What must technicians do before disposing of appliances that contain refrigerants?

Before disposing of appliances that contain refrigerants, technicians are required to recover all refrigerants from the appliance. This is a crucial step to ensure that harmful substances do not enter the atmosphere, which could contribute to environmental damage and deplete the ozone layer. The recovery of refrigerants must be performed using certified recovery equipment, in compliance with regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This process also helps in recycling and reclaiming refrigerants, allowing them to be reused in other applications, which supports sustainability practices within the industry. Proper recovery prevents illegal venting and aligns with the responsibilities of technicians to mitigate potential harm from refrigerants.

While other choices suggest actions regarding disposal, they do not adhere to EPA guidelines for managing refrigerants safely. For instance, incinerating appliances or releasing refrigerants into the atmosphere would be environmentally harmful and illegal under EPA regulations. Disconnecting the appliance from the power source is a safety procedure but does not address the critical need to manage refrigerants correctly. Thus, the practice of refrigerant recovery is the correct and most responsible action taken before disposal.