Is R-407A a drop in for R-22?

Author: Litzy Keeling MD  |  Last update: Friday, June 20, 2025

Freon™ 407A (R-407A) refrigerant is a reliable, stable, and nonflammable option for low- and medium-temperature refrigeration systems. This non-ozone depleting, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant is a replacement for R-22 and provides a lower global warming potential (GWP) alternative to R-404A and R-507.

Can you put 407C in a R-22 system?

R-407C should be used only in systems that currently use R-22. It should not be mixed with R-22 or any other refrigerant. 5. The capacity of the existing R-22 thermal expansion valve (TEV) will be approximately the same when using R-407C.

What refrigerant can be added to R-22?

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

Are 407C and R-22 pressures the same?

Heating mode The compressor pressure ratio of R-407C was 0.7% to 9.3% higher than R-22 for the two heating mode test conditions.

What is the difference between 407C and 407A?

Freon™ 407C exhibits similar performance to HCFC-22 at air conditioning conditions, while Freon™ 407A exhibits similar performance to R-404A with lower capacity at low and medium temperature refrigeration conditions.

Best replacement for r22 refrigerant gas in refrigeration and air-conditioning

Is 407A a drop in replacement for R-22?

R-407A is a close match to R-22's capacities and flow rates, making it well suited as a retrofit for R-22 in supermarket and food storage applications. Additionally, R-407A is one of the more energy efficient R-22 retrofit options available for refrigeration applications.

What is the best refrigerant replacement for R-22?

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.

What is the drop in replacement for R-22?

RS-44 is a “Drop-in” replacement for R22 providing an easy and at the same time a long term solution. Because there is no need to use expensive and hygroscopic synthetic lubricants, the risk of moisture ingress into a refrigeration system is completely avoided.

What is the capacity loss of R-22 to 407C?

The best replacement for R-22 Freon is usually R-407c. It has a very low loss in capacity (0 – 5%) relative to R-22 and is less expensive than many other R-22 replacement refrigerants. If a system has R22 in it already you cannot use a replacement refrigerant to simply add to the R22.

What is the ideal pressure for R-22?

For R22 refrigerant: High pressure is approximately 1.75 MPa. Low pressure is approximately 0.6 MPa. If the observed low pressure is below 0.6 MPa, it may indicate a refrigerant deficiency.

What happens if you put R-410A in a R-22 system?

The pressure can become high enough for parts of the system to rupture. At the very least, leaks will occur.

Can I top off R-22 with MO99?

Yes. Freon™ MO99 can be used to retrofit R-22 heat pumps . Based on system testing, similar efficiency and slightly lower capacity can be expected. A slightly lower capacity may force the compressor run time to increase.

Can I still buy 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.

What is 407C refrigerant compatible with?

R-407C can be used to retrofit existing R-22 systems in positive displacement, direct expansion refrigeration, and air conditioning equipment. R-407C should not be used in centrifugal chillers or other equipment that uses a flooded evaporator, due to its high temperature glide.

Is R-407C banned?

R407C will, however, be phased out in 2025 in systems with less than 3kg charge. R410A air conditioning systems with charges greater than 3kg – including most VRF applications – are not affected. Systems with less than 3kg charge will be banned from 2025, with equipment using R32 an alternative option.

What will replace 407C?

Opteon™ XP20 (R-449C) refrigerant is a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) option that replaces R-22 and R-407C in residential and commercial air conditioners, as well as direct expansion chillers. It has similar performance and properties to R-22 and R-407C and can be used in both retrofit and new equipment.

Can you put 407C in a R-22 unit?

Using these retrofit guidelines, many R-22 systems can be retrofitted for use with Freon™ 407C in air conditioning, heat pump applications, and refrigeration applications to allow existing equipment to continue to operate safely and efficiently, even after R-22 is no longer available.

What is the difference between 407A and 407C?

R-407C has the closest capacity to R-22 for air conditioning, while R-407A offers performance similar to R-22 in supermarket refrigeration. R427A is a hybrid blend that mirrors R-22's operating pressures, allowing it to be used in a wider range of systems.

Is 448A a drop-in for R-22?

R448A is not a “Drop-in” Replacement

The retrofit procedures listed here have been developed by Honeywell to address these issues and to help technicians perform successful retrofits of R22 systems utilizing positive- displacement (reciprocating, rotary, scroll or screw) compressors.

What refrigerant can I substitute for R-22?

Freon™ MO29 (R-422D) refrigerant is a low-toxicity, non-ozone depleting hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) replacement for R-22.

Is R-22 being phased out?

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. The production (not use) of R-22 is being phased out.

What is the retrofit refrigerant for R-22?

Among those products is Freon™ MO99™ (R-438A), a retrofit refrigerant for R-22 that does not require an oil change. Freon™ MO99™ works with: Residential and commercial air conditioning systems (rooftop and indoor packages units, direct expansion chillers, split systems)

Is there a direct service drop in substitute for R-22?

R-600a, also known as isobutane, is a hydrocarbon refrigerant that can be used as a direct service "drop-in" substitute for R-22 in small appliances.

Is R438A a replacement for R-22?

R438A (Freon™/Isceon MO99) is a HFC blend, used as a replacement for R22 in domestic, industrial and commercial air-conditioning systems.

Is there a refrigerant that can be mixed with R-22?

Mixing R22 with R407C or any other refrigerant. According to the 609 EPA rule, mixing refrigerants is illegal and anybody caught doing so will be heavily fined.

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