Air conditioning: learn about refrigerant gases

Domestic and industrial air conditioning systems work using refrigerants. These gases, in either liquid or vapour form, are necessary for your air conditioning to work.

Air conditioning systems use refrigerants to raise or lower the temperature of the room through heat transfer and changing states, in a process called the refrigeration cycle. 

To protect the environment, the way we use these gases has changed to comply with current regulations and requirements, so if your air conditioner is a few years old, the gas it uses is probably obsolete.

This is a big issue, because when you need to charge it, you may find that the type of gas it requires has been banned.

We recommend you learn about the different types of gas and that if you can, you choose one that it less harmful to the environment to avoid having to replace your appliance in the mid to long term.

Types of refrigerants

Refrigerants have different properties and thermodynamic behaviour, and they can vary in temperature, volume and pressure.

Let's look at the refrigerant gases most commonly used in air conditioners.

R22 air conditioning refrigerant

R22 gas, also known as chlorodifluoromethane, was commonly used in domestic and industrial cooling systems. Its main advantage is its low melting point of -157ºC.

It has been completely phased out and banned because it is an ozone depleting substance.

R410A air conditioning refrigerant

The fluorinated gas R410A replaced R22 gas when it was withdrawn from the market. It is also known as Puron, Genetron, Forane and Ecofluor. When it was introduced a few decades ago, it was a real improvement, since it does not contain chlorine or bromine, it has low toxicity and flammability, and it does not damage the ozone layer. 

The only drawback is its high global warming potential, which exacerbates the greenhouse effect on the planet.

Requirements for installing air conditioning equipment with R32 gas

Despite the EU requirement, the Spanish safety regulations for cooling systems has been slow to adapt to the changes and R32 gas was classified as L2, that is, as a medium safety gas. This meant that air conditioning equipment using this gas had to be governed by very strict requirements that hindered the competitiveness of the domestic sector and installations.

Among the difficulties were that only RITE companies certified to work with fluorinated gas were authorised to install air conditioning with R32, meaning a technical project had to be drawn up and public liability insurance purchased.

In December 2018, Royal Decree-Law 20/2018 was passed, allowing R32 gas air conditioners to be installed with the same safety requirements as those for appliances using R410A.

Gas maintenance

Remember to maintain your air conditioner so that it works properly and to prevent breakdowns. Check the gas charge status of your appliance every summer and check connections, nuts and welds. To do this, disconnect the air conditioner from the electrical supply. Prepare a solution of soapy water and a brush and apply to areas where refrigerants may be escaping. Watch carefully for bubbles. If you see bubbles, your device is probably leaking.

If you detect leaks or suspect that your device may be leaking, or if it needs to be run multiple times (it does not cool sufficiently), contact a technician.

"If your air conditioner uses R410A gas, you can replace this gas with R32. Contact an authorised installer"