Any HVAC guys here? My parents are getting a new AC condenser and furnace for the first time in 30 years. However I find out the r410 Puron that the AC will use is being phased out and within a year a new system will be used. Is now a bad time to upgrade? Will r410 still be around for a while?
They’re still going to have R410 around for some years, because anybody who is getting service on their AC unit besides new installs will still require the 410.
I wouldn’t worry about 410 availability for the next 10 years minumum. I mean for automotive, R-134a got phased out a few years ago and it’s still available anyway because the majority of people doing repairs that require a refill of refridgerant are doing them on older cars. The new R1234yf is harder to find because those new cars aren’t leaking yet.
R134 isn’t being made anymore? Damn I should stock up then, thanks for the info anon
there is a manufacturing limit. like a quota of how much can be made to drive prices up to convince people to get new cars ... there is no production ban per se.
I’m there with ya already.
It’s not hard to find, but you never know when the gov’t is going to ban more shit.
The convenient thing with R134a is propane is a direct fit for the systems' specifications. The only reason propane isn't used is 'muh flammability'. But if that's all you have any system designed for 134a will work exactly the same with an equivalent weight of propane
The 410a phasedown starts next year. Next year new manufactured units can't have 410a anymore. Will availability be a problem for the life of your unit, not really. It shouldn't need any, theoretically, anyway. And if it did it'll be around. R22 aka the actual refrigerant with the brand name 'Freon' has been "banned" for almost 15 years and it's still readily available, though it's $50 a pound now.
So is it a 'bad time' to upgrade? Depends on your point of view. Kinda it is if you want the latest enviro-weenie gas. The next step on the ladder is R-32, which is what 50% of 410a is already. 410a is a bastard gas containing roughly equal parts R-32 and R-125. The 125 was added originally because on its own R-32 is mildly flammable and that freaks boomers out. However, pure R-32 is actually more efficient and you need less of it relative to 410a to do the same job. Yurop and Japan have already been using pure R-32 units for a while.
You can already find some of the minisplits coming with just R-32. The cheapest unit on Scamazon right now, in fact, the 'Della' brand minisplits use pure R-32.
>Black person-rig car with propane
>crash your car
>suddenly, fire
What does that have to do with stationary units that you don't drive and have zero chance of being in a car collision?
>whatabout...
the 1% of r134a systems that aren't cars? yeah they're fine
This thread is about something pertaining to a house. Why are you bringing cars into it? I am legitimately confused.
>the 1% of r134a systems that aren't cars?
It was/is reasonably common on refrigerators/small chillers. Actually have an aquarium chiller on the bench right now that uses it.
Propane fires aren't that bad t b h, they're usually over quickly especially for the small amount that'd be in a car AC system. Hell, it might just vent without catching on fire at all.
Depends on how much propane.
A 2 ton system has 1.5 kilograms of propane in it.
They already have propane school busses.
Largest amount of charge in restaurant equipment is 64 grams of propane. I’ve worked on medical equipment that had multiple refrigeration loops each holding only a small amount of propane or other HC. Do you eurocucks really put 1.5kg of propane in residential systems? One of the few situations where you’re based as frick. Like my old instructor used to say, must have a team of carpenters on standby
>gasoline
Most people in the USA are already driving cars with 100+ pounds of gasoline in them. Do you think a few ounces of propane is going to make things that much worse?
The refrigerant charge on a modern car is around 1 kg. That’s fricking nothing.
thanks for all that info
OP: this is who I use for automotive refrigeration on older vehicles. For a noob, he provides a how-to video and support.
https://www.ebay.com/str/cfaservices
Looks like all he's doing is selling EnviroSafe products at a markup. Why not just buy it directly from the manufacturer's website?
https://www.es-refrigerants.com/products/w/id/31/t/134a-replacement/
Convert to ammonia. Cheap. Available everywhere. And when you're ready for inheritance, pierce a line on the evaporator.