Refrigerant, also known as Freon or coolant, is arguably the most important part of your air conditioner. It is essential to the cooling capacity of your air conditioner as it is the invisible force that keeps your air conditioner running. Regardless if you have a ducted or ductless air conditioner, it uses refrigerant to cool your house. What a refrigerant does is that It readily absorbs heat from the environment. Working hand in hand with other components like evaporators and compressors, refrigerants are able to cool the air and provide a comfortable indoor climate.
The refrigerant generally operates in the internal system of the air conditioner. There is enough refrigerant in your home’s air conditioner to last the whole of its lifespan. Refrigerant Refills are common misconceptions, and if you ever feel like you need one, this is actually an indication of a leak. Freon affects us and our surroundings even though it has no flavor or smell. Refrigerant leaks can seriously compromise the environment, your health, and your Air Conditioning system. To remedy this issue effectively, contact a New York City Heating and cooling company.
If you depend on your air conditioner for comfort and optimal ventilation, it is necessary to know how refrigerants work. Get in touch with a New York City Heating and cooling company to keep your air conditioning system’s refrigerant level stable. If the refrigerant level is insufficient, your system will have to work harder and won’t be able to generate enough cool as you would like. But with New York City HVAC repair, you will no longer have to worry about this because we are proficient in keeping your AC’s refrigerant intact.
Here’s How The Process Works:
- Air passes between the compressor and evaporator, refrigerants inside copper coils take up the heat and aid the cooling function of your Air Conditioning units.
- The refrigerant transforms from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid during this process.
- A fan blows over the high-pressure liquid to disperse the heat into the surroundings. This liquid is further compressed before being swiftly ejected into a unique nozzle to transform it back into a liquid to start the next cycle.
- Another fan then blows over this cold gas to blast cold air into the room, and the cycle repeats.
3 Types of Refrigerants
At its most basic form, a refrigerant is a chemical compound typically found in either a fluid or gaseous state. There are various types of refrigerants, though. Many customers get easily confused by the fact that there are actually three separate varieties, and they can be used interchangeably.
In this blog, we will share and discuss the different refrigerant types and how to know which one your AC uses.
- R12
It is a form of chlorofluorocarbon that is one of the refrigerants used in air conditioners. They do, however, appear to have a role in the greenhouse gas impact, which is bad for the environment. In light of this, manufacturers stopped utilizing it as a refrigerant, and in 1994, R12 stock production came to an end.
- R22
It is also referred to as Freon, and has been utilized for many years as the refrigerant in central air conditioning systems. Like R12, it has been connected to environmental harm such as ozone depletion. Residential furnace repair specialists and manufacturers have stopped utilizing it as a result of the Clean Air Act of 2010 being approved. By 2020, it will have been totally phased out.
- R410A
It is sometimes referred to as Puron. It is the replacement of R22 in air conditioners. While maintaining the same cooling properties as R22, the mixture is less damaging to the environment because it contains less chlorine. Puron-powered systems are also known to be more reliable, comfortable, and efficient. They also provide higher air quality. However, it cannot be used in systems that previously ran on R22, necessitating an update or replacement.
Finding the correct refrigerant is crucial since using the incorrect one can seriously harm your air conditioner. One technique to determine which refrigerant your air conditioner needs is to check the large sticker or plate on your air conditioner’s compressor or evaporator. This will indicate the needed refrigerant of your air conditioner. Before replacing the refrigerant, it’s crucial to check these stickers because they are not interchangeable. On the other hand, you can always ask an HVAC contractor to perform it for you if you’re hesitant to replace it yourself.
For choosing or replacing air conditioner refrigerants, it’s always best to be advised and guided by licensed professionals like us at Best New York Heating and AC Repair! So, call us now!
Types of Refrigerants
A refrigerant is a chemical compound typically found in either a fluid or gaseous state. There are various types of refrigerants, though. Many customers get easily confused by the fact that there are three different varieties, which can be used interchangeably.
To know which one your AC uses, listed below are the different refrigerant types:
- Chlorofluorocarbon/R12 is one of the refrigerants used in air conditioners that significantly affect the greenhouse gas impact and a detriment to the environment. R12 was phased out on 1994
- Freon/R22 is used as a refrigerant in central air conditioning systems. Similar to R12, it also has harmful environmental effects, particularly ozone depletion. There hasn’t been production since 2020.
Puron/R410A replace R22 as refrigerants in air conditioners. Containing less chlorine, R410A’s chemical mixture is less damaging to the environment. It’s more efficient, consistent, reliable, and provides better air quality.