Can you mix different types of refrigerant?

Author: Thora Price  |  Last update: Sunday, March 2, 2025

If you were to mix refrigerants, it would cause all kinds of damage to your system. Your AC unit would likely overheat. Different refrigerants can be different temperatures. They don't mix, which means you'll have refrigerants with two different temperatures running through your unit.

What happens if you mix R-22 and R-410A?

If R-410a is added (by mistake) to an R-22 system, ALL effects are detrimental to the performance of the system designed for R-22, In residential cooling, R-410a operates at +/- 400 psig condensing while R-22 is 225 psig. It takes much more liquid R-410 evaporating to absorb as much heat as R-22 .

Can R134a be mixed with R-410A?

You're wondering if you can mix different refrigerants for your air conditioning system. The short-long-only answer is no, never. There are many reasons why it's impractical, illegal, and not economical for a homeowner to mix refrigerant types.

Can you mix R-22 and R134a together?

R-22 systems are typically about 300 psi maximum. If you add R-22 to an R-134a system, you will not get close to the rated cooling capacity of the A/C system. In conclusion, do not mix R-22 with R-134a refrigerants, you will ruin the charge, and possibly seriously damage or destroy your A/C system.

Can you mix different brands of refrigerant?

No you can't mix refrigerant. Systems are designed for specific temperatures and pressures and the compressor oil is also specific to the refrigerant type.

Is Topping off R22 Systems with other Refrigerants OK (REALLY)??

What happens if you mix different refrigerants?

If you were to mix refrigerants, it would cause all kinds of damage to your system. Your AC unit would likely overheat. Different refrigerants can be different temperatures. They don't mix, which means you'll have refrigerants with two different temperatures running through your unit.

Can you mix R32 and R410A?

While R32 and R410A are similar in many ways, they're incompatible with systems that aren't designed for them.

What Freon can be mixed?

The answer is no, refrigerants should not be mixed.

Can you mix R 1234yf with R 134a?

Still, the answer is an emphatic, “No.” Not only would a retrofit of this type negate the environmental benefits of R-1234yf, but it would also be a violation of Federal Law under Section 203 of the Clean Air Act: “tampering” with a vehicle's emissions control device.

What happens if you mix R-22 and 407c?

If your system is running on R22 most likely is using mineral oil to lubricate the compressor. If you mix R407C with R22 inside your system the molecule of the HFC (R407C) gas will not link with the oil and in just few months of operation you will have a "sludge" like lubricant formation inside the circuit.

What refrigerant is compatible with R134a?

There are three refrigerants that can be used to replace R-134a: R-1234yf, R-152a, and R-744. More on these replacements later.

Can I use R410A in a car?

Additionally, it can be used as a direct replacement for R-22 without needing to make any modifications to existing systems. R410A is also becoming increasingly popular in automotive applications due to its higher efficiency and improved performance.

Which is better, R134a or R410A?

Non-dimensional analysis shows that the inertia of R410A is higher than that of R134a. At low qualities, when the flow regime is churn, the higher inertia enables top tubes to receive more liquid so that the distribution of R410A is a little better than that of R134a.

How much does it cost to convert R-22 to R-410A?

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.

Is it illegal to mix refrigerants?

It is not only uneconomical and impractical to mix different types of refrigerants, but it can also be dangerous. Along with that, it is illegal to mix refrigerants. So, not only does it make sense to use the right kind of refrigerant for your system, but it's also the law.

Can you use the same line set from R-22 to 410A?

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.

Why is R1234yf replacing R-134a?

Several years later, it was concluded that many man-made gases were contributing to global warming, and R-134a was one of those contributors. A search for a refrigerant that is both friendly to the ozone layer and doesn't contribute to global warming was started. R-1234yf solves both of those problems.

How many cans of R-134a do I need?

Most cars hold between 28 and 32 ounces of refrigerant (or about 2—3 12oz cans), however larger vehicles and those with rear A/C will likely hold more. Check your vehicle manual for the system capacity for your specific vehicle.

What happens if you put R-134a in a R32 system?

In the figure, the notation such as R32 + R134a (90/10) indicates that R32 is a mixed refrigerant of 90 wt% and R134a is 10 wt%. As shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that mixing R134a (or R1234yf) with R32 suppresses the discharge temperature.

What happens when you mix two different refrigerants?

Mixing refrigerants can result in a decrease in system efficiency and cooling capacity. The incompatible refrigerants may not work harmoniously, leading to inadequate cooling or inability to reach optimal temperatures. It can also cause the system to consume more energy and increase operating costs.

What Freon is illegal?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned R22 freon in the country. Why? R22 contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer – which absorbs the ultraviolet radiation from the sun and protects us from its harmful effects – and the ecosystem in general.

What refrigerant can be mixed with R410A?

A small amount of R 22 left in a 410A system will not sludge the oil. This is because most POE oils are mixable (meaning they mix well) with any refrigerant even R 22.

Which is colder, R32 or R410A?

R-32 has a higher pressure ratio than R-410A. Basically, a higher pressure ratio means the refrigerant can cool more with less refrigerant, which also means less electricity is required for the system to cool your home.

What happens if you use the wrong refrigerant?

You cannot mix refrigerant types, and putting the wrong refrigerant in your car will cause damage to the air conditioning system! If you're not sure which kind of refrigerant your vehicle takes, DIY A/C charging may not be for you.

What refrigerant are they replacing 410A with?

The replacements for R-410A are the two A2Ls, Forane® R-32 and R-454B. Forane® R-32 can be used in new equipment designed specifically for mildly flammable refrigerants as a replacement for R-410A equipment. Its low density allows for the use of a smaller refrigerant charge.

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