HVAC - EPA Certification Practice Exam

How should a technician address non-condensables during refrigerant recovery?

1. By storing them for future use

2. By releasing them into the atmosphere

3. By ensuring proper venting in the recovery tank

4. By compressing them to reduce volume

The correct answer is: By ensuring proper venting in the recovery tank

A technician should ensure proper venting in the recovery tank to address non-condensables during refrigerant recovery because non-condensable gases, such as air and moisture, can interfere with the recovery process and affect the efficiency and safety of the equipment. Proper venting allows these gases to escape from the recovery system, ensuring that only refrigerant is contained within the tank. This helps maintain the integrity of the refrigerant being recovered and prevents potential pressures from building up in the recovery tank, which could lead to safety hazards. It is crucial for technicians to manage non-condensables correctly, as trapping these gases can lead to increased pressure and could violate environmental regulations. Thus, ensuring that the recovery system is properly set up to vent these gases is a key practice in refrigerant recovery and contributes to safer and more effective operations.