Those with a GWP over 2500, such as R404A, will be phased out. Those with a GWP below 2500, such as R410A, will be phased down. The process starts in 2015 and continues until 2030, by when an 80% phase-out/phase-down is targeted to be achieved. However, R410A has a GWP of 2088, compared to just 675 for R32.
For R-410A, a working pressure capability of at least 400 psi is recommended (this includes recovery cylinders). Standard DOT recovery cylinders rated for 350 psi should not be used.
R134A is not a drop in replacement for R22. R410A isn't either. R407C is as close as it gets. Many manufacturers using R22 redesigned and then switched to R134A to avoid higher costs.
There is no "license" issued by anyone for any refrigerant. There is an EPA certification process available, and required, for purchase and handling of CERTIN refrigerants. R410a IS NOT one of those. ANYONE can purchase and handle 410a.
DuPont designed 407c and 410a refrigerants as the HFC replacements for R22 coolant used in home air conditioning systems. These coolants match R22 in terms of energy efficiency and are superior to R134; however, 410a cannot be used in a retrofit -- it must be installed as part of a new system, whereas 407c can.
Depending on whether the refrigerant is mixed with another refrigerant or not will be an issue. If the wrong refrigerant is put on top of another refrigerant, the Expansion device will become erratic in operation. The best solution is to use the correct refrigerant always.
For R-410A, a working pressure capability of at least 400 psi is recommended (this includes recovery cylinders). Standard DOT recovery cylinders rated for 350 psi should not be used.
R134A is typically used in automotive/small appliance applications. Assuming you are talking about a "room air conditioner", the correct up to date refrigerant is R410a. You can use any gauges you like to check the pressure of the system, with slight risk of cross contamination.
High side will generally be in a ballpark of 250–280 roughly but that depends on ambient temperatures, little lower on water cooled condenser. Low side pressure for ac is going to vary slightly depending on metering device, expansion valve, capillary ect and load/return air temperature.
Pressure Variables
For example, in a refrigeration unit, the refrigerant R-22 should operate at 75 psi on the suction side.IF the return temperature is 75 the evaporating temperature of the R-22 should be between (75-40=35) and (75-35=40). THE LOW SIDE NEEDLE SHOULD POINT BETWEEN 35 AND 40 DEGREES (in the green ring of numbers) FOR R-22 AND THE PRESSURE IS READ WHERE THE NEEDLE POINTS ON THE BLACK RING OF NUMBERS FOR PRESSURE.
Indoor temperature (80 F) minus 40 F = 40 F evaporating temperature. Convert temperature to pressure, R 22 at 40 F = 70 psi.
System Pressures
A normally operating R-410A system with the same condensing temperature of 120 degrees and a 45 degree evaporator saturation temperature will have a high side pressure of 418 psig and a low side pressure of 130 psig.Pure refrigerants like R22 can be added in liquid or vapor states. If adding liquid into the suction like, throttle it in slowly to avoid slugging the compressor or diluting and washing out the compressor oil. After the charge has been set, avoid installing the gauges as part of regular service.
How to refill air conditioner by R22 (video 32) - YouTube
- Air conditioner (split) [00:01]
- Make sure the valves are open. [00:20]
- Close the red valve and open the blue valve. [01:49]
- Now connect yellow hose to the bottle. [03:08]
- And refill with R22. [03:35]
- When the compressor starts then open the valve. [04:14]
- The solution is turn on your split in heat mode. [06:33]
- This is the valve and this is the wires valve. [06:52]
R22 refrigerant and its HFC replacement R410A are totally incompatible. Your existing condensing unit and cooling coil are not suited to the new higher pressure refrigerant. It is possible to reuse the copper tubing lineset between the two, but we will discuss that later.
The replacement for R22 is R410A. This new type of refrigerant is what modern HVAC systems are designed to use. If you purchased a system after 2010, chances are it uses R410A.
The cost to convert a central air conditioner from R-22 to R-410A can range anywhere from $2,000 to over $4,500 in the New Jersey area. The bottom line? If your AC unit is 8+ years old, it's usually not worth the cost to convert and you should just replace the entire R-22 unit with an R-410A unit.
| Example R-22 Refrigerant Temperature vs Pressure Data |
|---|
| Ambient Temperature in °F1 | R22 Vapor Pressure at Sea Level | R-22 Low Side Pressure2 |
|---|
| 95°F (35°C) | 181.9 psig | 68 psi |
| 110°F (43.3°C) | 226.4 psig | |
| 150°F (65.6°C) | 381.7 psig | |
Mixing R22 with R407C or any other refrigerant. If you mix R407C with R22 inside your system the molecule of the HFC (R407C) gas will not link with the oil and in just few months of operation you will have a "sludge" like lubricant formation inside the circuit.
The best replacement for R-22 Freon is usually R-407c. It has a very low loss in capacity (0 – 5%) relative to R-22 and is less expensive than many other R-22 replacement refrigerants. If a system has R22 in it already you cannot use a replacement refrigerant to simply add to the R22.
| Example R-22 Refrigerant Temperature vs Pressure Data |
|---|
| Ambient Temperature in °F1 | R22 Vapor Pressure at Sea Level | R-22 Low Side Pressure2 |
|---|
| 95°F (35°C) | 181.9 psig | 68 psi |
| 110°F (43.3°C) | 226.4 psig | |
| 150°F (65.6°C) | 381.7 psig | |
RS-44b is a non flammable HFC blend. It is compatible with both traditional mineral and synthetic lubricants so that a retrofit to a different refrigerant oil is not required.
R-421A is a drop-in replacement for R22 systems. With this refrigerant there is no need to change the oil. Simply recover the R22 and recharge with R421A.
