Are you confused about the Puron vs Freon debate that's going on in the air conditioning circles nowadays? Do you want to know which one you should be using for your air conditioning unit?
Let's read on to see what refrigerants are and if you should be using Puron or Freon (or something else) for your air conditioning unit.
What Are Refrigerants?
Briefly, refrigerants are chemical compounds that start as a liquid and turn into gas and get used in your air conditioning unit to cool down the warm air from the outside (or warm up the cold air in a heating unit).
Refrigerants are found in more than air conditioning units. You can find them in freezers, refrigerators, and vehicles.
They are highly dangerous to handle, so you should leave any refrigerant leaks and issues up to your air conditioning service.
Puron vs Freon
Freon was the mainstay of refrigerants used exclusively in the 20th century. It's also called R22. It replaced R12, or chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which were found to damage the ozone layer.
The Ozone-Depleting Substances Regulations, 1998 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 has mandated the phasing out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) with 100% elimination by 2030.
Even though freon is greener than CFCs, it still negatively impacts the greenhouse gas effect.
That's where Puron came in, also known as R-410A. If your air conditioning unit was installed after January 1st, 2010, then it's likely using Puron.
Recently, in efforts to go even greener, there are plans to phase out Puron and replace it with R-32. But there's no rush with this, as commercial units will be updated first and then residential ones.
The phase-out will begin in 2024 and will continue for 10 years after that. You have a lot of time to prepare for this phase-out, as you can see.
What Do These Phase-Outs Mean For You?
Suppose you are using a refrigerating or air conditioning unit that uses Freon at the moment. In that case, it's time for you to consult with your air conditioning service to replace it out ASAP (if you haven't already done so).
Interestingly enough, even though Freon isn't being manufactured anymore, many Canadian residential units still use Freon in their air conditioning.
At the moment, only recycled and reacquired refrigerant is available for Freon. It's expensive and thus, highly recommended to upgrade to Puron.
What if you have no idea what kind of refrigerant your unit uses? It's a good idea to contact an air conditioning service and get them to assess your air conditioning unit. They can tell you what the best next step for you would be.
Be aware that if your air conditioning unit is 15 years or older, it's definitely time to think about replacing it with a newer unit for both cost and environmental benefits.
The Right Air Conditioning Service for You
If you are in the Cambridge, Guelph, or Kitchener/Waterloo region, it will be easy for you to switch your air conditioning unit to Puron immediately. Contact Aire One Heating & Cooling and get your air conditioning unit updated, so you don't have to worry about phase-outs and other such details.