SKILLCAT EPA 608 EXAM Actual Exam 2026/2027
Complete Questions and Answers Detailed
Rationales Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Total Questions: 50 | Time: 90 min | Pass: 80%
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Core (General Regulations & Safety) | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Type I (Small Appliances) | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Type II (High-Pressure Appliances) | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Type III (Low-Pressure Appliances) | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Recovery, Recycling & Reclamation Procedures | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 40 in 90 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: CORE (GENERAL REGULATIONS & SAFETY) Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A 58-year-old HVAC contractor in Phoenix is reviewing a new job site that contains a
500-pound commercial chiller installed in 1998. During his initial walkthrough, he
notices the unit still bears its original nameplate showing R-22 as the refrigerant. He
needs to determine whether the leak repair provisions under Section 608 apply to this
system before scheduling any maintenance work.
A. The leak repair provisions apply because the system exceeds 50 pounds of
refrigerant charge.
B. The leak repair provisions do not apply because R-22 is no longer manufactured in
the United States.
,C. The leak repair provisions apply because the system was installed before the 2019
refrigerant phaseout deadline. ✓ CORRECT
D. The leak repair provisions do not apply because the system is located in a
non-residential setting.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EPA Section 608 leak repair requirements apply to appliances with a full
charge of 50 pounds or more of any ozone-depleting refrigerant, including R-22,
regardless of the manufacturing phaseout status. The original installation date does not
exempt the system from ongoing maintenance regulations. Many contractors
mistakenly believe phased-out refrigerants are exempt from leak repair rules, but the
charge threshold and refrigerant type are what actually determine applicability.
Question 2 of 50
A 34-year-old refrigeration technician in Chicago is servicing a walk-in freezer when she
discovers a leaking Schrader valve on the high side of the system. She has her recovery
machine and manifold gauge set ready, but she is unsure whether she needs to take any
additional steps before beginning the repair to remain compliant with EPA regulations.
A. She must recover the refrigerant to 0 psig before removing the valve core.
B. She must recover the refrigerant to 15 inches of vacuum before removing the valve
core.
C. She must recover the refrigerant to atmospheric pressure or below before removing
the valve core. ✓ CORRECT
D. She must recover the refrigerant to 4 inches of mercury vacuum before removing the
valve core.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EPA regulations require that refrigerant be recovered to at least 0 psig, which
is atmospheric pressure, before opening a system for service or disposal. The 15 inches
of vacuum and 4 inches of mercury requirements apply to specific appliance types
during final recovery, not to general service opening procedures. Technicians often
,confuse the different recovery thresholds across appliance categories, but the
fundamental rule for opening any system is reducing pressure to atmospheric or below.
Question 3 of 50
A 45-year-old maintenance supervisor in Dallas is training a new hire on proper
refrigerant handling procedures. During the session, the supervisor emphasizes that
technicians must keep detailed records of refrigerant purchases and usage. The new
hire asks how long these service records must be retained after a job is completed.
A. Service records must be retained for 2 years from the date of service.
B. Service records must be retained for 3 years from the date of service. ✓ CORRECT
C. Service records must be retained for 5 years from the date of service.
D. Service records must be retained for 7 years from the date of service.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: EPA Section 608 requires that technicians and companies maintain records
of refrigerant handling, including dates, quantities, and types of refrigerant recovered or
added, for a minimum of 3 years. The 5-year and 7-year figures sometimes confuse
technicians because they resemble OSHA or financial record retention periods. Proper
documentation protects both the technician and the employer during EPA inspections,
which can occur without advance notice.
Question 4 of 50
A 52-year-old facilities manager in Atlanta is overseeing the replacement of a rooftop
unit that contains 75 pounds of R-410A. The contractor he hired informs him that since
R-410A is not an ozone-depleting substance, the recovery and disposal requirements do
not apply to this system. The manager needs to verify this claim before authorizing the
work to proceed.
, A. The contractor is correct because R-410A is a hydrofluorocarbon and not regulated
under Section 608.
B. The contractor is incorrect because all refrigerants, regardless of type, must be
recovered before system disposal. ✓ CORRECT
C. The contractor is correct because the system contains less than 100 pounds of
refrigerant.
D. The contractor is incorrect because R-410A must be destroyed by incineration rather
than recovered.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: EPA regulations under Section 608 require recovery of all refrigerants,
including HFCs like R-410A, before opening or disposing of any appliance, regardless of
the refrigerant type or charge size. The misconception that only ozone-depleting
refrigerants are regulated is common but dangerous, as it leads to illegal venting. The
100-pound threshold applies to leak repair provisions, not to the basic requirement to
recover refrigerant before system opening.
Question 5 of 50
A 39-year-old service technician in Seattle is using a new electronic leak detector to
check a residential split system. Before starting his inspection, he needs to confirm the
detector is functioning properly and calibrated for the refrigerant type in the system. He
recalls that proper calibration is essential for accurate leak detection.
A. He should calibrate the detector in an area with known refrigerant concentration.
B. He should calibrate the detector in fresh outdoor air away from any refrigerant
sources. ✓ CORRECT
C. He should calibrate the detector inside the mechanical room where the unit is
located.
D. He should calibrate the detector using a reference gas cylinder of pure nitrogen.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Electronic leak detectors should be calibrated in clean, fresh outdoor air to
establish a proper baseline zero reading before detecting refrigerant leaks. Calibrating
Complete Questions and Answers Detailed
Rationales Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Total Questions: 50 | Time: 90 min | Pass: 80%
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Core (General Regulations & Safety) | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Type I (Small Appliances) | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Type II (High-Pressure Appliances) | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Type III (Low-Pressure Appliances) | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Recovery, Recycling & Reclamation Procedures | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 40 in 90 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: CORE (GENERAL REGULATIONS & SAFETY) Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A 58-year-old HVAC contractor in Phoenix is reviewing a new job site that contains a
500-pound commercial chiller installed in 1998. During his initial walkthrough, he
notices the unit still bears its original nameplate showing R-22 as the refrigerant. He
needs to determine whether the leak repair provisions under Section 608 apply to this
system before scheduling any maintenance work.
A. The leak repair provisions apply because the system exceeds 50 pounds of
refrigerant charge.
B. The leak repair provisions do not apply because R-22 is no longer manufactured in
the United States.
,C. The leak repair provisions apply because the system was installed before the 2019
refrigerant phaseout deadline. ✓ CORRECT
D. The leak repair provisions do not apply because the system is located in a
non-residential setting.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EPA Section 608 leak repair requirements apply to appliances with a full
charge of 50 pounds or more of any ozone-depleting refrigerant, including R-22,
regardless of the manufacturing phaseout status. The original installation date does not
exempt the system from ongoing maintenance regulations. Many contractors
mistakenly believe phased-out refrigerants are exempt from leak repair rules, but the
charge threshold and refrigerant type are what actually determine applicability.
Question 2 of 50
A 34-year-old refrigeration technician in Chicago is servicing a walk-in freezer when she
discovers a leaking Schrader valve on the high side of the system. She has her recovery
machine and manifold gauge set ready, but she is unsure whether she needs to take any
additional steps before beginning the repair to remain compliant with EPA regulations.
A. She must recover the refrigerant to 0 psig before removing the valve core.
B. She must recover the refrigerant to 15 inches of vacuum before removing the valve
core.
C. She must recover the refrigerant to atmospheric pressure or below before removing
the valve core. ✓ CORRECT
D. She must recover the refrigerant to 4 inches of mercury vacuum before removing the
valve core.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: EPA regulations require that refrigerant be recovered to at least 0 psig, which
is atmospheric pressure, before opening a system for service or disposal. The 15 inches
of vacuum and 4 inches of mercury requirements apply to specific appliance types
during final recovery, not to general service opening procedures. Technicians often
,confuse the different recovery thresholds across appliance categories, but the
fundamental rule for opening any system is reducing pressure to atmospheric or below.
Question 3 of 50
A 45-year-old maintenance supervisor in Dallas is training a new hire on proper
refrigerant handling procedures. During the session, the supervisor emphasizes that
technicians must keep detailed records of refrigerant purchases and usage. The new
hire asks how long these service records must be retained after a job is completed.
A. Service records must be retained for 2 years from the date of service.
B. Service records must be retained for 3 years from the date of service. ✓ CORRECT
C. Service records must be retained for 5 years from the date of service.
D. Service records must be retained for 7 years from the date of service.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: EPA Section 608 requires that technicians and companies maintain records
of refrigerant handling, including dates, quantities, and types of refrigerant recovered or
added, for a minimum of 3 years. The 5-year and 7-year figures sometimes confuse
technicians because they resemble OSHA or financial record retention periods. Proper
documentation protects both the technician and the employer during EPA inspections,
which can occur without advance notice.
Question 4 of 50
A 52-year-old facilities manager in Atlanta is overseeing the replacement of a rooftop
unit that contains 75 pounds of R-410A. The contractor he hired informs him that since
R-410A is not an ozone-depleting substance, the recovery and disposal requirements do
not apply to this system. The manager needs to verify this claim before authorizing the
work to proceed.
, A. The contractor is correct because R-410A is a hydrofluorocarbon and not regulated
under Section 608.
B. The contractor is incorrect because all refrigerants, regardless of type, must be
recovered before system disposal. ✓ CORRECT
C. The contractor is correct because the system contains less than 100 pounds of
refrigerant.
D. The contractor is incorrect because R-410A must be destroyed by incineration rather
than recovered.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: EPA regulations under Section 608 require recovery of all refrigerants,
including HFCs like R-410A, before opening or disposing of any appliance, regardless of
the refrigerant type or charge size. The misconception that only ozone-depleting
refrigerants are regulated is common but dangerous, as it leads to illegal venting. The
100-pound threshold applies to leak repair provisions, not to the basic requirement to
recover refrigerant before system opening.
Question 5 of 50
A 39-year-old service technician in Seattle is using a new electronic leak detector to
check a residential split system. Before starting his inspection, he needs to confirm the
detector is functioning properly and calibrated for the refrigerant type in the system. He
recalls that proper calibration is essential for accurate leak detection.
A. He should calibrate the detector in an area with known refrigerant concentration.
B. He should calibrate the detector in fresh outdoor air away from any refrigerant
sources. ✓ CORRECT
C. He should calibrate the detector inside the mechanical room where the unit is
located.
D. He should calibrate the detector using a reference gas cylinder of pure nitrogen.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Electronic leak detectors should be calibrated in clean, fresh outdoor air to
establish a proper baseline zero reading before detecting refrigerant leaks. Calibrating
