Air conditioners depend on the use of refrigerant for the cooling process to take place. As it’s cycled from coil to coil, pressurized into a gas and a liquid, it moves heat around so that we can enjoy comfortable temperatures on the hottest days of the year. Without refrigerant, we’d still be relying on box fans and we’d probably be a lot grumpier throughout the summer.
That being said, refrigerant can be a touchy subject. For any homeowners who aren’t familiar, there are several different types of refrigerant and two of them are becoming household names. When it comes to air conditioning in Laplace, LA, there’s Freon and Puron, both different types of refrigerant that different homeowners depend on.
That being said, if you’re unsure as to which refrigerant your AC is using, or you’re unclear as to why there’s a difference, then we hope you’ll keep reading. There’s a big reason why homeowners should know their AC’s refrigerant type.
The Two Main Types of Refrigerant
Let’s get started in the most obvious place—the two major types of refrigerant that our air conditioners use.
- R-22. Also known as “Freon,” R-22 has been the standard refrigerant material since the birth of the air conditioner. It’s a hydrochlorofluorocarbon that is widespread around the United States and has recently come under scrutiny for being toxic for the environment and leading to the disintegration of the Earth’s ozone layer.
- R-410A. Also known as “Puron,” this refrigerant is a recent innovation in the field of refrigeration technology. It’s a much less hazardous material to use for refrigerant and its widespread use has helped reduce the depletion of the ozone layer.
Basically, R-22 is the old type of refrigerant that has slowly been phased out of our air conditioners for a good reason. R-410 has steadily taken its place as the most common refrigerant type we see in air conditioners.
The Phaseout of 2020
Over the past 10 years, air conditioners have been constructed to use R-410A explicitly. Manufacturers knew that eventually Freon would be phased out and we would be only using R-410A. However, many homeowners still have old air conditioners that rely on R-22. Because R-410 and R-22 need to be pressurized differently and used by different systems, you can’t just exchange one refrigerant out for another. You’re almost always better of replacing your old, Freon-using system for a new one.
Ever since January of 2020, Freon has been phased out of the market and is not being produced by the US anymore. This means that the remaining R-22 refrigerant either comes from private stockpiles or overseas, which is going to cause the price to skyrocket. If your AC runs on R-22, it’s time to make a change.
It’s Time for an Upgrade
Don’t worry, if your air conditioner still uses old refrigerant, then chances are pretty likely that it’s ancient and requires replacement anyways. Only older models are still using Freon, and those old models tend to be drastically less efficient than their younger siblings.
Call our team today and tell us about your refrigerant predicament. We promise we’ll help find an AC system that’s right for your home, at the right price.
When you need it done right, call Professional Heating & Air.