Which of the following is not a method of recovering refrigerant?

The reason that a pressure gauge is not considered a method of recovering refrigerant is that its primary function is to measure the pressure within a refrigeration system rather than to remove refrigerant from it. A pressure gauge provides critical information about the operating conditions of the system, allowing technicians to assess performance and diagnose issues. However, it does not actively facilitate the recovery of refrigerant.

In contrast, an evaporator operates as part of the refrigeration cycle, absorbing heat and causing refrigerant to evaporate but does not recover refrigerant in the same sense as defined by EPA guidelines. A receiver is integral to holding recovered refrigerant temporarily before it’s processed or disposed of, and a vacuum pump is essential for creating a vacuum in the system, which helps remove moisture and non-condensables but is not directly involved in recovering refrigerants. Thus, the pressure gauge stands out clearly as the authority for monitoring rather than recovering refrigerant.