Your air conditioning unit relies on refrigerant to cool air. If this substance leaks or the supply empties out over time, your home comfort pays the price. However, with four main types of AC refrigerants and a handful of lesser-known types, it’s important to understand why your technician might recommend one over the other.
Here’s more from Complete Comfort Control, a team that offers professional air conditioning services in Southampton, NY.
The Main Types of AC Refrigerant
Reputable HVAC technicians take time to learn every detail about the types of AC refrigerant available. Why? Using the wrong coolant product could seriously damage a unit, which is a costly mistake.
Unless you’re a technician, you likely won’t care about the differences beyond the various brands. However, learning about the machine’s requirements could streamline its upkeep (or even come in handy at Trivia Night!). Here are four common refrigerant types.
Freon: R-22
R-22, or Freon, was one of the original refrigerants for residential use. Its debut in 1928 changed the air conditioning world, but unfortunately, Freon also changed the ozone layer. It turns out that R-22 is pretty bad for the Earth.
In 2010, air conditioner manufacturers stopped making units requiring Freon. In 2020, the U.S. officially banned this coolant type. If you have had a unit chugging along since those pre-ban days, anticipate replacing your air conditioner soon.
Puron: R-410A
Puron goes by a few other names: R-410A, Genetron AZ-20, and Suva 9100. Manufacturers created it in the early 1990s after learning that some types of AC refrigerants are bad for the environment. Puron doesn’t have chlorine, so it has a lower potential for global warming than its counterparts, like Freon.
Understandably, Puron wasn’t popular until the industry started phasing out of Freon in 2010. However, since then, we’ve discovered that Puron is better at improving air quality and functions more efficiently because it works at high pressures.
Suva 407C: R-407C
If you’re determined to keep using the same old AC unit, R-407C might run your Freon system. Still, it is not as efficient as Puron. On the plus side, R-407C doesn’t damage the ozone layer, so it offers you a decent alternative refrigerant.
R-134a
While it isn’t widely used yet, R-134a is another environmentally friendly option. It seems to be quite efficient, too.
What About Those Lesser-Known AC Refrigerants?
HVAC technicians prioritize the four options above. However, you may hear of HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze, R1233zd, and R32 if you ever research the topic. HFO stands for Hydrofluoroolefin refrigerant.
Which Refrigerant Do You Need in Southampton, NY?
Air conditioners list the types of AC refrigerants they need on a sticker (usually on the compressor or evaporator). The unit will list only one, as coolant isn’t easily interchangeable.
If you need more AC refrigerant in Southampton, NY, you should call a team like Complete Comfort Control. You can’t buy refrigerant without a permit because it’s dangerous. If you put the wrong refrigerant into your HVAC, you could also cause irreversible damage.
Experienced HVAC technicians like Complete Comfort Control are highly trained and knowledgeable about the do’s and don’ts of refrigerants. They can tell you with confidence what types of AC refrigerants will or won’t work in your system and discuss potential substitutes when you need them.
How Does Air Conditioning Refrigerant Work?
Since so many of us rely on air conditioning, it doesn’t hurt to understand how it functions. For cooling, refrigerant works as follows:
- Refrigerant goes through the evaporator coils in the air handler cabinet.
- As the system draws hot air over these coils, the coolant turns into a liquid.
- This liquified refrigerant absorbs heat indoors and sends it out to the air compressor. There, it turns back into a gas, which releases heat outdoors.
This cyclical process continues as your cooling unit runs throughout the day, providing you with a near-endless supply of cold air. However, the evaporator coils won’t cool air if the refrigerant leaks or empties out. If that happens, you may feel hot air coming from the vents.
Call Complete Comfort Control in Southampton, NY
Complete Comfort Control in Southampton, NY, strives to live up to its name. Whether you have questions about the types of AC refrigerant or how to keep AC drains from clogging, our experienced team can help.
You can call Complete Comfort Control any time at 631-946-4908 for emergency repair services! When your AC refrigerant leaks or the unit stops working altogether, our Southampton, NY, team can get out to you right away and sort out the problem.