R-22 or known by its trade name, Freon, has been used for as long as I can remember in residential air conditioning units. Its little brother, R-12, was awesome at small, lower temp, systems like car A/C units.
Well as concern about the ozone layer, global warming etc.. began to take hold there was a call to slowly reduce the amount of R-22 out there. R-12 had been successfully replaced by R-134 (in your car a/c or refrigerator) so why couldn’t we do the same with R-22.
DuPont now came up with R-410a. A blend of refrigerants that is marketed as a "green" alternative to R-22. You still cannot vent R-410a into the atmosphere and service techs must charge or add the refrigerant in liquid form because it is a blend. If you add it as a vapor some of the refrigerant will not make it into the unit so you will see techs stand the bottles upside down when charging.
Bottom line. R410a does work, but the price is higher operating pressures in the system for the same cooling capacity as R-22. The refrigerant is not what gives your unit the high SEER rating. It is simply the size of the condenser and if you are using variable speed motors. We can debate global warming and that would go on forever but the powers that be have just mandated a 45% reduction in the amount of R-22 produced in 2012. That has made the price of R-22 jump almost 100% in the Phoenix area alone.
It may have to be a factor in deciding what to do with your old unit. If there are small, pinhole leaks there are products that can self seal in the unit and prolong the life. If you need more info on these or anything related to A/C or heat pump systems call or email me at http://www.thermal-medics.com/.
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