What is Freon® and How Does It Work?

ac repair Boise Idaho, refrigerant leak

What is Freon ®?   Freon ® is a trademark brand name given to a group of refrigerants originally made by Dupont.  Invented in 1928 and first put into use for air conditioning in 1932, It is non toxic, odorless, colorless and nonflammable.  It comes in both liquid and gas forms and is used both for cooling and heating purposes.  From cooling your home, your food, or the ice cream at the local market, It is all around us.  There are many different types of refrigerants but the 2 most common for air conditioning your home are r-22 and r-410.  R-22 refrigerant in Bosie is by far the most common and has been used for decades, although it is no longer put into new units at the factory it is still available and used everyday.  R-410 (commonly know as Puron®) is the new choice of manufacturers and is growing in use.

How Does Freon ® Work

How does a refrigerant work in air conditioning?  It is similar to water, it boils and condenses in the same way and as it does it picks up or releases heat.  Your air conditioner changes the pressures and boiling points of refrigerant to remove heat from your home and move it outside.  This process is repeated over and over and it never wears out.

Why does it cost so much?  The government has determined that some refrigerants are harmful to our ozone layer.  Because of this they have stopped or limited the production of certain refrigerants thus raising the cost.  With r-22 the government is reducing the amount of new r-22  every year in an attempt to phase it out.  This limited supply along with costs of recycling is having a dramatic effect on the cost.  R-22 has went up over 500% in cost over the last 8 years and there seems to be no end in sight.  The average cost for 1 pound of r-22 for air conditioners is between $200 and $250.  As compared to about $175 last year.

When Do I Need More?

Do I need more refrigerant for my air conditioner?  It does not wear out or go bad under normal use.  As long as your air conditioner continues to function normally and you have no leaks you will not need to add any to your system. If you notice limited cooling or ice forming on the copper lines your system may have a leak and thus need more.  In this case it is time to call a professional to check the system for leaks. Remember that r-22 and r-410 are not compatible with each other, what ever your system was designed with that is the type you need to put back in.  So for all your r-22 refrigerant needs call the experts at Value Heating Inc. For more information about Freon ® click

Other services we provide besides repairing refrigerant leaks: ac repair Boise, ac repair Meridian Idaho.  AC repair Eagle Idaho and all other Treasure Valley locations.