Just buy some r12 on ebay if you aren't wanting newer refrigerant. As Rich said positively DO NOT use R22. R22 is quite valuable right now so that 20lb is worth some jingle. R-22 and R-12 are not interchangeable .
You can't mix refrigerants for serveral reasons. R12 and R22 are used to make R500 which operates at a much lower head pressure than R22 alone. In fact R500 was used some back in the old days as it was similar to R12, just operated at slightly higher suction pressure.
Freon™ MO99 can be used to retrofit R-22 heat pumps .
As R12 is now being finally phased out, older refrigeration machines need an alternative. Whatever you do, DO NOT USE R-134a in a R12 System! Instead, use a Propane + Isobutane combination, also known as 12a or HC-12a. 12a is also non-ozone depleting, and directly compatible with R-12's compressor oils.
In the 1950s, R22 took over from R12 as the leading refrigerant of choice for residential AC units and fridges. It didn't cause as much wear on compressors, and didn't need as large of pipes to flow through. While R22 is still widely used in America, it's an HCFC compound.
But Freon was shown to deplete the earth's vital ozone layer. So carmakers were mandated to stop using R12 after the 1994 model year. One current replacement refrigerant is R134a, which serves the same purpose as Freon but is less harmful to the environment.
Freon MO99 is the closest capacity match to R-22 compared with most other no-oil change refrigerants. What does this mean to my residents? Choosing an energy-efficient blend with a mass flow rate within 10 to 15% of R-22 helps reduce energy costs and shorten the system's downtime.
The Duracool 12a is used to replace the R12 and R134a gases and owes its success to its ecological qualities. It is an hydrocarbon gas with zero impact on the ozone layer. It requires only 35% of the load weight of the R12 and 40% of that of the 134a.
Refrigerant Can Leak Easier
R134a systems work at higher discharge-side pressures than R12 systems, which could lead to compressor seals leaks. Additionally, since R134a is composed of much smaller molecules, it has a greater chance of leaking from an R12 system.
Propane makes a good substitute for R12 with very little modifications.
It is possible to use a different type of refrigerant inside an R-22 system. There are “drop-in” refrigerants that serve exactly this purpose. When someone has an R-22 leak, it's possible to remove all the R-22 from the system and replace it with a drop-in refrigerant.
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.
On January 1, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the production and import of R-22. But units manufactured in 2009 and earlier still use R-22 today. Its use will eventually be eliminated in the U.S., so all current and future homeowners must be prepared for the transition.
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.
As of Jan 1 2020, R22 refrigerant has been completely phased out worldwide due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. It is no longer being produced. If you're interested in learning how to refill R22 in your air conditioner, it is important to know that this is not something a homeowner can do on their own.
There are actually three different types, and using the wrong one can damage your air conditioner because they're not interchangeable. With that in mind, it's important to know as much as possible about these refrigerants.
Limited quantities of reclaimed R-12 is still available for service of installed equipment. A wide variety of R-12 retrofit blends are available.
The properties of RS-24 make it an almost perfect match for R12 with its compatibility for traditional and synthetic lubricants, similar performance, lower discharge temperature, non-flammability and relatively short atmospheric lifetime.
Can I still sell my r12? While the production of new R12 is banned, it is not illegal to sell or use R12.
The different types of refrigerants are not meant to be mixed. The refrigerant charge must be optimized by using the refrigerant's respective pressure-temperature chart.
HFC-134a is the alternative refrigerant of choice to replace CFC-12 in many medium- and high-temperature stationary refrigeration and air conditioning applications. It has also replaced R-12 in automotive air conditioning applications. However, R-134a is not a direct drop-in refrigerant for R-12.
R12 is a good place to start because it contrasts well to R22 which has twice the VC and operating pressure. Since both R12 and R22 have been phased out due to their ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) we can track the lineage of their replacement gases to where we are today.
Why is R-22 refrigerant so expensive? R-22 refrigerant is so expensive because there's such a limited supply of it left. You see, R-22 is an “ozone-depleting substance” and is extremely harmful to the environment.
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.
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.