Can I Retrofit My Old R-22 System?

If you’re looking to improve efficiency in your St. George, UT home, you might be interested in retrofitting your old R-22 cooling system. This is one of the best investments you can make when it comes to reducing your environmental impact and your energy bills, since R-22 refrigerant is harmful to the environment and, overall, very inefficient. It’s smart to invest in a cooling system that runs on R-410A refrigerant instead. Here’s what you need to know about how to retrofit an old R-22 system.

Replacing components

Retrofitting an old R-22 system at your St. George, UT home is a complicated process that requires an overhaul of the entire air conditioning system. Switching from R-22 to energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly R-410A requires replacement of the evaporator and all condenser components. In some cases, copper connecting lines also will need replacement. This is a job that’s best left to the professionals, who can properly take care of these tasks so you can be sure your unit will run efficiently for years to come.

The conversion process

Your technician will ensure there’s no moisture whatsoever in your cooling system at the very start of the conversion process. They’ll check all components carefully for leaks, since R-410A systems use polyethylene-based lubricating oil that can break down in the presence of water. Even a tiny bit of moisture can cause the entire conversion to fail. The technician will use a vacuum pump to suck out any remaining traces of water vapor in the unit. Once the technician has verified that the system is completely dry, they’ll charge it with R-410A refrigerant, instantly improving efficiency the next time you turn on the air.

Weighing the benefits of conversion

While industry experts in the past recommended leaving an R-22 HVAC system in place as long as it seemed to be working correctly, that advice has changed in recent years due to problems with R-22 refrigerant. Not only is this refrigerant harmful to the planet’s ozone layer, but it’s also increasingly difficult to find. Industry regulations have outlawed the sale of new HVAC units with R-22 refrigerant, and you’ll be paying a hefty price whenever you need your refrigerant topped off. Even though some technicians can install and maintain outdated R-22 reclaimed equipment, it just won’t be practical in the future to pay a premium for refrigerant that harms the environment and is overall inefficient.

Industry experts today stress the value of upgrading to R-410A refrigerant because it’s not harmful to the ozone layer. It also uses synthetic oil for lubrication, helping the entire cooling unit run smoother and more efficiently, reducing the amount of energy you use each year to keep your home cool.

It’s not a terribly complex process to retrofit an old R-22 system at your St. George, UT home, but it’s an upgrade that must be done by a professional technician. Get in touch with Calaway Heating & Air Conditioning today to learn more about the benefits of upgrading your old R-22 system to modern standards.

Categorised in: R-410A Refrigerant

This post was written by Writer