Why Refrigerants Matter?
Refrigerant Overview The substance that makes your heat pump and air conditioner work so well is its refrigerant. It is a gas that when compressed enables the transfer of hotter or cooler temperatures. In recent years, the most common type of refrigerant has been a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) known as R-22. In 1987, an environmental agreement between developed nations known as the Montreal Protocol was established. It called for the phase-out of HCFC’s and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) which are known to damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. As a result, the manufacturing of R-22 systems was stopped on Dec. 31, 2009. Homeowner Impact If you have a system that uses R-22, it can still be serviced and recharged with R-22 until 2020. The most popular alternative to R-22 is a refrigerant known as R-410A. It is currently sold under a variety of brand names such as GENETRON®, SUVA 410A®, Forane 410A®, and Boiler Repair Scarborough Because of the R-22 phase-out and the i