Like any industry, HVAC manufacturing changes over time. When new approaches are discovered, new materials become available, or old methods are less than ideal, people move forward. And in recent years, there have been some exciting changes in the world of air conditioners and heat pumps!
Multi-phase compressors, variable-speed fans, and new ways of constructing coils have all improved AC and heat pump efficiency and made it possible to save a lot of energy. And there’s a new change coming that you should know about. The type of refrigerant being used in AC and heat pump systems is changing. Why? How will it affect you? We’ll tell you all about it.
What Refrigerant Does
The coils of heat pumps and air conditioners contain refrigerant, a chemical compound which is able to absorb and release heat by changing phases from a liquid to a gas and back again. As it flows through the system, it can move heat from place to place, carrying it outdoors during hot weather and, in the case of a heat pump, carrying it in when the weather is chilly.
This substance is not like fuel or oil. It does not get used up during the process, it simply moves through a closed loop. However, if the coils are damaged, the refrigerant can leak out. This prevents the system from working properly, leading to wasted energy and poor performance, so leaks need to be patched promptly and the refrigerant refilled.
Changes in Refrigerant
Many years ago, the refrigerant chemicals used in air conditioners as well as refrigerators and freezers were chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs like Freon. CFCs caused a lot of environmental harm, in particular to the ozone layer. To reduce this harm, manufacturers started using hydrochlorofluorocarbons. The most common was R-22.
New options — hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs — became available, and in 2010, systems started to be made with R-410A instead. But new research continues to improve upon our old techniques, and today, the best options are R-32 and R-454B. That means R-410A is being phased out, and in 2025, new systems will no longer be made which use it.
Benefits of New Refrigerant
Today, major legislation is in effect with the goal of reducing the amount that Americans spend on energy in our homes. And new refrigerants help accomplish that goal. By being much more efficient, as well as less environmentally-harmful, the new refrigerants will end up saving us all a lot of money.
Short-Term Impacts
Unfortunately, some of the immediate impacts of the changes in manufacturing will not be quite as delightful. Changes like this can lead to increased manufacturing costs, which are passed on to consumers, as well as potential supply-chain delays. Your best option may be to replace your AC or heat pump system as soon as possible to avoid feeling these affects and to make sure you don’t end up with an old system leaking refrigerant that can no longer be refilled.
Want to find out more? We’d love to have a conversation with you about AC or heat pump replacement in Blythewood, SC.
Contact Fulmer Heating & Cooling today for an HVAC expert in Columbia, SC!