A lot of times when our HVAC technicians come to a customer’s house to tune up their air conditioning unit, they ask questions. One such question is: what is refrigerant? So here is everything you wanted to know (and maybe more than you wanted to know) about refrigerants.
What Are Refrigerants?
Refrigerants are substances used in air conditioners (as well as refrigerators and freezers) to facilitate cooling. Refrigerants are a gas at room temperature and pressure but can change phase to a liquid under pressure. One property of all gases is they will increase in temperature when compressed and drop in temperature when allowed to expand. These compression and expansion processes allow for the transfer of heat. Here is the process.
- Compression. The compressor pulls in refrigerant vapor and increases the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant gas.
- Condensation. The hot, compressed refrigerant gas flows to the condensing heat exchanger, where it releases heat to the outside surroundings, resulting in condensation back into a liquid.
- Expansion. The liquid refrigerant is pushed toward the indoor furnace and evaporator coil where it is allowed to expand, reducing the pressure and therefore the temperature.
- Absorption. The refrigerant enters the evaporator coil where it evaporates from a liquid back into a gas, absorbing the heat within the home. This gas now makes its way back to the compressor to start again.
There are basically two types of refrigerants. Synthetic refrigerants are compounds containing a mix of different chemicals. Then there are natural refrigerants such as ammonia and carbon dioxide.
History of Refrigerants in AC Units
- If your house was built before the 1990s, the AC may have used R-12 refrigerant, which was a methane-based chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). But due to its very negative impact on the environment, it was banned in the early 1990s and production stopped in 1994. So, it hasn’t been used in a long time.
- The most common replacement was R-22, commonly known as Freon. R-22 is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) which contained less chlorine than R-12. As a result, it was less harmful to the environment, but still not-eco-friendly. Your AC unit may still use R-22, but production stopped in 2020. In other words, if your AC Is still using R-22, it may be time to get a newer unit.
- R-22 has been replaced by R-410A, also known as Puron. R-410A is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) that contains no chlorine, so it is a little more eco-friendly. Still, it is being phased out this year in compliance with EPA regulations.
- R-454B is the new, eco-friendly kid on the block. It is a zeotropic coolant that is non-toxic and safe to use indoors. The downside is it is slightly flammable but will only burn in the presence of a flame source and cannot maintain combustion on its own, so care needs to be taken when handling and storing.
Contact Ravinia Plumbing for Expert Advice on Refrigerants
The NATE-certified HVAC technicians at Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric are experts on refrigerants and all other matters related to cooling and heating your home. Our customers have relied on us since 1928 (that’s 97 years!) for quality products, knowledgeable technicians and superior service (including 24/7/365 emergency service). That is why we have made a name for ourselves as the most trusted and reliable plumbing, sewer, heating and air conditioning, and electrical company in Chicago’s North Shore and Northwest suburbs. Contact Ravinia Plumbing today to learn more, and to schedule an appointment.
