Who Can Work on Refrigerant? EPA Section 608 Explained for Homeowners
Updated
Short answer
Certification
EPA says regulations at 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F require technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants to be certified (EPA). There are four types: Type I for small appliances, Type II for high- and very-high-pressure appliances, Type III for low-pressure appliances, and Universal (EPA).
No venting
EPA prohibits intentionally venting ozone-depleting substances or their substitutes while maintaining, servicing, repairing or disposing of refrigeration equipment (EPA).
Disposal
For refrigerators and freezers that go to disposal with their charge intact, the final person in the disposal chain, such as a scrap recycler or landfill, is responsible for making sure refrigerant is recovered. If an appliance arrives already empty, that person must keep a signed statement with the name and address of whoever recovered the refrigerant and the date. EPA does not accept a sticker as verification (EPA).
For you
Ask to see the technician's Section 608 card before any sealed-system repair (a compressor, a refrigerant leak, a recharge). See refrigerator repair and disposing of an old fridge.
Quick answers
Does a refrigerator repair need a certified technician?
Any work that could release refrigerant does. EPA Section 608 requires certification; household refrigerators fall under Type I, small appliances.
Does EPA accept a sticker that a fridge's refrigerant was removed?
No. EPA says the final disposer must get a signed statement with the name and address of who recovered the refrigerant and the date.
Rather have someone fix it?
Tell us the appliance, the brand, the model number and what it is doing. A local technician calls back with a time and a price before any work starts.