| Most air-conditioners and heat pumps sold | | | | We all know that the first thing �to |
| around the world use a refrigerant called | | | | go� on an air conditioning unit is the |
| R-22. Emissions of R-22 are considered by | | | | compressor. All air-conditioning systems use |
| some experts to be a significant factor in | | | | an oil that circulates through the inside of |
| depleting the ozone layer that protects | | | | the system to keep all of the parts well |
| animals and people from harmful rays from the | | | | lubricated, just like the engine of your car. |
| sun. | | | | R-22 air conditioners use an oil known as |
| | | | �mineral oil� that has been used |
| Families now have the choice to ask for an | | | | for decades. R-410A air conditioners use |
| air-conditioner or heat pump that uses a more | | | | newer synthetic lubricants that are usually |
| efficient and environmentally friendlier | | | | more soluble with the R-410A than the old |
| refrigerant called 410A or R-410 when buying | | | | mineral oils are with the older R-22 |
| a new system for their home. | | | | refrigerants. This means the synthetic |
| | | | lubricants and R-410A can mix and circulate |
| It�s Environmentally Friendlier. If your | | | | more efficiently to keep the compressor and |
| system ever leaks, the escaping refrigerant | | | | other moving parts lubricated, reducing wear |
| won�t contribute to ozone depletion! Why | | | | and extending their life. Also, just as many |
| can�t R-410A affect the ozone layer? | | | | new cars use synthetic oils because they are |
| R-410A is not a CFC or an HCFC. It is called | | | | less likely to break down under high stress |
| an HFC, or hydrofluorocarbon, and is made of | | | | and heat, the new synthetic oils used in |
| hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon atoms. Because | | | | R-410A air conditioners are less likely to |
| it has no chlorine, it won�t interact | | | | break down under extreme conditions. |
| with the ozone layer once it breaks down. | | | | |
| | | | R-410A offers some wonderful advantages, but |
| You avoid the risk that R-22 could become | | | | it required the manufacturers of air |
| expensive or difficult to get when your | | | | conditioners to redesign their products to |
| system needs to be repaired in a few years. | | | | take advantage of the properties of the |
| The old refrigerant R-22 will be phased out | | | | refrigerant. The reason why a refrigerant |
| along with other ozone depleting chemicals, | | | | works is because it captures the heat from |
| and both supply and demand of this chemical | | | | one place, and then releases the heat |
| will be significantly affected by current and | | | | somewhere else. R-410A captures heat and then |
| upcoming regulations. By selecting an air | | | | releases it better than R-22 did, so |
| conditioner or heat pump that uses R-410A, | | | | manufacturers have found that they need less |
| you will avoid the risk associated with | | | | refrigerant in an R-410A air conditioner than |
| purchasing a product that is destined to | | | | they needed in an R-22 air conditioner. |
| become obsolete. | | | | Because there�s less refrigerant, they |
| | | | need less copper tubing, and often can use a |
| R-410A systems can be more reliable than R-22 | | | | smaller compressor. The bad news was that |
| systems. R-410A air conditioning and heat | | | | R-410A couldn�t be used in air |
| pump are today�s �state of the | | | | conditioners that were made to use R-22, but |
| art� systems, and utilize the most | | | | the advantages for new air conditioners were |
| current technology available for efficient | | | | too great to pass up. |
| and reliable operation. The heart of every | | | | |
| air conditioner or heat pump is the | | | | It's obvious that air conditioners |
| compressor, and newer systems are | | | | manufactured for using R-410A are more |
| specifically designed to use R-410A | | | | efficient, more reliable, and may even be |
| refrigerant. R-410A can absorb and release | | | | less costly then the older units that still |
| heat more efficiently than R-22 ever could, | | | | use R-22. Compare the SEER or EER ratings and |
| compressors with R-410A run cooler than R-22 | | | | the ENERGY STAR rating to be sure. |
| systems, reducing the risk of burnout due to | | | | |
| overheating. | | | | Need more information? Check these sites. |
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