Refrigeration Service and the Importance of EPA Certification

When you call for refrigeration service for your home or office, do you know who is going to show up to get the work done? Technicians are required to be certified through the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The certification ensures that he or she understands all of the requirements of the equipment and how it needs to be maintained. Without this specialized training, there is a chance that a homeowner's system could be creating some issues with the environment.

Types of EPA Certification

A technician that specializes in refrigeration service has several different EPA certifications to choose from. The first level is considered Core and it must be achieved before an individual can continue to any other programs. Once that first level is completed, a technician can move on to Type I for small appliances, Type II for larger, high-pressure appliances, or Type III for low-pressure appliances. When every level is passed, a technician can say he or she is universally certified through the EPA. All testing falls under Section 608 of the U.S. Clean Air Act.

How to Become EPA Certified

A technician that wants to work in refrigeration service will need to start out studying for the different levels of testing for certification. There is a lot of information that needs to be understood. Aside from reading about it in a book, it is important for an individual to be able to put the information into practice. Once a person feels confident with the information, it is time to take the exam.

Once the testing is complete, it takes time for a person's scores to be calculated. Once they are done and a person has passed the exam, a certification card is given out and may be required when applying for a job or looking for other certifications. If the card is misplaced, it is possible to ask for a replacement but it will take some time.

Benefits to Consumers

When the time comes to have someone administer refrigeration service in your home or office, it is important to make sure that he or she is EPA certified. When a technician comes in, you want to be sure that he or she understands what needs to be done and how to ensure that the environment is being protected. While this does not guarantee that the work will be done perfectly or even that it will be done on time, the person doing the work is held to a certain standard because of the testing that was completed to obtain the okay from the Environmental Protection Agency.

If you are not sure if your refrigeration service technician is certified, don't be afraid to ask. In some cases, a company will advertise the certification, while in other cases you may need to ask to see the card yourself.