{"id":1865,"date":"2022-04-25T11:00:55","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T15:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.climatemastersfl.com\/blog\/?p=1865"},"modified":"2022-04-20T15:26:18","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T19:26:18","slug":"dont-believe-this-refrigerant-myth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.climatemastersfl.com\/blog\/dont-believe-this-refrigerant-myth\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Believe This Refrigerant Myth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"refrigerant-line\"When your air conditioner stops cooling your home efficiently, you might suspect it’s run out of refrigerant. This chemical substance is responsible for cooling heat from warm air before it\u2019s sent into your home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But it turns out that most people\u2019s idea of refrigerant isn\u2019t actually true! <\/span>The biggest myth about refrigerant is that it \u201cruns out\u201d from normal use.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Air conditioning systems are manufactured with enough refrigerant to last their entire lifespan. That can be up to 10 or 15 years!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, if you suspect that refrigerant has vanished from your unit, chances are you\u2019re dealing with something else instead: a leak.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What Is Refrigerant in Air Conditioning?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Air conditioners use a chemical called refrigerant to cool air that passes over your system\u2019s evaporator coils. Models made before 2010 used a chemical called freon, but due to negative environmental impacts, it was discontinued completely in 2021. All models made after 2010 use the safer refrigerant, R410A, or Puron.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most older systems that have been regularly maintained now also use Puron. Freon is only considered a threat today if it isn\u2019t disposed of properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All HVAC technicians with a valid license must undergo specialized training to ensure they safely handle refrigerants without jeopardizing the environment or people\u2019s health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter the type, ACs process all refrigerants the same way. Evaporator coils turn the liquid refrigerant into a gas, which creates a cool area for warm air to pass through. This is the \u201ccooling\u201d part of a typical AC cycle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The heat captured by the evaporator coils is turned back into liquid refrigerant when it moves over to the condenser coils. Once it\u2019s been converted back into liquid form, it releases the heat it captured when it was in the evaporator coils.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hot air is blown back outside, and the cycle starts again. But what happens when there\u2019s a leak in your air conditioner?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak<\/span><\/h2>\n

You may need professional AC repair if you notice any of these signs:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n