EPA Section 609 MVAC Technician Certification PreparationApproved ProgramsMVAC Requirements
Refrigerant handling

Recovery, Recycling & Reclamation

Recover before opening, process refrigerant before reuse, prevent contamination, and use appropriate destinations.

Recover before opening the system

Use certified equipment before work that can reasonably release refrigerant.

Recycling is on-site processing

Approved equipment removes oil, moisture, and contaminants so refrigerant can be reused in the MVAC service sector.

Reclamation restores purity

An EPA-certified reclaimer processes refrigerant to the applicable purity standard.

Same-vehicle reuse still needs processing

Recovered refrigerant should be recycled or reclaimed before it is returned to service.

Common mistakes

  • Calling simple recovery recycling
  • Mixing contaminated refrigerant with clean stock
  • Recharging untreated recovered refrigerant
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