The hottest days of summer are just around the corner, so the folks here at GAMA Air are gearing up for our busiest time of the year. If you have an older air conditioning system, then you just might be one the many people that will need to get a new central heating and cooling system installed this summer. Why? If a system is already old, worn out, and having problems, then it will be pushed to its limits on extremely hot days, and could even fail completely. We spoke recently about what you need to know about cooling systems that use R22 refrigerant. So we want to bring our friends and neighbors in and around the Beverly Hills, Culver City, Mar Vista, Miracle Mile, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Bel Air, Westwood, Downtown Los Angeles, Vernon, Huntington Park, Sherman Oaks, Encino area up to date with what is commonly being used in its place in the air conditioning industry.
The refrigerant with the code R410a (commonly referred to by its brand name, Puron) was invented over 20 years ago, and has been approved for use in residential central heating and cooling systems. Since 2010 every new AC unit charged with refrigerant has come with R410a.
Here’s some basic facts about R410a:
- R410a does not contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer
- R410a has been used in residential AC systems since 1996
- Since 2010 all new AC or Heat Pumps with refrigerant have contained R410a
- R410a is more energy efficient than older refrigerants because it is more capable of absorbing and releasing heat.
So if your system is nearing the end of its life-cycle, and you find yourself spending quite a bit on repairs each year, or more than once a year, then you would be wise to consider replacing it with a new, more efficient cooling system.
Manufacturers are building air conditioning units to work with R410A for more reliable and efficient operation. The R410A refrigerant can absorb and release more heat than the R22 refrigerant that was used for many years. That means a new air conditioning compressor will run cooler, reducing the risk of compressor burnout due to overheating.
R410A also operates at a higher pressure than R-22. Because of that, compressors for newer AC units are built to withstand greater stresses, and that will reduce the chance of cracking.
Lastly, the oil is different. All air conditioner and heat pump units use an oil to keep the compressor lubricated during operation. The oil used in R22 air conditioners is mineral oil, but in R410A systems it is a synthetic oil. This synthetic oil is generally more works better with R410A than mineral oil did with R22. This is another reason that a cooling system using R410A operates more efficiently, and has reduced wear and tear on the compressor.
Do you have a question about an upcoming installation of a central air system in your home? Visit our “Ask an Expert” page, fill out the form, and the resident expert here at GAMA Air will respond quickly with the answer.