R22 vs. R410A Refrigerant: What is the Difference?
In today’s blog post we are going to talk about the difference between R22 and R410a refrigerant and how each will affect your home’s cooling and/or heating system.
Why has there been a shift from R22 to R410a?
For decades R22 was the standard refrigerant used in air conditioners. The problem with R22 is that it is both less efficient and less environmentally friendly than R410a refrigerant. The government-mandated shift away from R22 refrigerant is an attempt to make homes more efficient as well as reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses into the environment which depletes the ozone.
Which refrigerant is better: R22 or R410a?
The thing with R22 is that the governments goal is to get everyone’s old R22 systems replaced with R410a. However, laws aside, which of the two refrigerant options is actually a better option for homeowners?
R22 refrigerant:
- Since 2010 R22 is no longer in use by manufacturer’s of new air conditioners and heat pumps
- As of 2020 R22 will no longer be imported or manufactured
- R22 contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer
- R22 is less capable of absorbing and releasing heat than R410a refrigerant, making it less energy efficient
- The price of R22 continues to rise as the remaining supply diminishes
R410a refrigerant:
- R410a comes in all newly-manufactured air conditioners and heat pumps
- Unlike R22, R410a does not contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer
- R410a is better at absorbing and releasing heat than R22, making it more energy efficient to use
- Since R410a operates at higher pressures it requires the use of tougher and more durable air conditioner parts. Better quality parts reduce the risk of your system overheating and breaking down
It’s not hard to see why R410a is a substantially better refrigerant for your Sioux Falls area home.
What Does This Mean for Sioux Falls Area Homeowners?
Although R22 refrigerant is still available to replenish older systems that have refrigerant leaks, the cost of that repair has risen substantially over the past several years. Since R410a refrigerant requires different air conditioner components than R22, you cannot replenish a system that uses R22 refrigerant with R410a refrigerant and it is potentially dangerous to mix the two refrigerants.
In order to enjoy the benefits of R410a’s efficiency and performance you should install a new system. If your air conditioner is nearing the end of its lifespan, the benefits of R410a refrigerant may be a good reason to replace your system sooner rather than later so that you can avoid the rising costs of repairing refrigerant leaks with R22 refrigerant.
Call Comfort Heroes Plumbing, Heating & Air for All Your Air Conditioners Needs
If you have any other questions about R22 and R410a refrigerant, or if you’d like a cooling system to be serviced or installed in your South Dakota home, contact Comfort Heroes, your Sioux Falls area air conditioning contractor. We service the greater Sioux Falls area, including towns like Brandon, Tea, and Harrisburg.
