Over the past聽decade, both the U.S and Canadian governments have聽mandated聽that all聽manufacturers聽of air conditioning equipment聽halt聽production of the refrigerant R-22 (Freon) or Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These refrigerants have been聽standardly聽used in air conditioners and heat pumps for聽a long time.聽The R-22 and HCFC聽mandates are聽intended聽to have the HVAC industry聽shift聽to a more聽green聽friendly refrigerant with a technical聽code聽R410A. R410A has been聽proven聽to be safer for the environment.
In late 2010, most聽air conditioning聽firms聽began manufacturing Air Conditioning and聽Heat Pump units聽without adding refrigerant at the factory.聽Such systems聽are more commonly called “dry charged units”.聽The units聽can legally be sold and installed. R22 is still legal for聽AC repair聽or service for a while longer. The聽reason for聽these Dry Charged Units is to聽offer聽the greater聽the U.S.聽area a more simple and聽cost cost-effective聽replacement option聽for central air conditioners and heat pumps. However, these units also聽circumvent聽the spirit of the mandates, which was聽to help the environment by introducing more environment friendly solutions.
the U.S.聽homeowners should聽understand聽that these Dry Charged Units are聽allowed聽in the U.S and Canada.聽Because of the lack of clarity regarding the definition of an outdoor unit in the rules, the entire outdoor unit is technically聽looked upon as聽a replacement “part”.聽Today, condensers or heat pumps intended for use in a replacement R-22 system are聽now聽referred to as “Dry Charge” or “Nitrogen Charged” systems.聽Below聽are some Frequently Asked Questions about this recent A/C Dry Charge trend.
Does It Make Sense to Buy a Dry Charge Air Conditioning Unit?
It depends聽on a number of things. The聽number one聽thing to do is聽understand聽what types of HVAC equipment the heating and air conditioning industry聽has to offer聽and seek solutions聽to address聽your personal comfort, efficiency, and lifestyle needs. Take time to understand the benefits and difference between a dry charge unit and new聽air conditioning products聽with R-410A refrigerant.
Top Reasons for Buying an R-410A System
Current R-410A systems聽provide聽benefits to U.S.聽homeowners that Dry Charge units do not.聽A sample聽of the benefits include:
- Increased聽energy efficiency for聽reduced cost of comfort
- Modern聽technology to聽lessen聽humidity
- Current production refrigerant solutions聽guaranteeing聽longer life and extended availability of refrigerant
- Expanded聽warranty periods for聽more聽peace of mind
- Quieter operation for a more peaceful indoor environment
- Eco聽friendly refrigerant聽for lower impact on the environment
- Matched coil solutions for聽increased聽reliability and guaranteed cooling and heating performance
Are Dry Charge Units Legal?
Absolutely. There are no Federal laws or legal restrictions on the installation of R-22 or Dry Charge Equipment,聽as long as it is as a repair for an existing system.
Is There a Warranty That Comes With It?
Major聽manufacturers聽honor聽a standard 5-year parts warranty on dry charge units. While this聽offers聽industry standard protection on the components it does not provide protection against R-22 refrigerant prices, which are expected to increase聽dramatically.
Is R-22 Refrigerant Going to Get Really Expensive?
As the phase out process of R22 continues, new R-22 refrigerant production will聽slowly聽be reduced, with full elimination of its production in 2020. Until聽then, indications are that there will likely be sufficient supply to meet the current demand.
If you have more questions about refrigerant, we encourage you to聽contact聽天美传媒聽for clarification.
