R-22 was the most popular refrigerant used in commercial and residential air conditioning units for many years because it was considered a safe and cost-efficient refrigerant choice by the HVACR industry . ... The reclaim and recycling industry acted early to ensure adequate supply of R-22.
Why R22 is used in AC?
R22 refrigerant is a chemical that keeps the air coming from your air conditioning system cool , so it's unquestionably incredibly important. Most air conditioning units older than 10 years utilize an AC refrigerant called R22 that's commonly identified as Freon*, and is noted by the EPA as HCFC-22.
When was R22 refrigerant last used?
R-22 is a refrigerant that is often used in air- conditioning equipment. 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.
What years was R22 used?
If your AC or heat pump was built and installed before January 1, 2010 , there's a good chance that it uses R22 refrigerant. Your equipment may have a label that identifies the type of refrigerant type used, but it's a good idea to ask your licensed professional AC or heat pump dealer for confirmation.
What is the most common refrigerant used in air conditioners?
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), including R12. This is known to contribute to the greenhouse gas effect. ...
- Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), including R22. ...
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), including R410A and R134.
Can I replace R22 with R410A?
The answer: No . Putting R-410A refrigerant into an AC unit that was designed to use R-22 will cause the unit to die soon after it tries to run.
Can I replace R22 with R134a?
Using R134a in Systems Designed for R22
If you have a home or auto air conditioner designed to work with R22 refrigerant and the system needs a recharge, a number of issues prevent the direct substitution of R134a. ... R134a has a lower thermal conductivity than R22, so an R134a system needs a larger heat exchanger.
What refrigerant can be mixed with R22?
The most commonly mixed refrigerants in the field are the replacements for R-22 — R-427A, R-438A, R-422D, and R-407C — which are often combined with the remaining R-22 in the system, said Maiorana.
Is there a replacement for R22 refrigerant?
The best replacement for R-22 Freon is usually R-407c . It has a very low loss in capacity (0 – 5%) relative to R-22 and is less expensive than many other R-22 replacement refrigerants.
Can you still get R22 refrigerant?
The U.S. government has placed restrictions on R22 and has issued the requirement that R22 refrigerant must be eliminated from use in cooling systems by the year 2020. At this point, R22 will no longer be manufactured and cannot be used as a refrigerant in new air conditioning systems.
Can I buy R22 freon without license?
R22 refrigerant is illegal to import and manufacturer in the U.S. But it's not illegal for anyone to buy R22 freon . And it's not illegal to sell it IF you have a license. As long as the stocks last, you will be able to continue purchasing R22 from specialized dealers and form your air conditioning company.
What is a drop in replacement for R22?
RS-44b (R453a) is the newest R22 drop-in replacement refrigerant in the U.S. market. RS-44b has been sold worldwide for the past 5 years, branded as RS-70 outside the US. It is the closest replacement to R22 that operates with very similar discharge pressure, cooling capacity and flow rate as R22.
What was refrigerant before R22?
This would take some time, but R-410A refrigerant , a hydrofluorocarbon compound (HFC), was soon considered to be the most common alternative to R-22.
How do I know what kind of Freon my air conditioner uses?
To know which type of refrigerant your air conditioner uses, take a look at the label on the compressor unit outside . It'll clearly tell you which type of refrigerant the unit uses. The newer type is R-410A, and the older type that I've been talking about is R-22, also identified as HCFC-22.
Does 410A cool as well as R-22?
The lower critical temperature of R410A versus that of R22 (70.1 °C (158.1 °F) vs. ... The R22 system cooling capacity decreased by 14 % at an outdoor temperature of 51.7 °C (125.0 °F). The R410A system cooling capacity decreased nonlinearly by 22 % at the same condition.
What is the newest AC refrigerant?
Most newer AC units use a refrigerant called R410A, or Puron . This chemical is an HFC (hydrofluorocarbon), but has been shown not to harm the ozone and, since 2015, has become the standard for residential air conditioning.
