Type I — small appliancesDifficulty 3/5
Why must both high and low side access valves be installed when recovering from a small appliance with an inoperative compressor?
- AThe recovery machine requires two connections before its internal pump will start up
- BRegulations require two access points on every small appliance being serviced or opened
- CThe second valve provides a route for nitrogen to be introduced during the recovery
- DNothing in the appliance can move refrigerant from one side of the system to the other
Show answer and rationale
Correct: D. A system-dependent device relies on the appliance's own compressor to shift refrigerant. With the compressor dead, refrigerant trapped on the far side of the restriction has no path out unless you open both sides.
- A — Recovery machines do not impose a two-connection requirement of their own to operate.
- B — The rule does not require two access points generally; the reason here is the failed compressor.
- C — Nitrogen is a leak-detection gas and plays no part in recovering from a small appliance.