Carbon Dioxide It is present in the atmosphere and it is non-flammable and non-toxic.
R-143A is non-toxic and does not cause corrosion. R-404A – a blended hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) that is nonflammable with low toxicity and is comprised of R-125, R-134A, and R-143A. R-404A works well in low to medium temperatures in refrigerated vehicles and ice makers.
Natural refrigerants include ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, water, and air. Some of the natural refrigerants have been used in the market place for many decades although at varying degrees of application.
R-410A is a hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) which does not contribute to ozone depletion. R-410A can also absorb and release more heat than R-22. This means your air conditioning compressor can run cooler, reducing the risk of compressor burnout due to overheating.
HCs (Hydrocarbons)
These are claimed to be some of the safest refrigerants for the environment while also delivering the most cost-effective cooling. Hydrocarbons are nontoxic refrigerants with no ozone depleting properties and low global warming potential.
Carbon Dioxide
It is present in the atmosphere and it is non-flammable and non-toxic. Despite the high pressures associated with its use, carbon dioxide has been used as a refrigerant since 1862.
Newer air conditioners are built to be used with R-410A for more efficient operation. It can absorb and release more heat than R-22, meaning your compressor can run cooler, reducing the compressors chances of overheating and burning out. R-410A also works at a higher pressure than the R-22.
Flammability: R32 has a lower flammability compared to R22 and R410A, making it a safer option for air conditioning systems. Toxicity: R32 is considered to be less toxic compared to R22 and R410A, but it should still be handled with caution to avoid potential harm to humans and the environment.
The most environmentally friendly refrigerants are hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and hydrofluoro-olefins (HFO). HFCs are comprised of fluorinated hydrocarbons.
Nowadays, the most efficient and environmentally friendly refrigeration technologies are those that use natural refrigerants such as NH3 (ammonia or R717), CO2 (carbon dioxide or R744) and hydrocarbons. In the case of hydrocarbons, the refrigerant par excellence due to its efficiency is R290, commonly known as propane.
What is R-454B? R-454B is the newest refrigerant, which will gradually replace R-410A, the refrigerant used in current HVAC manufacturing. R-454B is a blend of R-32, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), and R-1234yf a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO).
Ammonia gives an unpalatable flavor to food. SO2 kills flowers and is a dying agent for textiles. Refrigerants have been assigned toxicity grades 1-6 by the National Board of Underwrites of the USA. SO2 is the most toxic.
R22 (also known as HCFC-22) is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) once widely used as a refrigerant. If your home or office AC is over 10 years old, it's probably using R22 freon. However, R22 Freon is banned in the U.S. today.
CFCs and HCFCs are the most harmful because they contain chlorine. These refrigerants are also relatively stable, meaning they don't get destroyed easily by rain or sunlight. This makes it more likely that they will reach the stratosphere, where the ozone layer is.
As Freon was phased out, new HVAC systems began using a refrigerant known as Puron® or R-410A, an HFC. More efficient and less harmful to the environment, R-410A has been in use since its introduction in 1996 and is found in most of today's modern HVAC systems.
The AIM Act is a Federal nationwide rule phasing out the use of global warming materials. As part of that effort, EPA is now banning the use of 134a in aerosol products as of 1/1/2025. There are excepted products that are allowed to use 134a until 1/1/2028.
R-134a refrigerant, also known as Tetrafluoroethane, is a popular choice for commercial refrigeration systems due to its low toxicity and non-flammability. It is commonly used in medium- and high-temperature applications, such as refrigerators, air conditioning units, and chillers.
R-134a is an HFC refrigerant and cannot be vented under the Venting Prohibition because it is a non-exempt substitute of CFCs and HCFCs. Question #8 Nitrogen can be used to pressurize or blow debris out of a system containing a half charge of refrigerant.
It's not flammable and it doesn't create carbon monoxide or other contaminants in the air as it cycles through your air conditioner. However, just because it's inherently safe doesn't mean it can't become dangerous. Any refrigerant, be it R-22 or R-410A, can be dangerous if inhaled or consumed by human beings.
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.
Changes to the Dangerous Goods Legislation, effective in 2021, has new categories for A2L refrigerants. R32 is a synthetic greenhouse gas. If released to the atmosphere it can contribute to climate change. R32 is a flammable refrigerant.
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.
Although there are various types of refrigerants, R-32 is a balanced refrigerant currently receiving attention. Because R-32 efficiently conveys heat, it can reduce electricity consumption up to approximately 10% compared to that of air conditioners using refrigerant R-22.
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.