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- By James Wisler
- HVAC
- [otfliker]
What you Already Know
I think most people can relate to the refrigerants used for a car’s air conditioner. You might have heard someone saying that the refrigerant needs to be recharged, especially with an older car. What they mean is that the freon (or refrigerant in newer cars) needs to be replaced because the pressure is too low. The refrigerant might have leaked, which is kind of scary when you think about the environmental implications. Most people know that they have to take a car to a repair shop to get this kind of work done. That same system and components are in your home’s heating and cooling system. If you have a heat pump, this refrigerant is used for both heating and cooling.
A Recent Change
A change just recently happened in January 2020 where a refrigerant called R-22, or freon, is no longer being produced. (It’s still available for a high price, but it’s being phased out.) A refrigerant called R-410A is being made now, and it’s much more environmentally friendly than R-22. HVAC units older than 2010 year models more than likely use R-22 refrigerant. So, if one of these older units has a leak, you’re not going to be able to recharge it any longer simply because the Freon/R-22 isn’t going to be available anymore. In other words, you’ll have to shop for a new HVAC system.
Proper Care and Handling of Refrigerant
Not just anyone is capable of having a refrigerant in their custody or using it to recharge a system. These substances are not meant for use by anyone except those with proper certification. Our technicians are EPA certified, and we are required by the EPA to track the use and storage of all refrigerants. That’s something we take extremely seriously because refrigerants shouldn’t get out into the environment.
If anyone has an HVAC system and thinks it might need to be replaced, repaired, or checked for refrigerant levels, reach out to us today. Request an appointment, contact us, or give us a call at 540-483-9382. We can set up a cool or heat check, depending on the season. We’ll also be able to check that the refrigerant levels are properly aligned with that particular piece of equipment.
