Air Condition Coolant Being Phased Out, Prices Triple

NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - If the air conditioning unit at your home was manufactured before 2010 expect a common summer repair to cost up to triple the usual amount.

There is now a new, environmentally friendly, version of Freon — the coolant gas used in a/c units. With the development of the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-backed product, the old Freon, R-22, is being phased out.

Air conditioning professionals say with the elimination of R-22 consumers can expect repair costs to increase substantially.

“The refrigerant’s definitely gonna, it has tripled in cost so obviously that cost has be passed on to the consumer,” said Randy Kelly, with One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. “So, if someone has a refrigerant leak and it has to have R-22 put back in it, it’s really gonna make that repair cost more.”

According to Kelly, the price for a pound of R-22 has jumped from around $20 a pound to up to $90.

Refilling air conditioners with Freon is anything but unusual and is often done annually, as opposed to undergoing expensive mechanical repairs.

“Air conditioners do develop leaks, over a period of time, and it is a common repair,” said Kelly. “There are no telling how many units out there that have leaks that people just a pound, or two pounds, in every year.”

Kelly suggests that homeowners with a serious problem either fix the leak immediately or replace the unit.

The EPA is now requiring air conditioning manufacturers to use Freon R-410A in their units, which is a cleaner gas.

Climate to stock HFO blends

Published on 20 - January - 2012

CLIMATE Center is the first company to announce it will be stocking Honeywell's new range of HFO blends and other low GWP refrigerants.

The company reports particular interest in Genetron Performax LT (R407F), a replacement for R404A with half the GWP and greater energy efficiency. An HFC-blend based on R32, R125 and R134a, it has the lowest GWP of all commonly used blends and is classified as non-toxic and non-flammable.

The new generation of Honeywell's Solstice HFO blends offers a choice of reduced or low GWP replacements for many common HFC refrigerants with high GWPs high GWPs, such as R404A, R22, R134a and R410A. In the case of R404A (GWP of 3922), alternatives with a GWP below 300 have been identified.

Environmentally friendly chillers have been developed and commercialised based on Solstice L13 Refrigerant (HFO1234ze), giving reduced energy consumption against alternatives and also over 99% reduction in direct global warming impact versus R134a.

Robert Franklin, who heads Climate Center's cooling business, says: "Many end users are nervous about the long term future of high GWP HFCs due to their potential to harm the environment if released to atmosphere. There is also concern about the possible introduction of a carbon tax, which would penalise higher GWP products."

He added: "The new Honeywell range offers users reduced and low GWP alternatives for the majority of the most popular refrigerants in use, insulating equipment end users from possible future changes in the law."

Robert Franklin says: "The HFO replacements are in many cases compatible with existing equipment designs and compressors, and therefore enable quick and cost-efficient adoption. They are also efficient over a wide temperature range, which helps cut carbon due to indirect emissions in all climates, including the warmest regions."

"Add to this that refrigerants operate at standard pressures and can be handled by engineers without special training, and it adds up to a very attractive option - both for the industry and end users."

R-22 Information Source for Homeowners

Recently, a homeowner in Florida called us because he had been told by thereceptionist at a local heating and air conditioning company, that the lawrequires him to replace his R-22 air conditioning unit with a unit that uses R-410A.

Either the receptionist was mistaken or she was dishonestly trying togenerate business for her company. Homeowners are not required to stop using R-22, and do not have to replace their equipment just to switchto a different refrigerant.

If your company is receiving calls from consumers confused about thecontinuing use of their equipment that contains R-22 refrigerant, you canprovide them with the following link to the EPA's web site:http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/title6/phaseout/homeowners_faq.html. This area of the web site provides answers to frequently asked questions about R-22, R-22 equipment and alternative refrigerants.

If you have any questions or concerns you can call us directly at 888-873-6832 or visit our website at www.remtec.net