October 3, 2022
Many popular HFC refrigerants – R410A for example – are set to become obsolete by 2047!
This has made room for a newer, more efficient refrigerant to steal the spotlight.
R32 is an A2L refrigerant. This means that it has a lower global warming potential (GWP) than A1 refrigerants. Read more for several reasons why R32 is a great replacement for its competitors.
R32 has a global warming potential of 677. In layman’s terms, global warming potential gives an estimate of how much impact certain gases would have on the earth’s temperature. So, the lower the value, the better the gas is for the environment.
Currently, the three most popular refrigerants on the market are:
These values put R32 way ahead of its competition in terms of eco-friendliness. R32 is much better for the environment than most of the other refrigerants currently available on the market.
Ozone depletion potential (ODP) is the amount of harm a substance can do to the earth’s ozone layer. And since life couldn’t exist on earth without its protection, this is an important feature to consider.
Fortunately, R32 boasts a low ODP of zero, yes, zero. And as far as ODPs go, it doesn’t get much lower than that.
R32 costs a lot less to work with than its competitors. It needs less refrigerant during refilling, yet still gets the job done. This cuts down reoccurring refilling costs. And it reduces the electricity costs associated with it.
So, if you’re looking to save some money when purchasing a new refrigerant, R32 is your best bet.
Nothing is 100% perfect and R32 is no exception to this rule. One disadvantage to look out for is the refrigerant’s flammability. Since R32 is an A2L refrigerant, it is slightly more flammable than the current most popular trio.
Despite this, tests run on R32 deem it a safe alternative. This is because even though R32 is mildly flammable, it is difficult to ignite, and even if you were to ignite the gas, it would not explode. All in all, as a consumer, this shouldn’t affect you. Just leave setting up your unit to the pros. And follow the safety precautions that come with it.
Contact Parker & Sons if you have any questions at all about refrigerants, or any other topic related to your Phoenix home’s cooling and heating.
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