R-22 uses simple mineral oil, non-toxic, safe, stable, etc. while R-410a uses a somewhat exotic Poly o Ester (
Also known as Freon, R22 was banned due to its contribution to ozone layer depletion and ecological harm. Freon is becoming scarcer and more expensive as a result. The new standard, R410A, is more environmentally friendly but cannot be substituted for R22 refrigerant.
How much will an R-22 to R-410A conversion cost? The actual cost will depend on many things, including where you live, but most of the time R-22 conversions start at around $2,000 and go up from there. The higher end of that range is somewhere around $4,500 to $4,600.
The alterations will affect the air conditioning unit. Although they're both refrigerants, the higher efficiency of R-410A requires an upgrade to the equipment. For example, plan to replace the refrigerant tubing, the evaporator, condenser, and compressor. Other components might also need updates.
The operational pressure of the refrigerant R410A becomes higher compared to R22. In the worst case, a lack of compressive strength may lead to piping explosion.
When you replace an air conditioner or heat pump and upgrade from R-22 to R-410A, the ideal solution is to replace your refrigerant lines. This is because the mineral oil used in R-22 systems is not compatible with the new R-410A refrigerant and oil.
Freon MO99 is the gold standard for R-22 alternatives and was developed by the same scientists who engineered Freon R-22. The benefits of Freon MO99 include: Capacity — The ability of Freon MO99 to heat or cool a given space is closer to Freon R-22 than any other refrigerant on the market.
The refrigerants have very different heat-transfer properties and use chemically incompatible lubricating oils, so they aren't interchangeable and can't be mixed. Transitioning one unit to the next could require replacing the compressor, evaporator and condenser, along with potentially replacing their copper lines.
Understanding the Current HVAC Refrigerant Guidelines
Most HVAC brands have started to swap out their older AC and heat pump units over the year, preparing for the 2025 deadline, when they will have to completely stop the production of systems with R-410A.
Tube-side materials in R-410A coils need to be thicker due to the higher operating pressures associated with R-410A relative to R-22. We're not arguing that there's not a difference in operating pressure between the two. There is – roughly 130 PSI for R-410A evaporators compared to about 70 for R-22.
Regulatory Changes: As the phase-out continues to restrict production levels and importation, the R-410A price will likely increase. Manufacturing Costs: Fluctuations in the cost of raw materials and manufacturing can also influence the price of refrigerants.
A NJ Tech Explains. The answer: No. Putting R-410A refrigerant into an AC unit that was designed to use R-22 will cause the unit to die soon after it tries to run.
An R-22 Refrigerant Replacement for Direct Expansion Refrigeration. Freon™ MO29 (R-422D) refrigerant is a low-toxicity, non-ozone depleting hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) replacement for R-22.
In fact, R410A can cool a room slightly faster with less energy. Efficient performance is a significant benefit of R410A. However, it works the same way as R22 in absorbing heat to provide cooling. But R410A doesn't make a room any colder than its predecessor.
R-22 refrigerant can no longer be imported or made available for sale in the United States. Only recovered R-22 Freon (that is, salvaged from other pieces of equipment) can be used to service equipment. Luckily, many of the world's compressor manufacturers began preparing for this issue early.
The replacements for R-410A are the two A2Ls, Forane® R-32 and R-454B.
You cannot just switch refrigerants because R410-A and R-22 have different chemical properties. R410-A operates at a higher pressure. If you put R410-A into an R-22 system, the parts will rupture due to the increased force.
ComStar's RS-53 (R470A) is the world's only drop-in retrofit replacement for existing R410a systems. At 909, RS-53 has a GWP that is effectively 56% lower than R410a. Additionally, RS-51 (R470B) has a GWP of 717 which is 80% lower than R404a, R507 and half of R448A and R449A.
R-22 is a refrigerant that is often used in air- conditioning equipment. Because R-22 depletes the ozone layer, production and import was further limited in 2010. In 2020, R-22 will no longer be produced or imported. After 2020, only recovered, recycled, or reclaimed supplies of R-22 will be available.
To retrofit an R-22 system with R-410A system your line set must not be more than 25-50 feet in total distance. If the line set is longer than this, you will have to replace the line set with larger lines.
The cost to convert a central air conditioner from R-22 to R-410A can range anywhere from $2,000 to over $4,500 in the New Jersey area. The bottom line? If your AC unit is 8+ years old, it's usually not worth the cost to convert and you should just replace the entire R-22 unit with an R-410A unit.
If you do have to replace the gas in your air con, you should use an approved hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) alternative. The most common HFC refrigerants used as a replacement for R22 include: R134a. R404a.
R404A Refrigerant
R404A is a common industrial standard refrigerant that replaces R22 refrigerant and R502 in new refrigeration equipment, particularly in low-temperature freezing systems. It operates similarly to R-502 and is recognized and used by most refrigeration equipment manufacturers.
No, you cannot. To make a short story long, R410A and R22 are refrigerants. They are both good refrigerants and they both work, but they have to be charged in the system at different pressures. R410A is a higher pressure system and R22 is a lower pressure system.
What refrigerant will replace R-410A in 2025? For whole-home systems, Lennox has chosen 2025 Compliant Refrigerant R-454B due to its excellent performance for ducted systems and zero ozone depletion potential. For mini-splits, we selected R-32, designed to optimize efficiency and reliability in ductless systems.