Can you put R22 in a R134a system?

Author: Abel Bosco Sr.  |  Last update: Monday, April 14, 2025

No, the compressor will fail. These two refrigerants have very different properties. One of R22 and R134a is high pressure and the other is low pressure. They don't mix chemically and don't have the same boiling point, leading to inefficiencies and eventual compressor failure.

Can you top off R22 with R134a?

No, you should not mix R22 with R134A refrigerant. Here are some key points to consider: Chemical Compatibility: R22 (chlorodifluoromethane) and R134A (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) have different chemical properties and are not compatible. Mixing them can lead to unpredictable behavior in the refrigeration system.

What is the difference between R22 and R134a?

R134a and R22

The capacity of R134a is smaller than that of R22, and the pressure is lower than that of R22. Due to these features, an R134a air conditioner with the same capacity must be equipped with a larger compressor with a larger evaporator, condenser, and piping.

What freon is compatible with 134a?

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

What happens if you mix R22 with another refrigerant?

At the very least, leaks will occur. Mixing refrigerants is not an option either. This will contaminate the system, and the R22 will not evaporate under the higher suction pressure that R410A requires.

7 weeks with R134 freon in my R22 air conditioner

What happens if you put R-22 in a R134a system?

No, the compressor will fail. These two refrigerants have very different properties. One of R22 and R134a is high pressure and the other is low pressure. They don't mix chemically and don't have the same boiling point, leading to inefficiencies and eventual compressor failure.

What refrigerant can you mix with R-22?

So… what refrigerant can be mixed with R-22? None. You can't mix refrigerants.

What is a good replacement for R134a?

R-1234yf refrigerant. To date, most auto manufacturers are using the hydro fluoro olefin (HFO) refrigerant R-1234yf as the replacement of choice for R134a.

Why was R134a banned?

Why Is R-134A Being Phased Out? When Is the Phaseout Expected to Conclude? Like a lot of '90s relics, R-134A has not aged well. It was known then that 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane could potentially contribute to acid rain and that its ozone layer depletion potential was high.

What is the best R22 replacement for medium temperature refrigerant?

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.

Why is R22 refrigerant illegal?

R22 has been banned due to its high ozone-depleting potential. R22 leaks are highly toxic and can damage the environment and people's health. The use of R22 freon in air conditioning units has been restricted & banned from being used in any new products.

What refrigerant is currently slated to replace R134a?

According to its manufacturer, Chemours, use of R-1234yf has grown so much since the refrigerant replaced the long-established R-134a that it's now used in 95% of new cars sold in the U.S. An estimated 220 million cars on global roads are also using it.

Can I put R22 in my car?

Used in all types of cooling systems including residential and vehicle air conditioning systems, R22 essentially removes heat from a space that's been sucked into a heat pump, allowing cooled air to escape.

Is it illegal to recharge AC with R22?

As of January 1, 2020, production and import of R22 refrigerant will be illegal in the United States. Of course, continued use of your air conditioner (AC) or heat pump system using R22 refrigerant is allowed.

What is a drop-in substitute for R22?

R-421A is a drop-in replacement for R22 systems. With this refrigerant there is no need to change the oil. Simply recover the R22 and recharge with R421A. Experiencing R421a problems? Read this guide.

Can a R22 system be converted?

R-22 conversion is a process wherein an HVAC professional retrofits an old HVAC system to work using the R410A refrigerant rather than the phased-out R-22. You can't simply replace the refrigerant, because the two systems operate differently.

Is R-134a going to be phased out?

The commonly used synthetic refrigerants such as R134a, R407C and R410A have a GWP value higher than 2,500. As a result, their production is being phased out.

Is it illegal to put 134a in a 1234yf system?

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 year did cars stop using R-134a?

R134a has been found to have a lot of greenhouse gas potential, as it can end up in the atmosphere and take forever to break down. For that reason, all new vehicles sold in America after the year 2021 can no longer use this type of refrigerant.

What is the replacement for 134a?

A High-Performing Alternative to R-134a

Opteon™ XL10 (R-1234yf) refrigerant is a non-ozone depleting (ODP) hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) option that meets the industry's growing demands for sustainable, safe, and effective solutions.

What gas can replace R134a?

Possible alternatives to R-134a

Attention is increasingly focused on low-GWP refrigerants that are hydrofluoroolefins (HFO). R-1234yf in particular is often seen as a possible alternative to R-134a. The GWP value of R-1234yf is 4, which means it has a very low global warming potential.

What AC refrigerant is an acceptable drop-in replacement for R134a?

With the scientific approach to reduce the global warming potential (GWP) of the refrigerant R-134A (i.e. 1430), the refrigerant R-513A with GWP of 631 is the drop-in replacement.

What refrigerant is compatible with R134a?

Given that both refrigerants had very similar results in compatibility with elastomers as well as with metals in low water and no air, HFO-1234yf shows to be a very suitable replacement to HFC-134a in current mobile air conditioning systems.

Can anyone buy 134a?

Refrigerant can only be sold to technicians certified under the Section 608 or Section 609 technician certification programs, where individuals may only purchase refrigerant consistent with the appliances covered by their certification.

Can you still get R-22 refrigerant?

In 2010, the U.S. stopped the sale of newly manufactured residential air conditioning units and heat pumps that use R-22 because of its particularly harmful impact on the ozone layer when released into the air. On January 1, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the production and import of R-22.

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