Cracking the Code: Navigating Your HVAC System

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What role does refrigerant play in my cooling system?

Refrigerant is a chemical compound used in heat pumps and air conditioners that serves as an essential part of heating and cooling systems, including HVAC systems (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and air conditioning systems (individual AC units, central air – the most common type, etc.). The refrigerant plays the role of a heat-transfer medium. As it moves through the system, it absorbs heat, and changes from liquid to gas. When it is condensed from gas to liquid again, it releases the heat, depositing it outside. 

Rooftop HVAC system
Indoor HVAC system

Why identifying your current refrigerant matters

The type of refrigerant you are using is important information to know. It can help you manage your system’s overall function and maintenance, and inform decisions as you make updates when new environmental guidelines emerge.

 

This year, it will be key to helping you meet the EPA’s new 2025 mandates as they phase out older refrigerants with high Global Warming Potential (GWP). New HVAC systems will favor more environmentally friendly refrigerants with a GWP rating of 750 or less (current options average approximately 2,000 GWP), and higher efficiency overall. These regulations are here to stay, and will keep evolving – The 1987 Montreal Protocol set a phase-out plan into action for ozone-depleting substances, which is updated regularly by federal environmental agencies. 

What type of refrigerant is in my HVAC system?

There are multiple ways to do this. You can: check the nameplate or unit label on the outdoor condenser or indoor air handler; consult the manufacturer’s manual; look at the compressor tag. If none of these options provide the information, a qualified HVAC technician can provide assistance.

Some common refrigerants you might find

Common types of refrigerants that have been widely used in HVAC systems include R-22, an HCFC the United States is phasing out, with production prohibited after 2030); R-410, a chlorine-free alternative used in current HVAC systems, which performs better and is environmentally safer; and R-32, considered a ‘balanced refrigerant’ as it is cost-effective,  up to 12% more energy efficient than R-410,  and available worldwide via multiple suppliers (because there is no active patent).

 

R-454B is the newest refrigerant, which will gradually replace R-410. It has no ozone depletion potential (ODP), and at <700 GWP it surpasses the EPA requirements for low-GWP refrigerant.

Your refrigerant is outdated. Now what?

Factors like supply chain fluctuations, production costs, and market demand can influence the prices of new refrigerants. While the retrofitting or new system sometimes required to support them does incur an upfront cost, the overall savings in choosing a new, environmentally safe refrigerant for your HVAC system make it cost-beneficial.

 

Making this choice can help you lower operating costs (improving energy efficiency and reducing electric and energy bills); reduce maintenance costs (lower risk of leaks or system breakdowns); and avoid potential fines or penalties (as EPA’s and other regulations inevitably evolve).

Your HVAC system is compatible with new refrigerants - time to optimize!

You are about to be up to date, more efficient. When determining which new refrigerant will provide you with optimal performance and safety, you will want to look for one that is compatible with your system’s components – e.g. metals, plastics, elastomers – to minimize the possibility of future corrosion or degradation.  

 

Once you have chosen the right one, it is the best time to find out all that you can about it, and to put safeguards in place. Some newer refrigerants may display mild flammability, requiring additional precautions during handling and maintenance, and there are often new local and federal regulations regarding new refrigerant management and disposal.

 

Take care of your system’s new addition. Make sure to regularly monitor refrigerant levels and perform routine maintenance on system components (e.g. filters, coils, pressure switches). Implement a schedule of regular inspections for leaks; design features like electronic leak detectors, access ports and leak detection lines help streamline the process. If you do find leaks, have EPA-certified technicians promptly repair them (and avoid ‘gaming the system’ by adding extra refrigerant to compensate for leaks – they will only come back to haunt you later).

 

If you decide to evacuate the refrigerant from your system during servicing, or disposal of equipment, use certified recovery equipment, and store the refrigerant in designated containers separated by type so they do not mix.

What if my HVAC system is not compatible with new refrigerants – what’s next?

If a new refrigerant is not compatible with your present system, you can check the cost of any modifications that would need to be made to support its introduction to your system. Depending on the system’s age, condition, and local regulations, you may be able to retrofit it with new components (e.g. expansion valves or condensers).

 

If the cost of these modifications is comparable or close to a full replacement, however, a new system may be the right choice for both the short and long term, as it will likely increase efficiency, lower the potential need for repairs, and comply with the latest environmental regulations.

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