What is a 'self-contained' recovery method, and what does it let a technician do?
Not quite. The answer is C: It uses recovery equipment with its own independent compressor, so refrigerant can be recovered without help from any component of the appliance — including when the appliance's own compressor is not operating
Self-contained recovery equipment brings its own compressor to the job and does not depend on any component of the appliance, so it still works when the appliance's compressor has failed or cannot be relied on to run long enough to finish recovery. System-dependent equipment, by contrast, needs the appliance's own components, which is also why it is limited to appliances with 15 lb or less of charge unless it is a permanently attached pump-out unit.
Reference: 40 CFR Part 82 § 82.152 (Definition of 'self-contained recovery equipment')
Checked against the official text
Read the eCFR text current through 2026-10-30 of § 82.152. Definition: equipment capable of removing refrigerant from an appliance without the assistance of components contained in the appliance.
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