Air Conditioning

What is the Right Kind of AC Coolant to Use?

David Rampey ·

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AC coolant is the lifeblood of your air-conditioning system. Also known as refrigerant, coolant in your air conditioner is the substance that moves the heat in your house outdoors. It plays such a vital part in efficient, effective air conditioning that the system's refrigerant level is usually one of the very first things a qualified HVAC technician will check when diagnosing a problem.

The Refrigerant Cycle

Here's how your air conditioner makes a hot house cool:

  • Cold, vaporous coolant flowing through the AC evaporator coil in the indoor air handler absorbs heat from the household airflow.

  • The warming coolant flows through a conduit to the outdoor unit, where it is pressurized by the system compressor, converting it into a very hot gas.

  • Entering the outdoor condenser coil, the hot coolant rapidly releases its heat load. The system fan disperses this heat into outdoor air.

  • The coolant circles back indoors, transforming into a cold vapor again to absorb more heat in the evaporator coil.

What Can Go Wrong?

Problems with coolant are mostly related to leakage. Because the system is under pressure at all times, there are numerous points in the flow of refrigerant where leaks may occur. Signs of low AC coolant levels include:

  • Poor AC cooling performance

  • Increasing electric bills

  • Ice formation on the indoor evaporator coil

  • The system shuts down automatically and will not restart.

What Type of AC Coolant to Use?

For many years, the most common type of AC coolant was designated R-22. However, in the 1970s, R-22 was discovered to damage the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere. As of Jan. 1, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency has phased-out R-22 refrigerant.

The more environmentally friendly replacement for R-22 is R-410A. All air conditioners manufactured today can only utilize R-410A. Older R-22 AC units still in use cannot be converted to the new refrigerant. Therefore, if an R-22 air conditioner requires added refrigerant, it cannot be repaired and must be discarded and replaced by a new, R-410A unit.

For more information about the right AC coolant for your home, contact the cooling professionals at Air Assurance.