EPA 608 Practice Test

EPA 608 Type I: Small Appliances Practice Questions

Type I: Small Appliances makes up 10 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest EPA 608 practice test. Here are 10 of the 40 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.

Updated 2026-11-10 by the Tigertest team. Based on 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F and the EPA Section 608 test outline. Each real section is 25 questions, 18 to pass.

1. 1. Under EPA rules, a small appliance is a product that is factory charged and hermetically sealed with how much refrigerant?

   • A.Two pounds or less
   • B.Five pounds or less
   • C.Fifteen pounds or less
   • D.Fifty pounds or less

   Answer: B. 40 CFR 82.152 defines a small appliance as a product fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory with five pounds or less of refrigerant.

2. 2. Which of the following appliances falls outside the EPA definition of a small appliance?

   • A.Packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC)
   • B.Self-contained drinking water cooler
   • C.Under-the-counter ice maker
   • D.Split-system central air conditioner

   Answer: D. Small appliances include refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners and PTACs, dehumidifiers, vending machines, water coolers, and under-the-counter ice makers (40 CFR 82.152). A field-installed split system is not factory sealed, so it falls under Type II.

3. 3. A technician is asked to repair a sealed vending machine holding 12 ounces of R-134a. Which EPA certification allows this work?

   • A.Type I or Universal certification
   • B.No certification, since the charge is tiny
   • C.Type II certification only
   • D.Type III certification only

   Answer: A. A vending machine with a factory-sealed charge of five pounds or less is a small appliance, which requires Type I or Universal certification under 40 CFR 82.161.

4. 4. A technician uses recovery equipment built in 2020 on a refrigerator whose compressor still runs. What percentage of the refrigerant must be recovered?

   • A.95 percent
   • B.99 percent
   • C.90 percent
   • D.80 percent

   Answer: C. With equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993, a technician must recover 90% of the refrigerant from a small appliance with an operating compressor, or reach 4 inches Hg vacuum (40 CFR 82.156).

5. 5. A technician is recovering refrigerant from a chest freezer whose compressor will not run, using modern certified equipment. What recovery level must be reached?

   • A.95 percent of the charge or 10 inches Hg vacuum
   • B.70 percent of the charge or 0 psig
   • C.80 percent of the charge or 4 inches Hg vacuum
   • D.90 percent of the charge or 500 microns

   Answer: C. When the compressor is not operating, 40 CFR 82.156 requires recovering 80% of the refrigerant or evacuating the small appliance to 4 inches of mercury vacuum.

6. 6. As an alternative to a percentage of the charge, small appliance recovery can be satisfied by evacuating to what level?

   • A.4 inches of mercury vacuum
   • B.10 inches of mercury vacuum
   • C.15 inches of mercury vacuum
   • D.500 microns of mercury

   Answer: A. Under 40 CFR 82.156, evacuating a small appliance to 4 inches Hg vacuum satisfies the recovery requirement in place of the 80% or 90% recovery efficiency.

7. 7. Recovery equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, and used on small appliances must achieve which level?

   • A.70 percent recovery or atmospheric pressure
   • B.90 percent recovery or 10 inches Hg vacuum
   • C.95 percent recovery or 500 microns
   • D.80 percent recovery or 4 inches Hg vacuum

   Answer: D. Older recovery equipment (made before November 15, 1993) must recover 80% of the refrigerant or reach 4 inches Hg vacuum, regardless of whether the compressor runs (40 CFR 82.156).

8. 8. Recovery equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993, for use on small appliances must be:

   • A.Painted gray with a yellow top for identification
   • B.Certified by an EPA-approved testing organization
   • C.Built by the original appliance manufacturer
   • D.Registered annually with the local state fire marshal

   Answer: B. 40 CFR 82.158 requires recovery equipment built after November 15, 1993, to be certified by an EPA-approved equipment testing organization, such as UL or Intertek.

9. 9. Under 40 CFR 82.162, what must a business servicing small appliances certify to EPA regarding its recovery equipment?

   • A.Proof of liability insurance covering recovery work
   • B.That it owns certified recovery equipment
   • C.The serial number of every refrigerant cylinder
   • D.Monthly logs of each appliance it has serviced

   Answer: B. 40 CFR 82.162 requires persons servicing or disposing of appliances to certify to EPA that they have acquired certified recovery or recycling equipment.

10. 10. Self-contained recovery equipment differs from system-dependent recovery equipment because it:

    • A.Stores refrigerant in an unpressurized plastic bag
    • B.Works only on appliances with burned-out compressor motors
    • C.Relies on the appliance compressor and system pressure
    • D.Has its own compressor to remove refrigerant

    Answer: D. Self-contained (active) recovery equipment uses its own compressor and stores refrigerant in a pressurized recovery cylinder, while system-dependent (passive) equipment relies on the appliance's compressor or internal pressure.