Previous EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 14 Next EPA 608 Type 3 Exam Practice Test 3

EPA 608 NEC 2023

EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 15

Free EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 15. 25 questions covering heating before evacuation, refrigerant GWP comparison, evaporator heat absorption, large vacuum pump effects in passive recovery, expansion valve pressure differential, condenser outlet state, high pressure gauge maximum, low-loss fittings, non-condensable symptoms, HFC fixed leak detection requirements, sight glass and filter dryer diagnosis, leak detection method selection, ambient temperature and recovery speed, Section 608 vs 609 scope, small container refrigerant sales, HCFC-22 phase-out, same-owner refrigerant rules, mixed refrigerant handling, EPA exam certification organization, hermetic compressor definition, electronic detector sensing element, nitrogen purge during brazing, superheat measurement, subcooling, and refrigerant identifier use.

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: Heating a system before evacuation reduces dehydration time because warm refrigerant vapor moves faster and moisture evaporates more readily. R-152a has the lowest GWP (≈124) among commonly tested refrigerants. Bubbling in the sight glass (not "slight glass") indicates a blocked filter dryer or low refrigerant charge. EPA Section 608 covers stationary refrigeration and A/C equipment only — motor vehicle A/C (MVAC) is covered by Section 609. Both require refrigerant recovery before service.

25

Questions

45 min

Time

70%

Pass

Timer starts immediately. Progress is auto-saved.

EPA 608 Core Exam Practice Test 15 — Question List

Question 1: What is the advantage of heating the system before evacuating it?

Reduces the dehydration time
increases the efficiency of dehydration
increases the pressure in the system
reduces the refrigerant leakage during evacuation

Question 2: Which of the following refrigerant has lowest Global Warming Potential (GWP)?

R-12
R-134a
R-22
R-152a

Question 3: In the evaporator of refrigeration circuit, the refrigerant …………….

Absorbs heat from the surrounding medium.
Releases heat to the surrounding medium.
changes from vapor to liquid
pressure increases

Question 4: The effect of using of large vacuum pump in passive refrigerant recovery system is …………………

Freezes the moisture in the system
Freezes the oil in the system
The refrigerant in the system will freeze
The recovery process will speed up.

Question 5: The flow of refrigerant entering in to evaporator is controlled by ………………

Differential pressure across the expansion valve
Differential temperature across the expansion valve
Differential pressure across the compressor
Differential temperature across the compressor

Question 6: The refrigerant leaving the condenser is ……………………………

High pressure liquid
Low pressure liquid
Low pressure vapour
High pressure vapour

Question 7: What is the maximum typical pressure that a high pressure gauge can read?

500 psig
300 psig
800 psig
1000 psig

Question 8: EPA regulations require that the manifold gauge hoses should be equipped with …………….. to minimize the refrigerant loss when disconnecting the hoses.

Low loss fittings
Tightly bonded fittings
Screw fitted fittings
Regulatory fittings

Question 9: When the pressure readings in high and low pressure gauges is high it indicates that

Air is present in the system
Moisture present in system
Over compression of refrigerant
Insufficient Refrigerant

Question 10: Systems charged with more than 300 kg of HFC must …………..

be leak tested once in month
be fitted with permanent fixed leak detector
be leak tested thrice a year
be leak tested annually

Question 11: In a refrigeration circuit, which of the following indicates that the liquid line filter dryer is blocked?

Bubbling in the sight glass
High pressure reading in liquid line
Low pressure reading in liquid line
Oil leak in the system

Question 12: Which is an important factor when choosing a leak detection method?

Type of refrigerant
Charge capacity of the refrigerant
Pressure of the refrigerant
Material of the refrigeration container

Question 13: Lower ambient conditions around a refrigeration system will ……………. recovery time.

Increase
Decrease

Question 14: What is the key difference between EPA Section 608 and EPA Section 609?

Section 608 covers small systems; Section 609 covers large systems
Section 608 covers stationary equipment; Section 609 covers motor vehicle A/C (MVAC)
Section 608 covers CFCs only; Section 609 covers HFCs only
There is no difference — they are the same regulation

Question 15: EPA regulations restrict the sale of refrigerant to certified technicians. What is the exception to this rule?

There is no exception — certification is always required
Containers of 2 pounds or less can be sold to anyone without certification
Containers under 50 pounds can be sold to any licensed contractor
The exception applies only to HFCs, not CFCs or HCFCs

Question 16: What happened to R-22 (HCFC-22) in the United States as of January 1, 2020?

R-22 prices dropped because of increased production
New production and importation of R-22 was completely prohibited
All existing R-22 systems were required to be decommissioned
R-22 was reclassified as an HFC and is now unrestricted

Question 17: A technician recovers refrigerant from one of a company's refrigeration units. Can that refrigerant be returned to another unit owned by the SAME company without reclaiming it to AHRI 700?

No — all recovered refrigerant must be sent to a reclamation facility before reuse
Yes — recovered refrigerant can be used in any equipment owned by the same person or company
Only if the refrigerant was recycled on-site first
Only for HFCs — CFCs and HCFCs must always be reclaimed first

Question 18: If a technician finds two different refrigerants mixed in the same cylinder or system (for example, R-22 mixed with R-410A), what must be done with the mixed refrigerant?

The mixture can be added to any system as a replacement refrigerant
It must be recovered into a separate container and treated as hazardous waste
The mixture can be used in the same system without problems
It must be filtered to separate the two refrigerants before reuse

Question 19: Who is authorized to administer the EPA Section 608 technician certification exam?

The EPA administers its own test directly online
An EPA-approved certifying organization
Any HVAC trade school regardless of EPA approval
The technician's employer can administer the test in-house

Question 20: What is a "hermetic compressor" and what is the main advantage of this design?

A compressor that uses only hermetically sealed refrigerant blends
A compressor with motor and compressor sealed in one welded housing — no external shaft seal needed
A compressor that can only be used with low-pressure refrigerants
A compressor with a special seal that allows unlimited service access

Question 21: Why is it important to replace the sensing element (detector tip) of an electronic heated-diode leak detector regularly?

The sensing element is permanent and never needs replacement
The sensing element wears out over time and loses sensitivity, potentially missing real leaks
Replacement is only needed when the alarm stops making sound
Sensing elements should be replaced after every single use

Question 22: When brazing copper refrigerant lines, why should a small flow of dry nitrogen be maintained inside the tubing during the brazing process?

To cool the copper tube and prevent it from melting
To prevent copper oxide scale from forming inside the tubing
To test for leaks in the joint while it is still hot
Nitrogen purging during brazing is not necessary

Question 23: What is "superheat" in a refrigeration system and how is it measured?

The total heat content of the refrigerant at the condenser outlet
The degrees the refrigerant vapor is above its saturation temperature, measured using suction pressure and a P/T chart
The temperature difference between the supply air and return air
The amount by which the condenser raises refrigerant temperature above ambient

Question 24: What is "subcooling" in a refrigeration system and what does it ensure?

The temperature rise of the refrigerant across the compressor
The degrees liquid refrigerant is cooled below saturation temperature; ensures all-liquid refrigerant reaches the expansion valve
The cooling effect produced at the evaporator surface
The temperature difference between suction and discharge lines

Question 25: What is the purpose of using a refrigerant identifier (analyzer) before adding refrigerant to a customer's system?

To measure how much refrigerant has been used from the cylinder
To confirm the refrigerant type and purity before adding it, preventing cross-contamination
To check if the cylinder needs a hydrostatic test
The label on the cylinder is always accurate — an identifier is not necessary

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)