REFRIGERANT
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DEFINITION
Air Conditioning is based on the property of a family of gas called refrigerants. Along the time different refrigerants have been used to produce cooling including CFC (Chlorine Fluorine Carbon), HCFC (Hydrogen Chlorine Fluorine Carbon) and HFC (Hydrogen Fluorine Carbon). CFCs include R-11, R-12 and R-500. HCFC include R-22 and R-123. HFC includes R-134a. Until recently, in the USA, the refrigerant used in most residential Air-Conditioning systems was R-22 or Freon.
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OZONE DEPLETING SUBTANCES
However the Chlorine fluorocarbon gas cause damages to the ozone layer when they are released in the atmosphere. The EPA has regulated the amount of CFC, HCFC and HFC that could be released in the atmosphere per year and per system and implemented recovery and recycling measures to limit the amount of refrigerants added to the atmosphere. These measures are certainly beneficial but cannot completely eliminate the contamination of the atmosphere by the refrigerants. The Montreal Protocol established in mid 1989 called for a stepwise reduction and eventually production phase out of various Ozone Depleting Substances in developed countries.
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R-410 a HFC gas without Chlorine
The discovery of R410A apparently solves this problem. R410A works under slightly different conditions than R22 but it does the same job of cooling. Its major benefits is that it does not cause damages to the ozone layer.
R410 is also called Puron. To learn more about puron you may visit the website of one of its developer: Honeywell.
Fix My AC, Inc. has been installing R-410A systems for at least 5 years and has the equipment and the know how to deal with R-410A products
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R-22 PHASE OUT
R-22 is going to completely come out of production by 2030 but the production has been regulated so that it will drop dramatically during the last 20 years before the final ban. Thereafter only reclaimed R22 will be available on the market for repairs of older units still working with this refrigerant. Concretely it means that the price of R-22 will keep rising as it happened with R-12. In fact, the price of R22 has already triple in the last 2 years and keeps going up.
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NEW CONDENSERS work with R410A
By now, most Air Conditioner Manufacturers have several R410A condenser lines. In fact, it has become illegal to install newly manufacturerd R-22 air conditioners since January 2010.
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CONSEQUENCE FOR YOU
Split air conditioning systems are composed of three parts: condenser, evaporator coil and the line set. It used to be possible to replace the condenser or the evaporator coil separately.
Nowadays, both parts must go. Moreover the line set must also be replaced or at least flushed.
So a change out has become more involved and therefore more costly. However the initially higher investment is compensated by the saving in the consumption as the new units are more energy efficient.
For those with package units, the transition to R-410A does not make much of a difference.
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If you have any questions, feel free to call Fix My AC, Inc. at 800-673-4922.
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