EPA 608 Core Practice Test

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This section of the EPA 608 Core practice test contains 90 questions designed to cover important material such as refrigerant safety, environmental impacts, regulations, and proper handling procedures.

The core test relates to all types of certification; therefore, scoring well is important regardless of which path you take. Use this quiz to check your knowledge, and build confidence before finishing the final section of the test.

90 Questions

1. What tool is commonly used to detect refrigerant leaks?

 
 
 
 

2. What is the goal of refrigerant reclamation?

 
 
 
 

3. Who can legally reclaim refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

4. Which method verifies that a leak has been properly repaired?

 
 
 
 

5. When should a filter-drier be replaced?

 
 
 
 

6. What element in CFCs and HCFCs damages the ozone layer?

 
 
 
 

7. Which section of the Clean Air Act specifically deals with refrigerant handling and technician certification?

 
 
 
 

8. What is a key requirement under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act?

 
 
 
 

9. Which component is typically used to remove moisture from refrigerant in a system?

 
 
 
 

10. What is the primary benefit of using low-GWP refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

11. Why should refrigerant cylinders never be stored in direct sunlight or high heat?

 
 
 
 

12. Which appliance category has the lowest EPA leak rate threshold?

 
 
 
 

13. What happens if a technician violates Section 608 regulations?

 
 
 
 

14. Why was the Clean Air Act amended in 1990 with respect to refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

15. What should be done with unusable contaminated refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

16. What safety equipment should always be worn when opening a system under pressure?

 
 
 
 

17. How is annual leak rate calculated?

 
 
 
 

18. What does Section 608 certification allow a technician to do?

 
 
 
 

19. Which of the following refrigerants is classified as an HFO (Hydrofluoroolefin)?

 
 
 
 

20. When is EPA Section 608 certification legally required?

 
 
 
 

21. Under the Clean Air Act, which government agency is authorized to regulate refrigerant emissions?

 
 
 
 

22. Which international agreement supports the Clean Air Act’s refrigerant regulations?

 
 
 
 

23. Which term describes refrigerant cleaned for reuse on-site without meeting purity standards?

 
 
 
 

24. Section 608 applies to which types of refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

25. Why should oxygen never be used to pressurize HVAC systems?

 
 
 
 

26. Recovered refrigerant can only be reused in which situation?

 
 
 
 

27. Which type of UV radiation is most harmful but mostly blocked by ozone?

 
 
 
 

28. What should be avoided when transferring refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

29. Which agency enforces Section 608 regulations?

 
 
 
 

30. What is the penalty for knowingly venting regulated refrigerants under the Clean Air Act?

 
 
 
 

31. What documentation must technicians provide under the Clean Air Act when disposing of an appliance with more than 5 lbs of refrigerant

 
 
 
 

32. What color is typically used for recovery cylinder tops?

 
 
 
 

33. What is one sign that moisture is present in a refrigeration system?

 
 
 
 

34. What is the best method to charge refrigerant into a system under a deep vacuum?

 
 
 
 

35. Which of the following is a valid use of a recovery machine?

 
 
 
 

36. What is the leak rate limit for commercial refrigeration systems?

 
 
 
 

37. Which refrigerant is a natural hydrocarbon and flammable, requiring special handling?

 
 
 
 

38. Why is it dangerous to heat a refrigerant cylinder with an open flame?

 
 
 
 

39. What is the primary purpose of the Clean Air Act in relation to refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

40. Who is allowed to perform refrigerant reclamation?

 
 
 
 

41. Which refrigerant has zero ozone depletion potential and low GWP?

 
 
 
 

42. When working with refrigerants, what type of gloves are recommended?

 
 
 
 

43. Which substitute refrigerant has low GWP and is used in newer automotive systems?

 
 
 
 

44. What does refrigerant recycling involve?

 
 
 
 

45. What is the EPA leak rate threshold for comfort cooling appliances before repair is required?

 
 
 
 

46. Section 608 of the Clean Air Act covers which of the following?

 
 
 
 

47. When must refrigerant be sent to a reclaimer?

 
 
 
 

48. What safety concern is most associated with using hydrocarbon refrigerants like R-290?

 
 
 
 

49. What is the purpose of technician certification under Section 608?

 
 
 
 

50. What international agreement led to the CFC phaseout?

 
 
 
 

51. What is the main difference between recycling and reclaiming refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

52. Which gas is commonly used to pressurize systems for leak checking and is considered safe?

 
 
 
 

53. What tool is used to measure a system’s vacuum level during evacuation?

 
 
 
 

54. What happens when ozone in the upper atmosphere is reduced?

 
 
 
 

55. When did the EPA begin enforcing technician certification under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act?

 
 
 
 

56. What is the purpose of refrigerant recovery?

 
 
 
 

57. Which part of Earth’s atmosphere contains the protective ozone layer?

 
 
 
 

58. What is the primary purpose of system evacuation before charging with refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

59. Which container is required for storing recovered refrigerant?

 
 
 
 

60. After discovering a leak above the EPA threshold, how many days are allowed to repair it?

 
 
 
 

61. Which of the following refrigerants is considered a substitute for R-22 in retrofitted systems?

 
 
 
 

62. What must be attached before transporting recovery cylinders?

 
 
 
 

63. What should be done before using a recovery cylinder?

 
 
 
 

64. Which refrigerant is most harmful to the ozone layer among these?

 
 
 
 

65. Which records must be kept by technicians?

 
 
 
 

66. What is the main U.S. law that regulates refrigerant emissions?

 
 
 
 

67. What is a key reason retrofitting old systems to use modern refrigerants can be challenging?

 
 
 
 

68. What is required if a system cannot be repaired within the allowed timeframe?

 
 
 
 

69. What should be done if a system repeatedly fails to hold a vacuum?

 
 
 
 

70. What should be done before opening any sealed refrigeration system?

 
 
 
 

71. Which term describes a refrigerant’s contribution to climate change?

 
 
 
 

72. What is the main environmental concern with HFCs?

 
 
 
 

73. What should a technician do if a small refrigerant leak is suspected but not visible?

 
 
 
 

74. Which refrigerant group has the highest ozone depletion potential (ODP)?

 
 
 
 

75. When retrofitting a system to use a new refrigerant, what must always be done?

 
 
 
 

76. What is meant by refrigerant recovery?

 
 
 
 

77. Why is moisture in a refrigeration system a problem?

 
 
 
 

78. Which of the following is an ozone-depleting refrigerant regulated under the Clean Air Act?

 
 
 
 

79. What is the primary purpose of using safety goggles when working with refrigerants?

 
 
 
 

80. Why must mineral oil be replaced when converting a system from R-22 to R-410A?

 
 
 
 

81. When must initial leak verification be completed after repair?

 
 
 
 

82. What micron level should a system be evacuated to for most EPA standards?

 
 
 
 

83. Which systems must maintain leak inspection records?

 
 
 
 

84. What does AHRI Standard 700 refer to?

 
 
 
 

85. What happens if refrigerant is charged into a system too quickly as liquid?

 
 
 
 

86. What should be clearly labeled on all refrigerant recovery cylinders?

 
 
 
 

87. What do AHRI-700 standards define?

 
 
 
 

88. Which document outlines EPA’s authority under Section 608?

 
 
 
 

89. Which part of the Clean Air Act established refrigerant recovery requirements?

 
 
 
 

90. What type of lubricant is commonly used with HFC refrigerants like R-410A?

 
 
 
 


Each technician obtaining EPA 608 certification must complete the Core section first. Therefore, the Core section is an essential starting point to HVAC knowledge. The EPA 608 Core practice test ensures that you feel adequate with the rules, safety protections, and environmental stewardship as required by the EPA.

Since you have to answer all of the questions, be sure to review the explanation given with each question as many of the explained details are positive learning reinforcement. When you are finished and ready, go to the Type I practice test to begin your focus on small appliance systems.

Next: EPA 608 Type 1 Practice Test
Mark A. Fletcher
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