What should the technician do?

Recovery techniques · EPA 608 Type I. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Identifying refrigerants, access valves, passive recovery and solderless fittings.

The question

A passive recovery device is connected to a dehumidifier that still works, but the unit is switched off and recovery is slow. What should the technician do?

• ALeave it off and heat the cabinet
• BOpen the low side to the air
• CAdd refrigerant to raise the system pressure first
• DSwitch the dehumidifier on so its compressor runsCorrect answer

Why “Switch the dehumidifier on so its compressor runs” is correct

EPA's test topics call for operating an operative compressor when using a system-dependent device. The running compressor pushes refrigerant toward the recovery container far better than the device can alone.

Source: EPA: Test Topics

Why the other answers are wrong

• Leave it off and heat the cabinet — Heating is an aid for a compressor that cannot run; this one can.
• Open the low side to the air — That would vent refrigerant and let in air.
• Add refrigerant to raise the system pressure first — Adding refrigerant during recovery is pointless and wasteful.

Practice more of this

More EPA 608 Type I practice questions, or see every EPA 608 practice test.