Freon™ 407C refrigerant performs similarly to HCFC-22 under evaporator temperatures ranging from –7 to 10 °C (20 to 50 °F). It is designed for use in new equipment and as a service refrigerant for existing HCFC-22 air conditioning, heat pump, and medium temperature refrigeration equipment.
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.
Commercial Air Conditioning: Suited for larger commercial spaces, including offices and retail locations. Industrial Refrigeration: Used in industrial processes requiring precise temperature control. Transport Refrigeration: Essential for maintaining temperatures in refrigerated transport systems.
R-410A is very popular for several HVAC applications, like condensers. However, at high ambient temperatures, R-410A's operating pressure is much higher than R-407C, leading some to consider other options for such applications.
New Regulations Effective from 2025
Monosplit systems with a refrigerant charge of less than 3 kg will no longer be allowed to use refrigerants with a GWP value above 750. This includes refrigerants like R410A and R407C, which will no longer be permitted in such systems.
A number of common refrigerants, including R134a, R410A and R407C, will be banned from use in new chillers in the USA from January 1, 2024.
Freon™ 407C refrigerant performs similarly to HCFC-22 under evaporator temperatures ranging from –7 to 10 °C (20 to 50 °F). It is designed for use in new equipment and as a service refrigerant for existing HCFC-22 air conditioning, heat pump, and medium temperature refrigeration equipment.
One disadvantage of R407C is that it is a zeotropic blend with moderate glide. R407C is made up from 3 different components— 23% R32, 25% R125 & 52% R134a. The R32 assists with heat capacity, R125 to reduce the flammability of the R32 and R134a to reduce overall pressure.
Mixing R22 with R407C
According to the 609 EPA rule, mixing refrigerants is illegal and anybody caught doing so will be heavily fined. Although you may this restriction is primarily political we would like to give you a basic education to explain the two most devastating effects of such action: To the environment.
Complying with Section 608 Refrigerant Handling Rule
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires certification for anyone handling R-22, MO99, R-407C, R-134A, or R-410a refrigerants.
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.
R407c refrigerant is used in domestic and commercial air conditioning systems as well as in direct evaporation air conditioning systems.
Due to the zeotropic nature of R-407C, it should be charged as a liquid to prevent fractionation (changes in refrigerant composition due to vapor charging.
Freon™ 407C has been a popular R-22 replacement because of its properties, which include: Similar cooling capacity, energy efficiency, and pressures as R-22 in systems. An ability to be topped off after a leak, multiple times, with minimal impact on system performance.
The lubricant that is currently used with R-22 is either Mineral Oil (MO) or Alkylbenzene (AB). The retrofit procedure to R-407C, recommended by manufacturers, requires a lubricant change to Polyol Ester (POE) since the solubility and miscibility of R-407C in either MO or AB are much lower than in POE.
The pressure can become high enough for parts of the system to rupture. At the very least, leaks will occur.
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.
Average R407C prices range between $5 and $7 per pound. R407C is a blend of three components: R32, R125, and R134A. It is well-adapted for air conditioning applications and medium-temperature range chiller equipment.
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.
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.
So while R134A is better suited for a hot water system, it has a much lower kW output capacity when compared to R407C. This significance of this is for the same capacity ratting you need a far larger heat pump to achieve the same amount of work.
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.
Refrigerant can only be sold to technicians who have a license from the relevant state or federal government.
Yes. With air-conditioning systems that are similarly optimized, the compressor discharge temperature in an R134a system shall be 18–30 °F (10–17 °C) lower than that in an R407C system.
While R410a offers superior efficiency and performance, its environmental impact in terms of GWP has driven the search for even more eco-friendly options. R407c, on the other hand, serves as a suitable retrofit solution for systems using R22, although its higher GWP could impact its long-term viability.