Small Appliance Servicing and Disposal (Type I)
Small appliance servicing and disposal (Type I)
Type I tests appliances with 5 lb or less of refrigerant that are hermetically sealed and factory-charged: household refrigerators and freezers, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, water coolers, and vending machines. The exam focuses on recovery targets, disposal, charging, and avoiding venting.
Definition and scope
A small appliance contains 5 lb or less of refrigerant, is hermetically sealed, and is charged at the factory. If the charge is over 5 lb or the system is not hermetic, Type I rules do not fit. Motor vehicle air conditioners are excluded and fall under Section 609. A Type I or Universal certificate is required to service these appliances.
Recovery and disposal
Recover refrigerant before opening the sealed system or disposing of the appliance. Use EPA-certified recovery equipment. The standard targets are 90% recovery when the appliance compressor is running and 80% when it is not; 4 in Hg vacuum is also an accepted evacuation target. System-dependent recovery equipment may be used only where allowed; if the compressor cannot run, use a self-contained recovery unit. Label or tag the appliance to show refrigerant was recovered, and never vent.
Charging and safety
Access hermetic systems with a piercing valve or service port. Charge vapor for single-component refrigerants unless the manufacturer specifies liquid; liquid charging can slug a small compressor. Do not overfill the recovery cylinder; keep it below 80%. Use PPE and ventilate the area.
Worked example
A dehumidifier nameplate shows 4 lb of R-134a, and its compressor will not start. The technician must recover the refrigerant before repair. Because the compressor is not running, the target is 80% of the charge, not 90%. A self-contained recovery machine is appropriate because the appliance compressor cannot assist. After recovery, the technician labels the unit and may open the circuit. The reasoning: the 4-lb charge makes it a small appliance; compressor status selects 80%, and the venting ban still applies.
Traps
Using 90% when the compressor is off. Treating a window air conditioner as MVAC. Venting the last bit because the charge is small. Forgetting the disposal tag. Overfilling the cylinder. Assuming Type II is needed for every appliance under 5 lb.