the condenser is ___________.

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

Question 7: At higher ambient temperature, the time required for the refrigerant recovery process ___________.

increases
decreases
No Change

Question 8: which of the following category refrigerants have low toxicity and high flammability?

A3
B3
A2
B2

Question 9: Which of the following types of refrigerant can be legally sold or transferred to another individual?

Recovered
Recycled
Reclaimed
Disposed

Question 10: A refrigerant that does NOT contain chlorine atoms is ___________.

HCFC
CFC
HFC

Question 11: A heat pump differs from a standard air conditioner because a heat pump can ___________.

Operate without any refrigerant
Provide both heating and cooling by reversing the refrigerant flow direction
Cool a space more efficiently than a standard A/C
Use water instead of refrigerant for heat transfer

Question 12: EPA Section 608 regulations require "low-loss fittings" on manifold gauge hoses because they ___________.

Allow faster refrigerant charging
Minimize refrigerant release when hoses are connected and disconnected
Improve the accuracy of pressure gauge readings
Prevent refrigerant from mixing with the vacuum pump oil

Question 13: If liquid refrigerant contacts bare skin or eyes during service work, it can cause ___________.

Chemical burns from high acidity
Frostbite (cryogenic burns) from extreme cold
Electrical shock
Respiratory failure from oxygen toxicity

Question 14: Most HFC, HCFC, and CFC refrigerant vapors are HEAVIER than air. What is the primary safety concern this creates?

Refrigerant rises and collects near the ceiling
Refrigerant sinks to floor level and can displace oxygen in confined spaces
Refrigerant immediately mixes evenly with all room air
Refrigerant reacts with nitrogen in the air to form acid

Question 15: Automotive air conditioning systems (cars, trucks, buses) are regulated under which section of the Clean Air Act?

Section 608 (same as all other refrigerant systems)
Section 609 — Mobile Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC)
Section 112 (Hazardous Air Pollutants)
Section 602 (Ozone Depletion Substances)

Question 16: When a substantial leak is found in an appliance with 50 or more pounds of refrigerant, the leak must be repaired within ___________.

7 days
30 days
60 days
90 days

Question 17: Low-pressure refrigerant systems (Type III — centrifugal chillers) require a "purge unit" because ___________.

The condenser pressure is too high and must be reduced
Air leaks into the system because suction pressure is below atmospheric, and must be removed
The refrigerant must be cooled before returning to the evaporator
Oil must be separated from refrigerant before it reaches the compressor

Question 18: Under EPA Section 608, all refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment used by technicians must be tested and certified by ___________.

The local government building department
An EPA-approved equipment testing organization (such as UL or AHRI)
The refrigerant manufacturer directly
Any accredited testing laboratory, with or without EPA approval

Question 19: Carbon dioxide (R-744) is increasingly used in commercial refrigeration systems because it has ___________.

Very high GWP but low operating pressure
Zero ODP and GWP = 1 (the reference point for GWP)
Zero ODP and zero GWP
Same ODP and GWP as R-22

Question 20: After recovering refrigerant from a system, a technician may return that recovered refrigerant back to the SAME system without reclaiming it. This is ___________.

Illegal — all recovered refrigerant must be reclaimed to AHRI 700 before reuse
Legal — recovered refrigerant may go back to the same system or the same owner
Legal only if the refrigerant is tested first with an acid test kit
Illegal unless the refrigerant has been recycled first

Question 21: EPA Section 608 requires that owners of appliances containing 50 or more pounds of refrigerant keep records of ___________.

Only the brand name of the refrigerant used
Refrigerant purchases, amounts added, and leak repair information
The name and EPA number of every technician who worked on the equipment
No records are required for systems under 100 lbs

Question 22: True or False: EPA can revoke a technician's Section 608 certification if the technician is found to have knowingly violated refrigerant venting regulations.

True
False

Question 23: Propane (R-290) is increasingly used as a refrigerant in small commercial refrigerators because it has zero ODP and very low GWP. Its ASHRAE safety classification is ___________.

A1 — lower toxicity, non-flammable
A3 — lower toxicity, highly flammable
B1 — higher toxicity, non-flammable
A2L — lower toxicity, mildly flammable

Question 24: Which of the following is a correct safe handling practice for refrigerant cylinders?

Remove the pressure relief valve to prevent accidental venting
Always keep valve protection caps on when not in use
Store cylinders on their side to prevent valve damage
Mark cylinders with a felt-tip pen to avoid scratching the surface

Question 25: HFO refrigerants (hydrofluoroolefins) such as R-1234yf represent the next generation of refrigerants because they have ___________.

High ODP but very low GWP
Zero ODP and very low GWP (typically under 10)
The same ODP and GWP as HFCs
Zero ODP and zero GWP — completely harmless

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)