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Recovering from a small appliance with an inoperative compressor, which access valves does EPA say you need to install?

Both high and low side access valves.

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  1. Only a low-side access valve
  2. Only a high-side access valve
  3. Both high-side and low-side access valves ✔

Why: A dead compressor can't move refrigerant, so a passive recovery device needs access to both sides of the system. EPA's Type I test topics list this as a required technique.

Huh, didn't know that: EPA also says to run a working compressor when you use a passive, system-dependent recovery device.

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References

Answer: Both high-side and low-side access valves. A dead compressor can't move refrigerant, so a passive recovery device needs access to both sides of the system. EPA's Type I test topics list this as a required technique.

  1. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Test Topics www.epa.gov/section608/test-topics
    Need to install both high and low side access valves when recovering refrigerant from small appliances with inoperative compressors
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. EPA Section 608 Technician Certification Test Topics www.epa.gov/section608/test-topics
    Need to operate operative compressors when recovering refrigerant with a system-dependent ("passive") recovery device
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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