It can be frustrating when AC systems do not work as you expect them to. Many times, it means that the unit has a refrigerant leak.  Undetected refrigerant leaks can be very damaging to your AC system, and they are very common. R-22 is the most common refrigerant but is being replaced by Puron, also known as R-410A. This refrigerant is used by the AC system to transfer heat. There are a few places where a refrigerant leak could be:

1. Condensing/Evaporating coil – Requires replacement to the coil

2. Valve or access port – Valve can be cleaned by an AC technician, replacing the access port requires smoldering

3. Severe Corrosion – If the unit is severely corroded, a solder repair is not possible, so AC replacement is the most economical option.

There are tax credits available for purchase and install of new AC units.

Tackling AC Refrigerant Leaks

For one reason or another you are thinking about your HVAC system that uses R22. Are you looking to replace it, upgrade, or simply researching cost-saving options? Whatever the reason that brings you to this site, please be aware that despite the rising costs of R22, your most cost efficient choice could be to maintain your current system.

Don’t let marketing scare-tactics mislead you into thinking that you need a new system which would cost much more than current R22 prices. So, get your system evaluated by a trustworthy technician (and maybe even get a second opinion) when making considerations about your HVAC system. You may be surprised to learn that yours will have many years of service (and savings) remaining.

Don’t Let The Cost Of R22 Scare You Into A New System

There are four good reasons why counterfeit refrigerants should be avoided. First, using counterfeit and illegally imported refrigerants can cause you or your company financial harm from lawsuits, penalties or fines.

Second, there could be physical safety impacts, including death or serious injury to employees, resulting from explosions that can occur when counterfeit refrigerants are exposed to other products.

If someone is injured, it can lead to lawsuits and negative exposure. Third, counterfeit refrigerants should be avoided because they can adversely impact your company’s equipment.

Lastly, these fraudulent products do damage to the environment as harmful blends are released into the atmosphere. The counterfeit refrigerant problem has developed as R-22 has been phased out and illegal blended mixtures are being sold online and elsewhere.

4 Reasons Why Counterfeit Refrigerants Should be Avoided

Maintaining your refrigeration can become a hassle with supplies becoming scarce. If you follow The 5 Rs, you can maintain and get the most out of your equipment.

Record Keeping is the first R. Knowing your inventory will lower costs and maximize what you have.  Repair Leaks is the second R. This helps keep the R 22 in your equipment.  Recovery and Reclaim is the third R. This includes recovering and reusing your R-22.  The fourth R is Replace old equipment. By upgrading you will no longer need R-22 and will run on R-410A.  Last R is retrofit to zero ODP refrigerants. This means retrofitting to run on new refrigerants instead of R-22.

Follow these 5 R’s and you will maximize the performance of your refrigerants.

Managing Your Refrigerant Phaseout with The 5 Rs

The article begins by mentioning how important it is to have the proper refrigerants. If you happen to get counterfeit ones, some potential problems could arise, these include: equipment damage to life-threatening reactions and explosions.

Since these are serious issues to try and avoid, and since imitation refrigerants are indeed out there, the article presents five warning signs to help you notice counterfeits. The first thing to do is a visual check of the product packaging. Next, you should perform chemical tests.

You can also check your electric bill to see if your machine is running less efficiently. Remember, if the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Finally, stay in the network and you can’t go wrong.

Five Warning Signs of Counterfeit Refrigerants

FSD Group, LLC, which is headquartered in Miami, has been convicted and sentenced in connection with the illegal receipt, purchase, and sale of ozone-depleting refrigerant gas that had been smuggled into the United States contrary to the Clean Air Act, according to court records and U.S. officials.

FSD Group LLC pled guilty to a one count of knowingly receiving, buying, selling and facilitating the transportation, concealment, and sale of approximately 65,592 kilograms of the ozone-depleting substance hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22 (“HCFC-22″) which had been illegally smuggled into the United States contrary to the Clean Air Act.

The firm was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $100,000.00 criminal fine. This case was among those investigated through a multi-agency initiative known as Operation Catch-22. To date, Operation Catch-22 has made possible the successful conviction of nearly a dozen individuals and corporations at every level of the refrigerant gas smuggling and distribution chain.

International Heating and Cooling Product Distributor Pleads Guilty