What should be done first?
Safety · EPA 608 Type II. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Hermetic compressors under vacuum and other high-pressure hazards.
The question
After evacuating an R-22 system, a technician wants to check that the hermetic compressor runs. What should be done first?
- Start it for a few seconds to listen for noise
- Pull the vacuum deeper
- Break the vacuum by charging refrigerantCorrect answer
- Disconnect the crankcase heater
Why “Break the vacuum by charging refrigerant” is correct
A hermetic compressor should not be energized while the system is in a vacuum. Breaking the vacuum by charging refrigerant first removes the risk of motor damage.
Source: EPA: Test Topics
Why the other answers are wrong
- Start it for a few seconds to listen for noise — Starting it under vacuum is exactly what should be avoided.
- Pull the vacuum deeper — A deeper vacuum makes the risk worse, not better.
- Disconnect the crankcase heater — The crankcase heater does not address the vacuum hazard.
Practice more of this
More EPA 608 Type II practice questions, or see every EPA 608 practice test.
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.