- AThere is no difference
- Recycling is done on-site; reclaiming requires sending to a certified facility
- CReclaiming is done on-site; recycling requires sending to a certified facility
- DRecycling removes oil; reclaiming removes moisture
Correct answer
Recycling is done on-site; reclaiming requires sending to a certified facility
Why
Recycling can be performed on-site and typically removes oil and moisture. Reclaiming requires processing at a certified facility to meet virgin product specifications (ARI-700).
The concept behind this question
Recover, recycle and reclaim are three distinct things and the exam tests whether you know the difference. Recovering means removing refrigerant from an appliance and storing it, with no processing. Recycling means cleaning it for reuse — typically oil separation and a filter-drier pass — usually on site. Reclaiming means reprocessing it to meet the AHRI 700 purity specification, which requires laboratory analysis and can only be done by a certified reclaimer, not in the field.
More questions on this topic
Exam-style practice question. Not an official EPA exam question.