R-22 and R-410A …. Why are they important to you?

R-22 and R-410A are the refrigerants found in your air conditioning unit and over the past few years the use of these compounds has impacted the HVAC industry significantly.

Environmental Considerations
Better known as Freon, R-22 has been the standard refrigerant used in air conditioners for many years.  R-22 is a hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) which contributes to depletion of the ozone layer.

In response to growing environmental concerns, in 2010 manufacturing of air conditioning systems using R-22 refrigerant was discontinued.

This has led to R-410A becoming the industry standard refrigerant.  R-410A contains no chlorine and is considered ozone-friendly.

Additionally, R-410A systems are also known for higher efficiency, improved reliability, quieter operation, improved dehumidification and enhanced heat pump performance.

But what if my older air conditioner still uses R-22?
HVAC service professionals are still able to repair older units that use R-22 refrigerant.  R-22 is still available for units requiring it.  The biggest drawback to repairing units using R-22 is that the price of the refrigerant continues to go up as it is being phased out.

Should I replace my air conditioner that uses R-22 now?
If your A/C unit is running fine and not leaking Freon, then there is no immediate need to replace your current unit.  Like any mechanical device, your air conditioner will start to break down.  As the repair bills grow and the cost of Freon continues to rise, there will be a point when getting a new air conditioner will make sense.

More Reliable and Efficient
Newer air conditioning models using R-410A are more reliable and efficient.  They run cooler and have fewer compressor issues due to overheating.   R-410A also functions at a higher pressure than R-22, so new compressors are built stronger to withstand greater stresses.

Air conditioners that use R-22 and those that use R-410A use different types of oil to lubricate the compressor.   The synthetic oil used in R-410A units reduces the wear and tear on the compressor better than the older models with R-22.

Someday Everyone Will Be Using R-410A, But Until Then
At some point everyone will have A/C units using only R-410A, but until then give us a call at Mecko’s Heating & Cooling at 765-447-7555 or send us an EMAIL and we’ll take care of both your older and newer models.