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EPA 608 NEC 2023

EPA 608 Type 2 Exam Practice Test 5

Free EPA 608 Type II Exam Practice Test 5. 25 questions covering recovery cylinder cooling, water-cooled recovery machines for large systems, recovered refrigerant contamination, low-loss fitting requirements, rotating shaft seal leaks on idle open compressors, R-12 idle system pressure, system dehydration, reciprocating compressor safety valve position, excessive superheat as a leak indicator, large vacuum pump freeze risk, R-410A properties (zero ODP, high GWP), Type II scope definition, R-404A in commercial refrigeration, comfort cooling vs commercial leak rate thresholds, electronic leak detector use, EPA Section 608 civil penalties, refrigerant purchase restrictions, recovering large systems vs small systems, oil contamination in liquid lines, mandatory record keeping, micron gauge accuracy, triple evacuation moisture removal, hose and fitting compatibility, post-repair verification, and R-507A as an R-502 replacement.

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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: When recovering large systems, use water-cooled recovery machines — they can handle higher heat loads without overheating. The rotating shaft seal is the most likely part to dry out and leak on an open-type compressor that has been idle for months. An idle R-12 system at room temperature will show about 74 psig. All recovery machine hoses must be equipped with low-loss fittings to minimize refrigerant escape during connection and disconnection.

25

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45 min

Time

70%

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EPA 608 Type 2 Exam Practice Test 5 — Question List

Question 1: The recovery container should be …………….. during a refrigerant recovery?

Cooled
Sub cooled
Heated
Cleaned

Question 2: For recovery of large refrigerant systems which of the following machines should be used?

Water cooled refrigerant machines
Nitrogen cooled refrigerant machines
Recover machine with large vacuum pump
Recovery machine with pressure regulator

Question 3: Recovered refrigerant from a system contains acids, oils and ……………

Vapour
Water
Moisture
Nitrogen

Question 4: As per EPA rules all hoses of recovery machines should be sealed to reduce the leakage of ………………. When connecting or disconnecting the recovery machine?

Refrigerant
Nitrogen
Oil
Moisture

Question 5: What part is most likely to leak in a refrigeration system with open compressor is not used for several months?

The suction service valve
The rotating shaft seal
The oil drain plug
The discharge service valve

Question 6: What is the R-12 refrigeration unit pressure at room temperature which is idle?

74 psig
124 psig
184 psig
210 psig

Question 7: A refrigerant system is dehydrated to …………………..

Remove the oil and vapour
Remove the water and moisture
Remove the nitrogen trapped in system
Remove the refrigerant

Question 8: In which of the following condition the reciprocating compressor should not be energized?

When the discharge service valve is close
When the discharge service valve is open
When the suction service valve is open
When the suction pressure is high.

Question 9: Which of the following is an indicator of possible leak in high pressure refrigeration system?

High head pressure
Low water pressure
Excessive super heat
Frequent purging

Question 10: If large vacuum pump is used for evacuating a refrigeration system………….

It causes the trapped oil to freeze
It causes the trapped refrigerant to freeze
It causes the trapped water to freeze
It causes the components to freeze

Question 11: Which of the following accurately describes R-410A in terms of ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP)?

ODP = 0.055 (same as R-22) and GWP = 1,810
ODP = 0 (zero ozone depletion) and GWP ≈ 2,088
ODP = 1.0 (same as R-12) and GWP = 10,900
ODP = 0 and GWP = 0 — R-410A has no environmental impact

Question 12: Which of the following best describes the equipment covered by EPA 608 Type II certification?

Small hermetically sealed appliances with 5 lbs or less of refrigerant
High-pressure refrigerant equipment with more than 5 lbs charge — R-22, R-410A, R-404A, etc.
Low-pressure centrifugal chiller systems only (R-11, R-123)
Motor vehicle air conditioning systems

Question 13: Which refrigerant is commonly used in low-temperature commercial refrigeration applications such as supermarket frozen food cases and walk-in freezers?

R-410A — the universal replacement for all refrigerants in commercial systems
R-404A (and R-507A) — HFC blends used in commercial and transport low-temperature refrigeration
R-22 — still used in all commercial freezers because it is the most effective
R-134a — the standard refrigerant for all commercial supermarket applications

Question 14: A building owner has two systems: a 100 lb R-410A comfort cooling (HVAC) system and a 100 lb R-404A commercial walk-in freezer system. Which system must be repaired first if both are leaking at a rate of 20% per year?

The R-404A freezer — commercial refrigeration has a stricter requirement
The R-410A comfort cooling system — 20% exceeds the 15% comfort cooling threshold
Both systems must be repaired — 20% exceeds both thresholds
Neither system requires mandatory repair — 20% is below the universal 35% threshold

Question 15: What type of leak detector is recommended for finding small refrigerant leaks in R-410A and R-22 high-pressure systems?

Halide torch — the flame color indicates refrigerant presence
Electronic leak detector (heated diode or infrared) — works with all refrigerant types including HFCs
Soap bubbles only — electronic detectors are too expensive for routine service
Nitrogen pressure gauge — watch for pressure drop over time

Question 16: What is the maximum civil penalty the EPA can impose per day for a knowing violation of EPA Section 608 (such as intentionally venting refrigerant)?

$500 per day — same as a routine parking ticket
Up to $44,539 per day per violation
$1,000 one-time fine regardless of duration
There are no civil penalties — only criminal prosecution applies

Question 17: An uncertified person wants to purchase a 30 lb cylinder of R-22 from a refrigerant supplier. Can the supplier legally sell R-22 to this person?

Yes — anyone can purchase refrigerant in any quantity without restrictions
No — R-22 in containers over 2 lbs may only be sold to EPA-certified technicians
Yes — as long as the purchaser signs a form stating they will not vent the refrigerant
Only licensed plumbers are restricted — HVAC technicians can buy freely

Question 18: What problem occurs when excessive oil circulates through the liquid line and collects in the evaporator of a refrigeration system?

The oil acts as a lubricant in the evaporator, improving refrigerant flow
Oil logging in the evaporator reduces heat transfer efficiency and starves the compressor of lubrication
Oil in the liquid line increases subcooling and improves system efficiency
Oil in the liquid line has no effect on system performance

Question 19: A technician services an R-410A rooftop unit with an 80 lb refrigerant charge and adds 15 lbs of R-410A due to a leak. What documentation is required by EPA Section 608?

No documentation needed — the system is under 100 lbs
A service record with the date, refrigerant added/recovered, and certified technician name; keep for at least 3 years
Only document if the leak rate exceeds the threshold — adding refrigerant alone requires no record
Documentation is voluntary and only required in states with their own HVAC regulations

Question 20: Why is a micron gauge (vacuum gauge) preferred over a standard manifold gauge for verifying deep system vacuum during evacuation?

A micron gauge is not necessary — standard manifold gauges are accurate enough at all vacuum levels
Standard manifold gauges cannot accurately measure deep vacuum; a micron gauge reads in absolute pressure units and is precise at low pressures
Micron gauges measure temperature, not pressure — they are used for a different purpose
Micron gauges are only needed for Type III low-pressure systems — not for Type II

Question 21: What is the primary advantage of triple evacuation over a single deep vacuum when dehydrating a refrigeration system?

Triple evacuation charges the system with refrigerant three times to test for leaks between each charge
Breaking the vacuum with nitrogen between pulls disperses moisture from surfaces, making each subsequent pull more effective
Triple evacuation is required by EPA for all systems — single evacuation is never permitted
Triple evacuation reduces the amount of refrigerant needed to charge the system

Question 22: A technician switches from servicing an R-22 system to an R-410A system. Can the same manifold gauge hoses be used for both refrigerants?

Yes — all manifold hoses are rated for all refrigerants and can be freely shared
No — R-22 hoses use 1/4" fittings and lower pressure ratings; R-410A requires 5/16" fittings and 800+ psig rated hoses
Yes — as long as the hoses are flushed with nitrogen between uses
Only the gauge set needs to change — hoses can be shared freely

Question 23: After completing a repair on an R-22 air conditioning system (replaced the TXV, evacuated, and recharged), what should the technician do before leaving the job site?

Pack up the tools and leave — the repair is done once the system is recharged
Verify system operation: check pressures, superheat, subcooling, supply air, and test all new connections for leaks
Only check for leaks — operational verification is the owner's responsibility
Run the system for 24 hours before checking — pressures are not meaningful right after startup

Question 24: What is R-507A, and in what applications is it used?

R-507A is the same as R-22 — just a different name used in different regions
R-507A is a near-azeotropic HFC blend (R-125/R-143a) used in commercial and transport low-temperature refrigeration
R-507A is a natural refrigerant made from propane and butane mixtures
R-507A is a low-pressure refrigerant used only in large centrifugal chillers

Question 25: A technician adds refrigerant to a leaking R-404A commercial freezer system without finding or repairing the leak. The owner is satisfied because the freezer is cooling again. Has the technician complied with EPA Section 608?

Yes — the owner is satisfied and the system is cooling, which means the technician's job is done
No — if the leak rate exceeds the threshold, the technician must inform the owner and the leak must be repaired
Yes — adding refrigerant is always acceptable as a temporary measure under Section 608
The technician has no obligation to repair leaks — only to add refrigerant when called

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)