What evacuation level must be reached before opening the system for a major repair?

Recovery requirements · EPA 608 Type II. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Evacuation levels by charge size and equipment date, major repairs, and system-dependent limits.

The question

A technician recovers R-410A from a split system with a 12-pound charge using a recovery machine built in 1990. What evacuation level must be reached before opening the system for a major repair?

  • 10 inches of Hg vacuum
  • 4 inches of Hg vacuum
  • 25 mm Hg absolute
  • 0 inches of Hg vacuumCorrect answer

Why “0 inches of Hg vacuum” is correct

R-410A is a high-pressure refrigerant, and this appliance holds less than 200 pounds. Table 1 requires 0 inches of Hg vacuum for that row whether the recovery equipment was built before or after November 15, 1993.

Source: 40 CFR 82.156(a), Table 1; 40 CFR 82.152

Why the other answers are wrong

  • 10 inches of Hg vacuum — 10 inches is for high-pressure appliances of 200 pounds or more with newer equipment.
  • 4 inches of Hg vacuum — 4 inches is the older-equipment level for high-pressure appliances of 200 pounds or more, not under 200.
  • 25 mm Hg absolute — 25 mm Hg absolute applies only to low-pressure appliances.

Practice more of this

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Unofficial, not affiliated with the EPA or any EPA-approved certifying organization. Questions are original practice written from public EPA material, not real exam questions.