What refrigerant is drop-in replacement for R-22?

Author: Johnnie Brekke PhD  |  Last update: Thursday, July 9, 2026

The "drop-in” myth Arkema recommends using Forane® 427A (R427A) - The EASY RETROFIT™ for your R-22 retrofit solution.

What refrigerant can be used as a drop-in 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 a service drop-in substitute for R-22?

A refrigerant that can be used as a direct service "drop-in" substitute for R-22 in a small appliance is R-134a. This substance is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) that has been adopted as a replacement for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in various refrigeration systems.

What is the alternative to R-22 refrigerant?

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

Is R32 a drop-in replacement for R-22?

Although the drop-in replacement of R22 to R32 reduces the performance of the A/C system, but since GWP of R32 (650) is relatively low compared to R22 (1818), the use of R32 as working fluid will significantly reduce the emission of global warming compound in the atmosphere.

RS 44b Drop-In Replacement Refrigerant for R22 Overview

Why is R32 refrigerant banned in the USA?

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.

Is R-410A an acceptable drop in replacement for R-22?

R-22 uses simple mineral oil, non-toxic, safe, stable, etc. while R-410a uses a somewhat exotic Poly o Ester (POE) oil typically found in jet turbine engines. The refrigerant used MUST match the oil present in the system, which is one reason why you can't replace the R-22 with R410a in a system.

Is MO99 a drop-in replacement for R-22?

Yes. The mass flow rate and operating pressures of Freon™ MO99 are the closest of all the mineral oil compatible replacement products and will likely perform adequately in an existing R-22 system with a capillary tube expansion device.

What gas can replace R-22 refrigerant?

R417A refrigerant is an HFC mixture that serves as a substitute for R22. It is compatible with traditional lubricants. In most cases, the lubricant type does not need to be changed in the event of retrofitting.

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.

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.

Can you replace R-22 with R438A?

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 427A a replacement for R-22?

* Forane® 427A is intended as a retrofit in systems originally designed for R-22. Therefore, how the system was running on R-22 will be a guide or target for how the system should run on R-427A. Compared to R-22, expect 0-5 psi lower on the suction side and 0-10 psi higher on the discharge.

Can you replace R-22 with another refrigerant?

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.

Is 404A a drop in for R-22?

The biggest problem of using refrigerant R404A to replace refrigerant R22 is the problem of lubricating oil. PVE ester oil must be used to replace the mineral lubricating oil for R22. Ester lubricants have high affinity with water and poor dehydration.

Is R458A a drop in replacement for R-22?

It is concluded that R458A performs well as a drop-in alternative refrigerant to R22 and surpasses that of R453A, as it showed slightly less deviation in coefficient of performance.

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.

What is a refrigerant blend replacing R-22 in a new residential and commercial air conditioning application?

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.

What happens if you put R134a in a R22 system?

No, the compressor will fail. These two refrigerants have very different properties. One of R22 and R134a is high pressure and the other is low pressure. They don't mix chemically and don't have the same boiling point, leading to inefficiencies and eventual compressor failure.

Is r407a 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.

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.

Is nu22 a drop in for R-22?

One option is to use NU-22B. NU-22 is an R22 replacement and is compatible with all standard oils, equipment components, and materials used in R-22 systems. The system needs to be completely flushed out of all the old R-22 before adding the NU-22.

Can I replace a R22 compressor with a R-410A compressor?

The alterations will affect the air conditioning unit. Although they're both refrigerants, the higher efficiency of R-410A requires an upgrade to the equipment. For example, plan to replace the refrigerant tubing, the evaporator, condenser, and compressor. Other components might also need updates.

What is the new AC refrigerant in 2024?

R-454B has a lower GWP than previous refrigerants, meaning it has a much lower climate impact. Trane is phasing in the transition to R-454B in 2024, starting with the adoption of R-454B refrigerant in its residential products, beginning with the XR15 SEER2 heat pump.

How many pounds of R22 are in a 3 ton unit?

Size of the HVAC Unit

Since an air conditioner uses an average of 2 to 4 pounds of refrigerant per ton, a 3-ton AC will need an average of 9 pounds. With the cost of R-22 refrigerant increasing each year, it can cost a pretty penny to recharge larger systems that still use the refrigerant.

Previous article
Can I wash towels and bedding together?
Next article
How do I get my wooden cabinets to shine again?