Florida Pollutant Recovery Contractor
Examination 2026 — 100 Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Practice Exam & Study Guide
1. What is the primary purpose of pollutant recovery work in an HVAC or
refrigeration system?
A. Increase compressor speed
B. Remove and properly manage regulated refrigerants and pollutants
C. Increase system pressure
D. Eliminate the need for maintenance
Answer: Remove and properly manage regulated refrigerants and pollutants
Rationale: Proper recovery prevents regulated substances from being
intentionally or accidentally released and supports compliant servicing,
reclamation, and isposal practices.
2. Before opening a refrigeration system that contains regulated refrigerant,
what should a technician generally do?
A. Vent the refrigerant
B. Recover the refrigerant using approved equipment
C. Add nitrogen to the system and release it
D. Heat the compressor
Answer: Recover the refrigerant using approved equipment
,Rationale: Refrigerant must be recovered rather than intentionally released
when applicable regulations prohibit venting.
3. What does refrigerant recovery mean?
A. Cleaning refrigerant with a filter
B. Removing refrigerant from a system and storing it in an external container
C. Adding refrigerant to a system
D. Converting refrigerant to oil
Answer: Removing refrigerant from a system and storing it in an external
container
Rationale: Recovery removes refrigerant from an appliance and places it into a
separate container without necessarily processing it to a specified purity level.
4. What is the primary function of a recovery machine?
A. Compress air for combustion
B. Remove refrigerant from an appliance
C. Measure electrical resistance
D. Increase evaporator temperature
Answer: Remove refrigerant from an appliance
Rationale: A recovery machine transfers refrigerant from the appliance into an
approved recovery cylinder or other appropriate container.
5. Why must recovery cylinders be suitable for refrigerant service?
A. To make them lighter
B. To withstand refrigerant pressure and prevent contamination or leakage
C. To increase refrigerant acidity
D. To eliminate the need for weighing
Answer: To withstand refrigerant pressure and prevent contamination or
leakage
,Rationale: Refrigerant cylinders must be compatible with the refrigerant and
capable of safely containing the pressures involved.
6. What should be used to determine the amount of refrigerant placed into a
recovery cylinder?
A. A tape measure
B. An approved weighing scale
C. A thermometer only
D. A voltmeter
Answer: An approved weighing scale
Rationale: Weighing the cylinder provides an accurate method for determining
refrigerant quantity and helps prevent overfilling.
7. Why should a recovery cylinder never be filled beyond its permitted
capacity?
A. It reduces compressor efficiency
B. Liquid refrigerant expansion can create dangerous pressure
C. It increases oil viscosity
D. It lowers ambient temperature
Answer: Liquid refrigerant expansion can create dangerous pressure
Rationale: Refrigerant liquid expands when temperature rises. An overfilled
cylinder can develop excessive pressure and become hazardous.
8. What is the purpose of identifying a refrigerant before recovery?
A. To determine the color of the compressor
B. To prevent mixing incompatible or different refrigerants
C. To increase system airflow
D. To determine electrical phase
Answer: To prevent mixing incompatible or different refrigerants
, Rationale: Mixing refrigerants can contaminate the recovered material and may
make reclamation difficult or impossible.
9. What instrument is commonly used to determine refrigerant pressure?
A. Manifold gauge set
B. Megohmmeter
C. Tachometer
D. Ammeter
Answer: Manifold gauge set
Rationale: A properly rated manifold gauge set provides pressure readings used
during recovery, evacuation, charging, and troubleshooting.
10.What is the purpose of a vacuum pump during system evacuation?
A. Add refrigerant
B. Remove air, moisture, and noncondensables from the system
C. Increase refrigerant pressure
D. Add compressor oil automatically
Answer: Remove air, moisture, and noncondensables from the system
Rationale: Evacuation removes unwanted gases and moisture before charging
or returning a system to service.
11.What instrument is used to verify a deep vacuum more accurately than a
standard manifold gauge?
A. Micron gauge
B. Clamp meter
C. Thermocouple
D. Psychrometer
Answer: Micron gauge
Examination 2026 — 100 Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Practice Exam & Study Guide
1. What is the primary purpose of pollutant recovery work in an HVAC or
refrigeration system?
A. Increase compressor speed
B. Remove and properly manage regulated refrigerants and pollutants
C. Increase system pressure
D. Eliminate the need for maintenance
Answer: Remove and properly manage regulated refrigerants and pollutants
Rationale: Proper recovery prevents regulated substances from being
intentionally or accidentally released and supports compliant servicing,
reclamation, and isposal practices.
2. Before opening a refrigeration system that contains regulated refrigerant,
what should a technician generally do?
A. Vent the refrigerant
B. Recover the refrigerant using approved equipment
C. Add nitrogen to the system and release it
D. Heat the compressor
Answer: Recover the refrigerant using approved equipment
,Rationale: Refrigerant must be recovered rather than intentionally released
when applicable regulations prohibit venting.
3. What does refrigerant recovery mean?
A. Cleaning refrigerant with a filter
B. Removing refrigerant from a system and storing it in an external container
C. Adding refrigerant to a system
D. Converting refrigerant to oil
Answer: Removing refrigerant from a system and storing it in an external
container
Rationale: Recovery removes refrigerant from an appliance and places it into a
separate container without necessarily processing it to a specified purity level.
4. What is the primary function of a recovery machine?
A. Compress air for combustion
B. Remove refrigerant from an appliance
C. Measure electrical resistance
D. Increase evaporator temperature
Answer: Remove refrigerant from an appliance
Rationale: A recovery machine transfers refrigerant from the appliance into an
approved recovery cylinder or other appropriate container.
5. Why must recovery cylinders be suitable for refrigerant service?
A. To make them lighter
B. To withstand refrigerant pressure and prevent contamination or leakage
C. To increase refrigerant acidity
D. To eliminate the need for weighing
Answer: To withstand refrigerant pressure and prevent contamination or
leakage
,Rationale: Refrigerant cylinders must be compatible with the refrigerant and
capable of safely containing the pressures involved.
6. What should be used to determine the amount of refrigerant placed into a
recovery cylinder?
A. A tape measure
B. An approved weighing scale
C. A thermometer only
D. A voltmeter
Answer: An approved weighing scale
Rationale: Weighing the cylinder provides an accurate method for determining
refrigerant quantity and helps prevent overfilling.
7. Why should a recovery cylinder never be filled beyond its permitted
capacity?
A. It reduces compressor efficiency
B. Liquid refrigerant expansion can create dangerous pressure
C. It increases oil viscosity
D. It lowers ambient temperature
Answer: Liquid refrigerant expansion can create dangerous pressure
Rationale: Refrigerant liquid expands when temperature rises. An overfilled
cylinder can develop excessive pressure and become hazardous.
8. What is the purpose of identifying a refrigerant before recovery?
A. To determine the color of the compressor
B. To prevent mixing incompatible or different refrigerants
C. To increase system airflow
D. To determine electrical phase
Answer: To prevent mixing incompatible or different refrigerants
, Rationale: Mixing refrigerants can contaminate the recovered material and may
make reclamation difficult or impossible.
9. What instrument is commonly used to determine refrigerant pressure?
A. Manifold gauge set
B. Megohmmeter
C. Tachometer
D. Ammeter
Answer: Manifold gauge set
Rationale: A properly rated manifold gauge set provides pressure readings used
during recovery, evacuation, charging, and troubleshooting.
10.What is the purpose of a vacuum pump during system evacuation?
A. Add refrigerant
B. Remove air, moisture, and noncondensables from the system
C. Increase refrigerant pressure
D. Add compressor oil automatically
Answer: Remove air, moisture, and noncondensables from the system
Rationale: Evacuation removes unwanted gases and moisture before charging
or returning a system to service.
11.What instrument is used to verify a deep vacuum more accurately than a
standard manifold gauge?
A. Micron gauge
B. Clamp meter
C. Thermocouple
D. Psychrometer
Answer: Micron gauge
