6 Types of Refrigerants & How to Choose What's Right for You

Your commercial refrigeration system helps keep your product cool, and having the right refrigerant can make a difference in how the unit functions. While staying on top of regular maintenance is a must, you may have never considered the type of refrigerant you need.

Understanding the available products' differences can help you optimize how your unit functions, so let's look below.

What is Refrigerant?

Refrigerant helps cool the air as it passes through the evaporator and compressor. As soon as the liquid passes through your device's expansion unit, it cools and expands as pressure suddenly drops, turning it into a gas.

Once the gas passes through the evaporator coil, it will absorb heat from products inside, and the compressor pulls the absorbed heat and gas away from the food, increasing the gas pressure.

The refrigerant then moves through the condenser coils, and as it does, the heat is radiated into the atmosphere and turned back into a cool liquid. It reenters the device, and the process starts again, making it a critical component in how your system maintains your product's freshness.

Refrigerant Types

As new technology advances, more products are being created and tested to perform this cooling process safer and more efficiently than ever before. Here are the most common types of refrigerants used today, with some being more effective or better than others.

R-12

This chlorofluorocarbons and methane-based option is frequently used in air conditioners and commercial refrigerators. However, it's been banned from modern appliances due to its ozone depletion properties. If you still have a unit operating with this type of refrigerant, consider replacing it sooner rather than later.

R-22

This hydrochlorofluorocarbon option (also known as Freon) has less chlorine than others and is still used in some old refrigerators and air conditioners. However, like the R-12, new appliances are not allowed to use this type, and it is being phased out completely.

R-290

As a propane and hydrocarbon-based refrigerant used for refrigerators and air conditioners, this refrigerant is listed as an eco-friendly solution because of its low global warming potential and zero ozone depletion capabilities.

R-134a

Hydrofluorocarbon is used in car air conditioning, and the refrigerants' chemical properties are nonexplosive, noncombustible, and non-toxic, making it a greener choice.

R-404A

The R-404A HFC refrigerant is used in refrigerators and freezers and has a low ozone depletion but high global warming potential, making it not eco-friendly.

R-450A

R-405A is one of the eco-friendliest refrigerants available due to its reduced global warming potential and non-ozone-depleting properties.

Choosing the Right Refrigerant

There are five main factors when selecting a refrigerant, and you will need to look at reliability, safety, performance, environmental effects, and cost. Your refrigeration system's reliability mainly depends on the chemical stability of the refrigerant and how compatible it is with the compressor lubricant and the system's components.

The EPA has requirements that need to be followed, and while hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons are the most common, finding an alternative, more eco-friendly option can be a good starting place.

You will need to know the requirements of the refrigeration temperature, and the refrigerants will come in low, medium, and high pressure. It's also important to mention that different refrigerator compressors don't all work the same, so use refrigerants that are manufacturer recommended.

Expert Refrigeration Services in the Twin Cities

Picking the right refrigerant isn't just about keeping your products cold but also involves finding a balance between safety, efficiency, and being as eco-friendly as possible. Whether you're looking for a refrigerant for your grocery store cooler or need expert commercial HVAC services, we have you covered!

Solid Refrigeration has been a trusted name in the Twin Cities since 2005, providing the highest quality maintenance, installation, and repair that our clients know and trust.

For your free estimate, call us today at 952-854-2850 or message us online to connect with our team.