Whether you have a mini-split ductless system, traditional central system or a tidy window unit, your air conditioning uses some kind of refrigerant. Cooling down your home is a somewhat complicated process because the mechanism doesn’t create cold as much as it removes heat. Refrigerant removes heat, which keeps the air that blows into your home chilly. The type of refrigerant depends on what type of system it is and the manufacturer’s requirements.
The Different Types of Refrigerants
Most air conditioning systems use refrigerants such as R-454B, R-410A and R-32. An older type of refrigerant called R-22, or Freon, has been banned in the U.S. Now, most home ACs use R-410. Though it’s popular, Puron is not as environmentally friendly as the newer types and is being phased out. Here are some others.
R-32 is a hydrofluorocarbon that you’ll find in ductless mini-split systems and newer AC systems. It’s efficient and environmentally friendly but has a reputation for being flammable.
R-454B is the latest development in refrigerants. It’s eco-friendly, but like R-32, it’s flammable.
Some portable air conditioners and window ACs use propane, which is liquid natural gas. It’s good for the environment, as it doesn’t deplete the ozone layer or add to global warming, but it’s still propane. This means it’s flammable. When propane is used in your AC or your fridge, it’s designated as R-290.
How Refrigerants Refrigerate
Here’s a simplified explanation of just what refrigerant does in your air conditioner. The refrigerant is found in a canister inside your outside condenser unit or your window unit. When you set your thermostat, the refrigerant vapor is compressed, which, ironically, also makes it very hot. The hot gas then vents its heat, which allows it to condense to a cool liquid that flows through the heat exchanger.
If you have a central air conditioner, it flows through the outside exchanger. It then enters an expansion valve where it’s allowed to expand into a cool, low-pressure gas. The AC’s blower then forces the warm air inside your house through the interior evaporator, or heat exchanger. This is where it passes over the coils that hold the cooled refrigerant gas. It is then blown back into the house.
Your window AC works along the same principles, but everything happens within one unit. If you have a mini-split system, you’ll still have an outdoor condenser, but it’s connected to a number of air handlers that control the temperature in different rooms.
Refrigerant is a fascinating chemical that helps make living in your home, shopping or working – at least indoors – bearable during scorching summer temperatures. HVAC pros love to talk about refrigerant. Ask yours about it. When you need refrigerant change services in Albuquerque, NM, contact Ace Cooling, Heating, Plumbing, & Electrical.