You’ve probably heard that certain kinds of refrigerants are dangerous to use. You may be wondering if your air conditioner uses an outdated type of refrigerant. Is R-410A refrigerant dangerous? The good news is, R-410A refrigerant is perfectly safe for your home and family. You can keep reading to learn more about different types of refrigerants, which ones are being phased out, the role refrigerant plays in your air conditioner or heat pump, and which types of refrigerant are no longer in use. Knowing this can help homeowners get an idea of when they might need to upgrade their system if the type of refrigerant it uses is no longer available.
Understanding Refrigerant
Refrigerant is a chemical that runs through secure lines inside your air conditioner or heat pump. Refrigerant cycles through coils to absorb heat from the air and transfer it outside your home during the cooling process. If you have a heat pump, the refrigerant can also move in the opposite direction to absorb heat from outdoors and bring it into your home as a method of heating. As long as refrigerant stays in the air-tight lines of your air conditioner or heat pump, it is perfectly safe.
Benefits of R-410A Refrigerant
The older version of refrigerant was called R-22 or freon. It was used for a long time in home air conditioning systems but was banned because of its harmful effects on the environment. Air conditioners that use R-410A refrigerant are more environmentally friendly. Of course, any refrigerant is still dangerous if it leaks out since it is a hazardous chemical.
Plus, R-410A refrigerant offers some additional benefits for your home. It’s much more effective so less energy is required for air conditioning or heat pump operation. Air conditioners with this type of refrigerant also have a greater cooling capacity so they can produce results more quickly. Your home is more likely to cool down faster and stay cool longer with this type of refrigerant.
Risks of an Older AC Unit
If you have an older air conditioner, it may still use R-22 refrigerant. If that is the case it needs to be replaced with a newer and safer model. R-22 was limited beginning in 2010 and as of 2020, it’s completely banned. If you have an air conditioner that was installed before 2010, then it may still use this older refrigerant.
If you’re concerned that this may be the case at your house, you can give our team a call to schedule an appointment for an assessment. If it’s time to upgrade your air conditioner, we can outline your options and help you choose the best one for your home and family. Unfortunately, older model air conditioners cannot be updated to function with newer model refrigerants, so a complete replacement is necessary if you have an AC using R-22 refrigerant.
JMS Air Conditioning and Heating has your back. Call us today to schedule an appointment for air conditioner service in Glendale, CA!
