Conservation Practices Every HVAC Technician Must Know

Refrigerants are powerful chemicals. If mishandled, they can harm the environment, damage equipment, and trigger severe EPA fines. Conservation practices are at the heart of the EPA 608 Certification. These rules ensure technicians recover refrigerant safely, minimize leaks, and document everything properly. Let’s break down the essentials.

Leak Rate Regulations

The EPA has set strict rules on when leaks must be inspected and repaired, depending on the type of system:

• Commercial Refrigeration (50+ lbs): Quarterly inspections.

• Comfort Cooling (50+ lbs, e.g., rooftop units): Annually.

• Residential (5–50 lbs): No mandatory schedule, but leaks must be repaired once discovered.

• Small Appliances (≤5 lbs): No EPA repair or inspection requirements.

Repair Deadlines:

• Commercial/Industrial: If the annual leak rate exceeds 30%, repairs must be made within 30 days.

• Comfort Cooling: If leak rate exceeds 10%, repairs must be made within 30 days.

• Residential: No mandatory repair timelines, but fixing leaks is always best practice.

Recordkeeping: Inspections and repairs must be documented for 3 years.

Leak Detection Methods

Technicians can use multiple tools to pinpoint leaks:

• Electronic sniffers: Fast and precise for finding leak sources.

• Fluorescent dyes: Circulated in the system, then checked with UV light.

• Soap bubbles: The classic, simple method.

⚠️ Note on Flammable Refrigerants: When working with A2L refrigerants like HFOs, only use spark-proof, intrinsically safe equipment.

System Evacuation Standards

After repairing leaks or opening a system, you must remove all impurities and moisture through evacuation:

• Use EPA-approved vacuum pumps and micron gauges.

• Evacuate until you reach 500 microns (industry standard).

• Hold for 10 minutes to ensure the system doesn’t rebound.

• Remember: Evacuation is not timed — it’s based on reaching proper vacuum levels.

Micron Scale Reference:

• 760,000 microns = Atmosphere.

• 1,000 microns = Deep vacuum.

• 500 microns = Clean, dry, sealed system ready for charging.

The Three R’s: Recover, Recycle, Reclaim

1. Recover

   • Remove refrigerant from the system in any condition.

   • Can be done with a recovery machine (active recovery) or rarely with system-dependent methods.

   • Recovered refrigerant may only be reused by the same owner (AHRI-700 standard).

   • Must document recovery for 3 years.

2. Recycle

   • Filter and clean refrigerant on-site for reuse.

   • Rare in the field, and still limited to the same owner.

3. Reclaim

   • Send refrigerant to a certified facility to be restored to virgin quality.

   • Reclaimed refrigerant can be resold or destroyed.

   • Most refrigerant from old units ends up here.

Key Takeaways

• Leak inspections and repair deadlines vary by system type and size.

• Always document inspections and recoveries — the EPA can ask for records.

• Evacuate systems to 500 microns, and use the proper tools.

• The Three R’s are the foundation of refrigerant conservation.

• Never vent refrigerant. Each occurrence carries a fine of $44,539.

Pro Tip: On the exam, any question about recovery, recycling, or reclaim usually comes down to who owns the equipment. If it’s the same owner, recovery/recycling may apply. If refrigerant is being returned to virgin quality or resold, it must go through reclamation.