What’s Refrigerant and Why is it in Air Conditioners?

The vast majority of owners depend on AC refrigerant inside their air conditioners, even when they don’t understand how refrigerant works. Right here we’ll focus on what refrigerant is, the way it works, 4 widespread varieties, and indicators your AC might have a refrigerant leak.

What’s Refrigerant?

It’s the chemical that gives a cooling impact in lots of widespread home equipment, similar to air conditioners. The refrigerant modifications its chemical state to offer cool air, absorbing warmth from the surroundings. The primary iteration of non-flammable AC refrigerant was developed in 1928.

What are the several types of refrigerants?

As talked about, AC refrigerants have been round for practically a century however have undergone vital modifications. In the present day’s refrigerants are developed with a deal with power effectivity and being environmentally pleasant.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

The unique AC refrigerant, CFCs, are generally often called Freon. It was broadly utilized in air conditioners till its vital environmental impression was found within the Eighties. Producers started to section out the usage of CFCs earlier than they had been banned fully in 1994.

R22 Refrigerant

Generally known as Freon 22, R-22 refrigerant is a CFC with a further hydrogen atom. It was used as a substitute for CFCs till being phased out resulting from its environmental degradation. Air conditioners constructed and put in earlier than 2010 seemingly use R-22; this can be a difficulty if the system must be recharged, as the US has a restricted and extremely managed provide to be used.

R410A Refrigerant

A chlorine-free various to R-22, R-410A started to interchange its predecessor in HVAC techniques in 2010. As refrigerants have advanced, R-410A has a better warmth absorption and launch fee than R-22. It has extra fluidity for altering chemical states, making it extra power environment friendly and capable of cool your own home extra rapidly.

R-32 Refrigerant

The latest AC refrigerant obtainable, R-32, is essentially the most power environment friendly to this point, decreasing power payments by practically 10%. It additionally has a considerably decrease — 32% — International Warming Potential than R-410A.

How Does AC Refrigerant Work?

At its core, air conditioner refrigerant flows between the condenser and evaporator, producing cool air as decided by the thermostat’s instructions.

• Compress: The refrigerant is in its low-pressure fuel state when it enters the compressor. Because the fuel molecules are compressed, they warmth up because the stress will increase.
• Condense: Now a scorching fuel, the refrigerant strikes into the condenser, the place followers blow throughout the coils and funky the fuel inside. The stress contained in the coils pulls the refrigerant molecules collectively once more, condensing them again right into a liquid.
• Measure: A metering machine screens whether or not the refrigerant strikes at a relentless tempo and if the AC must proceed biking or preserve the present temperature.
• Evaporate: Contained in the evaporator, the low-pressure liquid kind begins to boil contained in the coils as followers blow over the coils. The refrigerant evaporates into fuel whereas additionally absorbing the warmth inside your own home — inflicting the temperature to drop. Followers blow this cool air into your own home because the refrigerant travels again to the compressor as a heat however low-pressure fuel to start out the cycle once more.

Indicators Your AC Wants Refrigerant

It’s comparatively unusual to have refrigerant as the explanation your air conditioner wants work, but it surely does occur.

AC is on, however no cool air is popping out

That is normally a sudden change; double verify the thermostat is about to chill mode. Whether it is, the AC may have a refrigerant leak. The system struggles to offer the correct amount of cool air with out satisfactory refrigerant.

Coils are Frozen

The indoor portion of your AC homes the evaporator coils the place the refrigerant flows throughout common operation. However with out the correct amount of refrigerant, the coils will frost or freeze over. This normally causes the AC to close down till the system is recharged.

There’s a Effervescent or Hissing Sound

This sound is normally the sound of refrigerant escaping via a gap or tear within the refrigerant line. It could additionally come from the copper coils as that is the place many of the refrigerant flows when the air conditioner is operating.

You haven’t had a tune-up in a very long time

Scheduled tune-ups enable a skilled HVAC technician to completely look over your air conditioner and restore any points, similar to leaking refrigerant. With out common checks, a leak will proceed and probably trigger substantial harm to the air conditioner.

How Can I Repair an AC Refrigerant Leak?

Name your HVAC firm. Their technicians have the coaching and tools to restore and recharge the air conditioner appropriately. As a result of refrigerant is dangerous if ingested or inhaled by individuals and animals, it’s necessary to not try a restore your self. Plus, the high-pressure ranges contained in the air conditioner must be accurately calibrated, or the AC could also be irreversibly broken.

Properties have relied on AC refrigerants to offer indoor consolation for practically 100 years and can proceed to take action. In case your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak, or every other situation, contact Scottsdale Air for skilled HVAC service in the present day!