If you’re like most people, you rely on your A/C to keep cool and comfortable during the hot summer months. What actually makes the cool air that blows from your air conditioner? Whether it’s in your car or home, many air conditioners manufactured before 2003 use Freon as the refrigerant that cools the warm air. Freon is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) that has been linked to ozone depletion, so it is quickly being phased out of use. Does this mean you should go out and buy a new HVAC right away? Not necessarily but you should understand the dangers and how to manage it until it’s time for Freon to flee!
Freon Fixin’
As necessary as Freon is to the optimal performance of your air conditioner, you do not want to handle a potential Freon problem yourself. If you believe your air conditioner’s refrigerant lines might need recharging, call a professional to do it. In fact, it’s probably a good idea to call a professional to inspect your air conditioning system just before the beginning of each cooling season. There are very few air conditioning repairs you can handle yourself, so it makes sense to bring in a professional to give your A/C a little TLC.
Replacing the insulation around the cooling lines is usually a job that’s well suited for you. You can check out the refrigerant lines to see if they look a little worn. Most lines run from the condenser, which sits outside your air conditioning system (and probably outside your house), to the evaporator inside the house. The refrigerant lines are covered with insulation. If the insulation looks worn, your air conditioner is not working as efficiently as it can be. So you’ll want to have the insulation on the lines replaced (you don’t need to replace the lines themselves). Make sure you buy the exact kind of insulation that originally covered the refrigerant lines. Your air conditioner should have come with manufacturer instructions as to how to replace the refrigerant lines’ insulation.
Before doing any type of maintenance on your A/C, make sure that both the evaporator and condenser have been turned off.
Freon’s Fanfare & Fall
CFCs were first synthesized in the 1890s, but they were very dangerous and flammable. In the 1920s, another team was formed by General Motors to find a safer alternative that was more stable and nontoxic. Frigidaire, a division of GM, received the patent for a refrigerating apparatus. In 1930, GM and DuPont came together to produce Freon under the company Kinetic Chemicals.
Dupont trademarked the name Freon and CFCs have been used in refrigeration and aerosol cans for many years. However, in 1974, a researcher at the University of California hypothesized that CFCs were destroying the ozone layer. It took years of research by the National Academy of Science, but eventually the United States banned the use of CFCs in aerosol cans. In 1987, the Montreal Protocol, which is an international environment agreement, established the phase out of CFCs.
Not only does Freon itself harm the ozone layer, but the manufacturing of Freon releases another product into the atmosphere. This gas, called HFC-23, is also harmful and contributes to global warming. Although Freon is highly restricted and regulated in its use, older appliances still use and release this harmful gas.
Freon’s Frigidness
You can identify which coolant is being used in your AC system by looking at the nameplate located on the outdoor condenser unit, or you can contact the manufacturer to find out where this plate would be located. This should provide a great deal of information about your unit, including safety certifications and electrical ratings.
Freon is not only used in air conditioning units, but it has also been used in chest and upright freezers. On top of those, there are a large number of commercial and industrial appliances that use Freon in both food transportation and cold storage.
Freon Figured Out
First, a compressor in your air conditioner compresses cold Freon gas. A small amount of oil is combined with the Freon gas to lubricate the compressor. When the Freon gas is compressed, its pressure rises, making it very hot. Next, the hot Freon gas moves through a series of coils, which has the effect of lowering its heat and converting it to liquid. The Freon liquid then flows through an expansion valve, which causes it to cool down until it evaporates. The result is low-pressure Freon gas. The cold gas is then channeled through another set of coils. This allows the gas to absorb heat and lower the air inside the room or building.
Your air conditioner filters the air in the room and cleans out dust, pollen, smoke and other kinds of dirt, pollutants and allergens. Air conditioners often take excess water from the air, too, use it to cool down the system, and pump it outside through a hose. In this way, they dehumidify the air inside. Some air conditioning units are able to use the condensed moisture as cool water repeatedly within the system.
If the Freon or other cooling agent is low, you probably have a leak because there is no reason your refrigerant should deplete on its own. You should always call an HVAC specialist to find and fix the leak before adding more coolant.
Freon’s Farewell
As noted, if your system was manufactured after 2003, it probably uses a safer refrigerant. If produced after 2010, it definitely uses a different refrigerant for cooling. With the phase out, it may get more expensive to use Freon, which will encourage homeowners to replace older AC models with more ozone-friendly products. Not only will that decrease your repair costs, it should also provide more efficient cooling and heating, which will save you money on your utility bills.
Although you won’t be required to stop using (Freon: R-22), the long phase out period is designed to provide plenty of time for you to make the switch as the items in your home get older. If you do own an item that uses R-22, make sure that it is properly maintained to minimize the impact on the environment until you are ready to replace it. Don’t just “top off” a leaky system, but repair the leak.
Freon-Free
Make sure you dispose of your old items that contain R-22 appropriately. Many times, the retailer will remove your older unit when installing the new item. Some scrap yards and landfills may require proof that the refrigerant was removed before they will accept an item.
Here are some final facts to becoming Freon-Free:
- Always check to make sure that you are following safe guidelines.
- Check to make sure your technician is trained in the removal of Freon before allowing someone to do it.
- Don’t cut refrigerant lines or remove a compressor yourself to have your item accepted by a disposal facility. It’s important to the environment to take care of the Freon in your product before it is released into the atmosphere
As always, if you have any questions at all, give us a call. We’re happy to help you manage your Freon issues while they last, as well as help you with your next purchase.
