Refrigerant is the secret to air conditioner operation. This cooling unit uses refrigerant, a chemical compound capable of absorbing heat, to chill inside air on demand.
Everything You Need to Know About Refrigerants
Today, Cool Zone Air Conditioning & Heating throw lighter on refrigerants to help you understand residential and commercial air conditioning systems better.
Phase Conversion: An Endless Cycle
Phase conversion is a physical law stating that a liquid absorbs heat as it turns to a gaseous state. A refrigerant starts in liquid form inside evaporator coils. When the thermostat prompts the AC to run, the fluid transforms into gas. As it changes physically, it converts the warm air blown over the coils into the cold by pulling the heat from it.
Afterward, the gas refrigerant is put under high pressure by the air conditioner’s compressor. The heat output is then released outdoors through the condenser coils. The refrigerant condenses and goes back into the evaporator coils to repeat the process all over again.
R-22: On the Verge of Getting Banned
R-22 has been the standard AC refrigerant for a long time, but its days are numbered. This hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) is being phased out by the U.S. government because it depletes the ozone layer.
Property owners are encouraged to switch to an AC that uses R-410A, a greener alternative to R-22. Although you’re not required to upgrade immediately, the cost of air conditioning repair to fix R-22 refrigerant leakage will rise after 2020. In 2021, technicians will only be able to depend on recycled or stockpiled supplies of R-22.
Absolute Sustainability: An Elusive Goal
R-401A doesn’t harm the ozone layer, which protects our planet from the sun, but it is nevertheless a greenhouse gas. In other words, it will contribute to climate change when released into the atmosphere. While we have to adopt an eco-friendlier refrigerant eventually, a greener economically viable substitute is still in the works.
Focusing on your residential or commercial air conditioner installation or maintenance needs will help ready your property for the summer heat. Call Zone Air Conditioning and Heating at (623) 777-3881 to set up an appointment with us at the most convenient date and time.
