Refrigerants & Alternatives

Refrigerant is the invisible force behind the working of your refrigerators, air conditioner, freezers, or other appliances that provide cooling. It absorbs the heat and provides cool air as it runs through the compressor and the evaporator. If the refrigerant level is not adequate, your appliance will have to work harder and still not provide sufficient cooling.

Types of AC Refrigerants

• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
• R22 Refrigerant
• R410A Refrigerant
• R32 Refrigerant

Which Refrigerant Would I Need For My Air Conditioner?

This majorly depends on the built year of your system. If your AC was built before 2010, there is a high chance that it has R-22. You can also find out by looking at the appliance description sticker on the side of the air conditioner’s outdoor unit or on the user manual.

When Does AC Refrigerant Need Work?

Here are some of the common problems to figure out if your AC refrigerant needs work:

• Air Conditioner is not supplying cool air.
  Even if your air conditioner is in cool mode and still blows room temperature air out, this could be because there's something wrong with the refrigerant of the unit. This is one of the most common problems. Although there can be several other causes for such a problem, but a refrigerant leak is one of the most common issues for a sudden shift from cool air to room temperature.
• Frozen Coils
  The refrigerant flows through the network of dark gold color copper coils to provide cooling within these coils. These coils are very icy to touch, but in regular operation, there shouldn't be any frost over them. If you see signs of frost on the coils, there is a high chance that the refrigerant could be leaking.
• Scheduled Maintenance
  During your scheduled AC maintenance, a good HVAC technician can spot an AC refrigerant leak and propose remedial measures. The leak could be because of different reasons such as manufacturing defects, prolonged usage, or because of damage encountered during use.

What To Do If There Is an AC Refrigerant Leak?

If your AC's refrigerant has been leaked, here is how you can solve this common issue and keep your unit running in top shape.

Recharging The Refrigerant

If your unit is low on refrigerant, top up your AC with more refrigerant. Contact an HVAC professional to recharge your unit. The professional will also find out any major underlying problem, such as a much larger leak or loose fittings.

Buy Refrigerant At ProServices Supply

Purchasing refrigerants from ProServices Supply provides a reliable supply of high-quality refrigerants to use in new equipment and retrofit opportunities and to service installed air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Get in touch with one of our HVAC experts at (877) 776-8228 to seek help in finding the right type of refrigerant for your system.