Getting ready for R410A Air Conditioning Systems

What steps should I take to make sure my business is ready for the transition?

• Make room in inventory to have necessary components available/in stock for systems with both refrigerants (R-22 and R-410A).

• Carefully manage old parts that will not work with R-410A for new installations.

• Ensure that technicians understand compressor/component nomenclature for each different refrigerant.

• Understand the differences among products and consider educating the homeowner about their efficiency, use of environmentally friendly refrigerants, diagnostics, indoor air quality (IAQ), comfort and modulation.

• Be knowledgeable about how manufacturers are redesigning residential and commercial air conditioning systems for both R-410A and higher efficiency.

Educate Sales Staff and Technicians on R410A Equipment Benefits

• R-410A products have proven field performance and reliability and are available today.
• R-410A units provide improved dehumidification, enhanced heat-pump performance and no refrigerant fractionation/temperature glide.
• Most new air conditioning systems will have thermal expansion valves as standard equipment.
• New technology in higher-efficiency systems, such as variable-speed motors and drives and modulating compressors

Getting Your Employees Prepared for the Phaseout

• Develop guidelines for replacing the entire system versus the outdoor unit (compressor).
• Replacing old R-22 systems with new R-410A units can help protect customers against potentially higher costs for servicing and maintaining R-22 units.
• Installing a new R-410A unit means being able to consider the full life of the equipment, without concern over future availability of R-22 and necessary service components.
• Schedule extra delivery/installer time due to increased size of high-SEER units.
• Ensure sufficient technician workforce to handle additional time and work required.
• Ensure that technicians and sales staff are trained for the upcoming transition.
• Ensure that your technicians have the required tools and education for R-410A products and services. Provide them with gauges/hoses, recovery machines, refrigerant cylinders and hoses, leak-detection devices, vacuum pumps, moisture indicators, R-410A pressure/temperature charts, etc.:
• R-410A operates at 50–70% higher pressures. System safety controls must be compatible.
• Many R-410A units use a scroll compressor and are specially designed for the higher suction and discharge pressures of R-410A.

Installing or Retrofitting R-410A Systems

• Understand installation and retrofit limitations and concerns presented by larger systems, such as space requirements, new coil configurations and control strategies.
• You might want to identify products that work in tight or unusual spaces.
• Develop a policy/practice for tight retrofits (indoor changeouts).
• Check line set and coil compatibility.
• Never start a compressor under a system vacuum.
• Confirm the type of expansion device used on the high efficiency system being installed and that it is the correct size for the indoor/outdoor combination.
• Most new air conditioning systems will have thermal expansion valves as standard equipment.
• Upon installing or servicing a unit with polyolester (POE) oil, make sure that a new R-410A-compatible filter drier is installed anytime the system is opened. Filter driers must be compatible for use with R-410A/POE oil systems.
• Vacuum alone will not remove moisture. BUT WHAT DOES?
• Brazed-in or “sweat-style” filter driers must be cut out of the system to avoid recontamination.
• Be aware that mismatched equipment or improperly charged units may have inadequate latent and sensible capabilities for full-load and part-load operation.
• Recommend load calculations and installing matched systems with proper duct sizing. Use the ACCA Manual J for accurate load calculations.
• Be aware that many of the R-22 retrofit replacement refrigerants can lead to a reduction in cooling capacity and energy efficiency.
• Develop changeout guidelines that include evaluation of evaporator coils and line set.