R-410A is the most common type of refrigerant currently being used in air conditioning systems. It's what's in all of the central systems we install in homes around the Atlanta area. In addition, it's readily available and easy for us to purchase.
If your unit was manufactured past 2010, you may have more economically wise repair options available. Manufacturers, after this date, incorporated R-410a, or Puron, as an alternative. Units that were manufactured before the year 2010, generally used R22 refrigerant.
There are 2 primary types of refrigerants in air conditioners today. R22 and R410A. If your air conditioner was manufactured after 2010, it uses the new style of refrigerant R410A. Air conditioners made prior to this most likely are filled with R22.
Starting in 2010, all new ACs used only R410A. Manufacturers still produced R22, but only for recharging existing equipment. They also began reducing production. Over the next decade, manufacturers produced less and less Freon each year.
R-134a is one of the world's most used refrigerants, widely embedded in automotive, commercial and residential air conditioning systems, across the world. R-32 is another commonly used, as an attractive lower GWP solution for air conditioning.
As R-410A is phased out, A2L refrigerants are emerging as the primary alternatives due to their lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) and reduced environmental impact. Refrigerants like R-32 and R-454B are leading the charge, offering a GWP that is significantly lower than R-410A.
While R-12 was once the go-to choice for residential/domestic refrigeration systems, Freon™ R-134a refrigerant is now most commonly used. Its versatility allows it to work in home systems ranging from small under-the-counter refrigerators to family-sized refrigeration/freezer systems with multiple cooling compartments.
The pressure can become high enough for parts of the system to rupture. At the very least, leaks will occur. Mixing refrigerants is not an option either. This will contaminate the system, and the R22 will not evaporate under the higher suction pressure that R410A requires.
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.
R32 is not suitable as a drop-in replacement for R410A and must only be used in systems specifically designed for R32.
R-410 A. This special refrigerant is created from a blend of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, difluoromethane, and pentafluoroethane. Additionally, it is non-ozone depleting, which is a tremendous credit to its current and future use as a household refrigerant.
Under EPA regulations, only a certified professional can recharge your home's HVAC system.
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). R-454B has a lower GWP than previous refrigerants, meaning it has a much lower climate impact.
Incompatibility Issues: It's essential to replace Freon with an appropriate refrigerant. Choosing the wrong one will damage system components. Avoid Leaks: Minor mistakes made when replacing Freon can cause leaks, impair system cooling efficiency, or result in a complete system failure.
To retrofit an R-22 system with R-410A system your line set must not be more than 25-50 feet in total distance. If the line set is longer than this, you will have to replace the line set with larger lines.
The chief drawback of R-410A is its Global Warming Potential. While the Montreal Protocol sought to eliminate substances with the potential to deplete the ozone layer, most refrigerants developed in response to the treaty are not altogether environmentally unharmful.
A Question of Supply and Demand
Therefore, maintenance people and air conditioning system specialists have less supply and are charging more for it. Some businesses have even reported thefts targeting their Freon canisters thanks to its newfound value. After 2020, R-22 won't be produced at all in the United States.
Currently, the price for recharging an air conditioning system with R-410A is around $90 per pound.
It lined out a timeline to change the industry standard to a non-HFC refrigerant by January 1st, 2025. The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM) of 2020, which was signed by President Trump, cemented r410a's fate by mandating the EPA to reduce the production of HFCs by 85% over the next 15 years.
If you use R-22 in the same system as R-410a, the compressor is going to be trying to work two different fluids through the same coils as both refrigerants respond differently to different mechanical situations. As you might imagine, this isn't going to go well for your air conditioner or heat pump.
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.
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.
R-410A: Known by brand names like Puron, R-410A is currently one of the most common refrigerants in newer air conditioners. Unlike R-22, it does not deplete the ozone layer and is considered more environmentally friendly.
So, you can't buy Freon from Home Depot for your HVAC needs. The good news is that you can still get it, though. At Lowery, we've still got you covered. Lowery will keep you cool-headed as temperatures (and Freon costs) rise!
Why Did The U.S Ban R22 Refrigerant? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned R22 freon in the country. Why? R22 contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer – which absorbs the ultraviolet radiation from the sun and protects us from its harmful effects – and the ecosystem in general.