The Painted-Over Nameplate
Your company holds only a Type I certification. A customer asks you to service three units in a small bakery: a 4.2 lb R-134a display cooler, a 4.8 lb R-404A under-counter freezer, and a reach-in freezer whose nameplate is painted over. The reach-in's compressor and condenser are larger than the other two, and its service valve has a 3/8-inch liquid line. The customer says it was 'probably under five pounds' and wants you to recover the charge, repair a leaking schrader, and recharge it today. You have an empty DOT recovery cylinder and a scale.
1. Which of the three units may you legally service under Type I, and what must you do about the reach-in?
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Type I covers small appliances-generally appliances with a refrigerant charge of 5 lb or less. The display cooler and under-counter freezer qualify only if their nameplates confirm the charge and appliance type. The reach-in cannot be treated as a small appliance just because the customer guesses it is under 5 lb; larger components and a 3/8-inch line are not proof. You need the nameplate or manufacturer charge data. If it is over 5 lb, it is a high-pressure appliance requiring Type II or Universal certification. If you cannot verify the charge, stop and escalate rather than recover or recharge it under Type I.
2. How should you manage recovery cylinders and evacuation for the units you can service?
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Recover each refrigerant into a separate, DOT-approved cylinder labeled for that refrigerant. Never mix R-134a with R-404A. Use the scale and stop filling at 80% of the cylinder's water capacity; if the cylinder reaches that limit, switch to another properly labeled cylinder. If you open a small appliance, evacuate it to at least 4 inches Hg vacuum as the EPA minimum, and follow any deeper manufacturer specification. Do not rely on the system's low charge as a reason to skip recovery.
3. The customer offers to sign a waiver so you can 'just vent the reach-in and recharge it.' What is your response?
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A customer waiver cannot authorize venting refrigerant. Intentional venting is prohibited, and the uncertainty about whether the reach-in is a small appliance does not change that. If the unit is in the Type I scope, recover and recycle or reclaim the refrigerant properly. If it is above 5 lb, you must not work on it without Type II or Universal certification. The correct response is to explain the certification and venting limits, verify the nameplate if possible, and decline the venting request.