R22 and 410A are both a type of refrigerant used to cool your system down as air cycles through your air conditioning system and comes out cold. Thank you William Carrier for this great invention, my hero. Now back to the subject, the EPA mandated that after 2009 R-22 charged units could not longer be manufactured.  This decision was made to help prevent the release of Ozone, present in the R22 refrigerant, into our atmosphere.  Yes, Freon, common name for R22 refrigerant, leaks and some people while repairing or replacing units will even release it into the atmosphere. With not enough personal to supervise and control Freon from being released to the atmosphere, EPA just mandated to stop production, phasing out little by little every year since then. That’s why prices to charge your unit with Freon (R22) have gone up tremendously. That’s when 410A refrigerant come to play, it is not the holy grail of home cooling but it is he best we have right now. It is less harmful than freon to the ozone, therefore a better solution than its predecessor.

If you have a R-22 system that has a leak, I’ll tell you right now that it is not worth repairing to the fact that to charge your unit with Freon is so costly that you might as well get a new unit with 410A refrigerant. I like money, but I just won’t do that to you. R22 is being increasingly phased out and therefore with basic supply – demand principles the price will continue to escalate. The EPA has stated in the Montreal Protocol that US production of R-22 will be reduced by 99.5% from the baseline by 2020.  Basically, the only available R-22 refrigerant after 2020 will be that which is reused/reclaimed/recycled from other older systems.  This is important to realize because 2020 is not very far off. Now if you have a R-22 system and need to replace one of the units, you might as well replace both with 410A. Your air conditioning should be considered a long term investment, therefore it should be a smart and cost effective decision.   Let’s not forget of the added efficiency benefit with newer equipment that will generate much lower utility bills.

See, I’m also a financial advisor; I can help you save money. Hope my writing was clear enough and you were able to understand the difference. There also this chart that might help.When your window AC unit stops blowing cold air but is functioning properly in every other regard, it is likely low on coolant. This means that the unit will have to be recharged with a fresh infusion of coolant, likely Freon.top rated hvac companies in raleigh That isn’t necessarily a given though. air conditioner window unit beepingBe sure to research what specific coolant your window air conditioner uses. 3 ton r22 ac condenser unitIf it does turn out to be Freon, you can buy a Freon kit, which will include all the tools and instructions necessary to get you through the AC recharge process.

Note that Freon is toxic to humans and any handling and safety instructions that come with your kit should be taken very seriously. DISCLAIMER: Depending on your local laws, the use of refrigerants like Freon and even tinkering with the inner workings of an air conditioner unit are illegal unless you are specifically licensed to do so. Look into your local regulations and make sure that you are not breaking any laws by attempting a project like this. Unlike central air conditioner units, window air conditioners only draw power from the wall socket they are plugged into. Simply removing the plug will ensure that you can open up the machinery and inspect things safely. Some AC units can be opened by simply sliding the front ends out of place, while others will require the aid of a screwdriver. Consult the owner’s manual for your specific device to determine the proper method. Having successfully opened up your window conditioner, you will need to carefully check for any signs of leakage.

If you locate any leaks, fix them or call in a professional to do so before using the device again. If no leakage is present, consult the device's owner's manual to determine the proper amount of refrigerant you’ll need to add. Using both the unit’s manual and the tools included in your Freon kit, locate the compressor part of the window AC and the two lines coming off it. Next, take the service valve from your kit and attach it to the compressor line. The compressor should still have one free, unattached line extending from it. Take this remaining compressor line and attach it to the tap valve, which will also be included in the Freon kit. Attach both of the valves that you’ve just installed, the service and tap valves respectively, to your container of Freon. The kit should contain a detailed diagram showing how to properly position the coolant tank between the two valves. When you’re assured that everything is connected tightly and properly with no potential for leaks, plug in your window AC unit and power it on at its highest setting.

With the Freon tank now directly linked to the unit’s inner working via the service valve and tap, the normal flow of air that occurs while the unit is operational will push or “charge” Freon into the unit. When the unit is finished taking in the amount of Freon mentioned in your user manual, power down the unit, unplug it, remove the valves from the compressor, and place the unit back in its housing. To reiterate, in many parts of the country this work is legally restricted to people who are licensed experts. Assuming you can even legally attempt it, if at any point in the process you become confused or unexpected problems arise, stop what you’re doing immediately and call a professional. When this process is handled incorrectly is can be damaging to the window air conditioning unit and dangerous to the user. Build a store shopping list A/C R134A Manifold Gauge Set 2.5 CFM Vacuum Pump 3 CFM Two Stage Vacuum Pump 12 oz. Arctic Freeze® Refrigerant