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.
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.
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.
R-410A refrigerant prices range from $40 to $75 per pound. To replace R-410A refrigerant in your leaky AC, you will need to hire an HVAC professional since the EPA prohibits handling AC refrigerant without a license.
Adam Lit The increases are said to be due to a combination of increases in the cost of raw materials and increased refrigerant demand. The main raw material increases appear to be in the price of dichloromethane, perchloroethylene and chloroform which have risen sharply this month.
R-410A PHASE-DOWN TIMELINE
In 2024, we will jump to a 40% decrease in production. We will reach a 70% decrease by 2029. In 2034, we will see 80% less R-410A being produced than it is today, and the phase-down will end in 2036 with another 5% reduction.
RS-53 (R470A) enables users to replace R410A in existing units with minimal changes and inconvenience at low cost.
The EPA has rules about the purchasing of refrigerant according to its Clean Air Act, Section 608, 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F. The rules state that those who purchase R-410A or any other ozone-depleting substance or ODS must have EPA certification.
Size of the HVAC Unit
Since an air conditioner uses an average of 2 to 4 pounds of refrigerant per ton, a 3-ton AC will need an average of 9 pounds. With the cost of R-22 refrigerant increasing each year, it can cost a pretty penny to recharge larger systems that still use the 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.
The pressure can become high enough for parts of the system to rupture. At the very least, leaks will occur.
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.
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.
If you're going to convert from R22 to R410A refrigerant, the best thing to do would be to flush the lines you have, and put in units, an air handler and condenser that is meant to use R410A. R410A and R-22 are just so different that doing stuff like you want to do won't really work.
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.
R-22 uses simple mineral oil, non-toxic, safe, stable, etc. while R-410a uses a somewhat exotic Poly o Ester (POE) oil typically found in jet turbine engines. The refrigerant used MUST match the oil present in the system, which is one reason why you can't replace the R-22 with R410a in a system.
Purchasing jugs of R-410A can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000+. Breaking the cost down further, that's about $50 to $80 per pound. Some cost estimates are a touch more conservative, stating that the prices are $40 to $75 a pound.
Under EPA regulations, only a certified professional can recharge your home's HVAC system.
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.
Yes, R-410A will still be available for maintenance and repairs for many years. R-410A won't actually be phased out of production until the 2040s. Also, contractors can still reclaim and reuse refrigerant from older systems.
An AC leak will lead to warmer air from your vents over time. In most cases this can be fixed with a proven stop leak additive to seal up any leaks. When it's time for an AC recharge, turn to AutoZone.
The questions are on specific information in the EPA Section 608 laws. It is a proctored exam and has to be by a licensed person who watches you and your computer so you don't cheat (required by the EPA). How much does the EPA 608 certification cost? The EPA 608 class and test is $324.
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.
Why R-410A Is Being Phased Out. Because R-410A operates at such high pressures, there is an increased risk of an environmentally harmful refrigerant leak during maintenance and repair work. The R-410A phase-out means new HVAC systems will use more sustainable refrigerants.
R32 is not suitable as a drop-in replacement for R410A and must only be used in systems specifically designed for R32.