ExamFinch.com My Study

Cheat sheet

EPA 608 Cheat Sheet

Practice this exam

Core

  • 25% of exam
  • Clean Air Act Venting ODP Three Rs Safety

Type I

  • 25% of exam
  • Small Appliances Recovery Passive Recovery Access Valves Disposal

Type II

  • 25% of exam
  • High Pressure Leak Repair Evacuation R-22 Oil Change

Type III

  • 25% of exam
  • Low Pressure Purge Units Chillers 25 mm Hg Water Intrusion

Quick Facts

  • Exam EPA 608
  • Credential Technician Certification
  • Sections Core + I + II + III
  • Universal All four tests
  • Validity Does not expire
  • Provider EPA-approved certifier
  • Law 40 CFR 82
  • Focus Prevent releases

Three Rs CO

  • Recover, recycle, reclaim: no shortcuts
  • Recover: remove Recycle: clean Reclaim: AHRI 700 Resale needs reclaim

Recover vs Recycle CO

Recover

  • Remove refrigerant
  • External container
  • No cleaning

Recycle

  • Clean refrigerant
  • Filter/oil separation
  • Same-owner reuse
  • Remove vs clean

Certification Picker CO

  • Small appliance → Type I ( 5 lb max )
  • Medium to very-high pressure → Type II
  • Low-pressure chiller → Type III
  • All stationary types → Universal
  • Motor vehicle AC → Section 609
  • Apprentice work → Supervised only

Core Rules CO

  • Section 608 Stationary equipment rules
  • Technician Opens refrigerant circuit
  • Venting Intentional release prohibited
  • De minimis Good-faith release
  • Sales restriction Certified buyers only
  • 40 CFR 82 Subpart F rules
  • Certification EPA-approved test
  • Universal Core plus all types

Family ODP CO

  • CFC worst; HCFC less; HFC zero
  • CFC: high ODP HCFC: lower ODP HFC: zero ODP GWP still matters

Recycle vs Reclaim CO

Recycle

  • Basic cleaning
  • Same owner
  • Field equipment

Reclaim

  • AHRI 700
  • Certified reclaimer
  • Resale allowed
  • Reuse vs resale

Refrigerants CO

  • CFC High ODP
  • HCFC Lower ODP
  • HFC Zero ODP
  • HFO Low GWP option
  • Natural Ammonia, CO2, hydrocarbons
  • R-12 CFC example
  • R-22 HCFC example
  • R-134a HFC example
  • R-410A HFC blend

Universal Path CO

  • Core + I + II + III
  • Core required Type I small Type II high Type III low

ODP vs GWP CO

ODP

  • Ozone damage
  • Chlorine matters
  • CFC high

GWP

  • Climate warming
  • HFC issue
  • CO2 baseline
  • Ozone vs climate

Ozone + Climate CO

  • ODP Ozone damage
  • GWP Climate warming
  • Chlorine Destroys ozone
  • Stratosphere Ozone layer
  • Montreal ODS phaseout
  • AIM Act HFC phasedown
  • 2036 85% HFC cut

608 vs 609 CO

608

  • Stationary equipment
  • HVAC/R systems
  • Types I-III

609

  • Motor vehicles
  • MVAC service
  • Separate program
  • Stationary vs vehicle

Cycle + Components CO

  • Compressor Raises pressure
  • Condenser Rejects heat
  • Metering device Drops pressure
  • Evaporator Absorbs heat
  • Receiver Stores liquid
  • Accumulator Protects compressor
  • Filter-drier Removes moisture
  • Sight glass Shows flow

De Minimis vs Venting CO

De minimis

  • Good-faith loss
  • Hose connection
  • Allowed release

Venting

  • Intentional release
  • Service shortcut
  • Prohibited act
  • Incidental vs intentional

Three Rs CO

  • Recover Remove and store
  • Recycle Clean for reuse
  • Reclaim Process to AHRI 700
  • Same owner Recovered reuse allowed
  • New owner Reclaim first
  • Reclaimer EPA-certified processor
  • Do not mix Avoid contamination

Safety CO

  • PPE Gloves and goggles
  • SCBA Large leak protection
  • Frostbite Liquid refrigerant
  • Asphyxiation Oxygen displacement
  • Phosgene Flame decomposition
  • 80% fill Cylinder limit
  • Nitrogen Preferred pressure gas
  • Low-loss fittings Reduce hose release

HFC + SNAP CO

  • SNAP Substitute acceptability list
  • Acceptable Legal for end-use
  • Unacceptable Illegal substitute
  • Use conditions Required restrictions
  • A2L Mildly flammable
  • R-454B Lower-GWP replacement
  • R-32 Lower-GWP replacement
  • HFC allowances Phasedown mechanism

Type I Basics TY

  • Small appliance Factory-sealed unit
  • Charge size 5 lb or less
  • Examples Fridges, window AC
  • Working compressor 90% (1993+ equipment)
  • Dead compressor 80% recovery
  • Vacuum option 4 in Hg
  • Line tap Temporary access
  • Passive recovery System-dependent method

Azeotropic vs Zeotropic TY

Azeotropic

  • Acts single
  • No glide
  • Stable blend

Zeotropic

  • Temperature glide
  • Fractionation risk
  • Liquid charge
  • No glide vs glide

Evacuation Picker TY

  • Small working compressor → 90% ( 1993+ equipment )
  • Small dead compressor → 80% ( Type I )
  • Small vacuum option → 4 in Hg ( Type I )
  • Very high-pressure → 0 in Hg
  • High under 200 lb → 0 in Hg
  • High 200 lb plus → 10 in Hg
  • Medium under 200 lb → 10 in Hg
  • Medium 200 lb plus → 15 in Hg
  • Low-pressure system → 25 mm Hg ( Absolute )
  • Oil change → 5 psig max

Type II Basics TY

  • Type II scope Medium, high, very high pressure
  • Very high-pressure 0 in Hg
  • High <200 lb 0 in Hg
  • High >=200 lb 10 in Hg
  • 15 lb limit No passive above
  • Liquid recovery Do first
  • Push-pull Large charge speed
  • Oil change 5 psig max
  • Zeotropic Charge as liquid

Leak Action TY

  • ODS 50 lb leaks → Apply triggers
  • Above trigger → Repair 30 days
  • IPR shutdown needed → 120 days
  • Retire instead → Plan 30 days
  • Repair delayed → Document extension
  • HFC system → Check Part 84

Leak + Records TY

  • Full charge 50 lb ODS; 15 lb HFC
  • Comfort cooling 10% trigger
  • Commercial refrigeration 20% trigger
  • Industrial process 30% trigger
  • Repair window 30 days
  • IPR shutdown 120 days
  • Verification Initial and follow-up
  • Mothballing Pauses timelines

Pressure Memory TY

  • High pushes out; low pulls in
  • Type II: pressure Type III: vacuum Low leaks inward

Type II vs Type III TY

Type II

  • High pressure
  • Field systems
  • Leaks push out

Type III

  • Low pressure
  • Centrifugal chillers
  • Leaks pull in
  • Pressure decides type

Type III Basics TY

  • Low-pressure Operates in vacuum
  • Chiller Common Type III unit
  • Recovery level 25 mm Hg absolute
  • Non-major repair No higher than 0 psig
  • Purge unit Removes noncondensables
  • Rupture disc Max working pressure relief
  • Tube leak Water enters refrigerant
  • Eddy current Finds tube defects
  • Oil heater Prevents migration

Common Traps

Certification vs card

  • EPA approves tests ≠ EPA issues no cards

HFC vs ODS

  • HFC has zero ODP ≠ HFC can high GWP

Recycle vs reclaim

  • Recycle stays same owner ≠ Reclaim enables resale

Low-pressure leaks

  • Air leaks inward ≠ Purge frequency rises

Passive recovery limits

  • Allowed for small systems ≠ Not for low-pressure

Oil change pressure

  • Recover first ≠ Do not exceed 5 psig

Venting vs de minimis

  • Good-faith loss allowed ≠ Intentional release prohibited

Last Minute

  • 1. Universal = Core plus all types
  • 2. 608 stationary; 609 vehicle
  • 3. Venting is prohibited
  • 4. HFC zero ODP, high GWP
  • 5. Recover before opening systems
  • 6. Small appliance: 5 lb max
  • 7. Type I: 90% (1993+ gear)/80%
  • 8. Low-pressure: 25 mm Hg
  • 9. Oil changes need 5 psig
  • 10. Leak triggers: 10/20/30
  • 11. Sales require matching certification
  • 12. Do not mix refrigerants