EPA 608 Technician Certification: Small Appliance Recovery Rules Concepts
Importance ★★★★★ · 50% (estimate)
Overview
This chapter covers the rules for small appliances, the equipment Type I technicians work on. You will learn what counts as a small appliance, how much refrigerant must be recovered, the special rules for Type I tests, and what happens to refrigerant when old appliances are scrapped.
A small appliance is fully built, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds of refrigerant or less. Examples are household refrigerators and freezers, window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, water coolers, and vending machines. A split system charged in the field is not a small appliance.
With recovery equipment made on or after November 15, 1993, recover 90 percent of the refrigerant if the appliance's compressor works, or 80 percent if it does not. With older equipment, recover 80 percent. Evacuating to 4 inches of mercury vacuum also meets the rule. Recovery equipment must be certified.
A Type I-only test may be given by mail. It needs 84 percent to pass and cannot count toward Universal. People who only dispose of small appliances do not need certification, but the refrigerant must still be recovered. The final processor, such as a scrap yard, must recover the refrigerant or keep signed statements for three years.
Key concepts
Small appliance
An appliance fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds of refrigerant or less.
Memory tipFactory-sealed and 5 lb or less.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152 (EPA Section 608 rules) · as of 2026
90 percent rule
With recovery equipment made on or after November 15, 1993, recover 90 percent of the refrigerant when the small appliance's compressor works.
Memory tipNew machine + working compressor = 90%.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(b) (EPA Section 608 rules) · as of 2026
80 percent rule
Recover 80 percent when the compressor does not work, or when using recovery equipment made before November 15, 1993.
Memory tipDead compressor or old machine = 80%.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(b) (EPA Section 608 rules) · as of 2026
4-inch vacuum option
Instead of proving a percentage, a technician may evacuate a small appliance to 4 inches of mercury vacuum.
Memory tipSmall appliance: 4 in. Hg vacuum also OK.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(b)(3) (EPA Section 608 rules) · as of 2026
Final processor
The last person in the disposal chain, such as a scrap recycler or landfill. They must recover leftover refrigerant or get a signed statement or contract, and keep it 3 years.
Memory tipScrap yard: recover or get it in writing.
Source: 40 CFR 82.155 (EPA Section 608 rules) · as of 2026
Mail-in Type I test
A Type I-only test may be given in a mail-in format. The passing score is 84 percent, and it cannot be used toward Universal certification.
Memory tipMail-in: 84%, no Universal.
Source: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F, Appendix D · as of 2026
Process stub
A short length of tubing on a small appliance that gives access to the refrigerant and can be resealed after service. Small appliances must have one.
Memory tipSmall appliances come with a process stub.
Source: 40 CFR 82.152, 82.154(e) (EPA Section 608 rules) · as of 2026
Often tested
- Window air conditioners and household refrigerators are small appliances.
- A signed statement names who recovered the refrigerant, their address, and the date.
- If all refrigerant leaked out, the final processor needs a signed statement saying so.
- Type I certification is needed to service small appliances.
Easy to confuse: Small appliance recovery requirements
| Recovery equipment made | Compressor works | Compressor does not work |
|---|---|---|
| Before Nov. 15, 1993 | 80% | 80% |
| On or after Nov. 15, 1993 | 90% | 80% |
| Either (alternative) | 4 in. Hg vacuum | 4 in. Hg vacuum |
3 sample questions
Verified practice questions from this unit.
Question 1. Under EPA rules, what is a "small appliance"?
- ① A field-assembled split system with 15 pounds or less
- ② Any appliance with less than 50 pounds of refrigerant
- ③ A factory-built, factory-charged, hermetically sealed appliance with 5 pounds of refrigerant or less
- ④ Any appliance that plugs into a wall outlet
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ③ A factory-built, factory-charged, hermetically sealed appliance with 5 pounds of refrigerant or less
Key point: Small appliance: factory-sealed, 5 lb or less
40 CFR 82.152 defines a small appliance as one that is fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with 5 pounds or less of refrigerant, such as household refrigerators, window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and water coolers.
Wrong choices
- A field-assembled split system with 15 pounds or less: Field-assembled systems are not small appliances, and the limit is 5 pounds, not 15.
- Any appliance with less than 50 pounds of refrigerant: 50 pounds is a leak repair threshold, not the small appliance limit.
- Any appliance that plugs into a wall outlet: Plugging into an outlet does not make an appliance "small" under the rule.
Question 2. Which of these is a small appliance under EPA rules?
- ① A window air conditioner
- ② A 3-ton split-system central air conditioner
- ③ A packaged rooftop unit
- ④ A centrifugal chiller
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ① A window air conditioner
Key point: Window AC, fridge, dehumidifier = small appliances
Small appliances include window and room air conditioners, household refrigerators and freezers, dehumidifiers, under-counter ice makers, vending machines, and drinking water coolers, as long as they are factory-sealed with 5 pounds or less.
Wrong choices
- A 3-ton split-system central air conditioner: A split system is assembled and charged in the field, so it is not a small appliance.
- A packaged rooftop unit: Rooftop units usually hold more than 5 pounds and need Type II.
- A centrifugal chiller: Chillers are large appliances (Type II or Type III).
Question 3. A technician uses recovery equipment made after November 15, 1993, on a small appliance whose compressor works. How much refrigerant must be recovered?
- ① 80 percent
- ② 90 percent
- ③ 100 percent
- ④ 70 percent
▼ Show answer and explanation▲ Hide answer and explanation
Answer: ② 90 percent
Key point: New equipment + working compressor = 90%
Under 40 CFR 82.156(b), with recovery equipment made on or after November 15, 1993, recover 90 percent of the refrigerant if the appliance's compressor works, or 80 percent if it does not. Evacuating to 4 inches of mercury vacuum also meets the rule.
Wrong choices
- 80 percent: 80 percent applies when the compressor does not work or the equipment is older.
- 100 percent: EPA does not require 100 percent recovery.
- 70 percent: 70 percent is not a recovery requirement.
AI-written · Verified · Written by AI. Only units that passed a separate AI check (re-reading facts and numbers) are published. Tell us if you find a mistake.