Air Conditioning Repair Marietta, GA | Helps You Choose Between R-22 and R-410A
Needless to say, there would be a sharp rise in the costs of R-22 due to dwindling supply in the next few years. In addition, you may also expect rise in maintenance and service costs of your air conditioning systems considering the fact that consumers would be going for products using R-22 alternatives. So, your normal air conditioning repair and maintenance costs would certainly be higher. But remember that the lower up front cost of R-22 units from Marietta Air Conditioning Repair still makes it a viable choice.
Manufacturers are now forced to seek other alternatives to R-22 to offer air conditioning products using ozone-friendly refrigerants. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the EPA has come up with a list of R-22 substitutes that can be safely used in air conditioning systems and heat pumps. R-410A is one such substitute, which is a combination of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that do not contribute to the problem of depletion of the ozone layer. Sold under various brand names like Puron®, GENETRON AZ-20®, and SUVA 410A® has been widely accepted as a good R-22 alternative in residential appliances like air conditioners and heat pumps in the U.S.
R-22 and R-410A cannot be used interchangeably as they differ in their operational and performance characteristics. A “retrofit” with R-22 or R-410 equipment is thus out of question. It is advisable to charge R-410A as liquid only. R-410 does not differ from R-22 as far as storage requirements are concerned. R-410A is nonflammable and regarded as nontoxic and a safer alternative for R-22.
You Can Still Buy a R-22 Air Conditioner
Discovering more acceptable refrigerants does not mean that existing units using R-22 should be upgraded or changed to make them compatible with a non-ozone-depleting refrigerant such as R-410A. You can continue to service existing R-22 units with R-22 without facing any problems. Besides, new substitute refrigerants cannot be used in existing air conditioners unless certain system components are changed. Service technicians would therefore be compelled to charge R-22 into the system as part of the air conditioning repair while fixing system leaks.
As said earlier, redesigning of the heat pump or air conditioning system is necessary to create a system that relies on R-410A instead of R-22. This would call for incorporating new compressors and other important parts that were meant for R-22 only. As a result, it is important that dealers and technicians get some formal training to master the installation and service techniques of these new R-410A compliant systems. Failing to get a good technician armed with the necessary knowledge may pose difficulties in your air conditioning repair.