What piece of equipment should be checked for leaks

• A. Recovery device
• B. Condenser
• C. Compressor
• D. Evaporator

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is to ensure the equipment that directly handles refrigerant is leak-free before you work with it. The recovery device is the piece of equipment that actually holds refrigerant as you remove it from a system. If the recovery device or its hoses and fittings are leaking, refrigerant can escape to the atmosphere even as you’re recovering it, defeating the purpose of recovery and potentially violating environmental rules. So you check the recovery device for leaks using a leak detector or soapy solution, inspecting all connections, seals, and hoses. Only after confirming there are no leaks should you proceed with recovery. While other components like the condenser, compressor, or evaporator can develop leaks, the critical step emphasized here is ensuring the equipment that handles the refrigerant during recovery is leak-free.