Dupont Home Central Air Conditioners

Choosing a DuPont Refrigerant for Your Home Central Air Conditioner

If your home air conditioner recently had a leak, its likely that it lost refrigerant. When your air conditioner loses refrigerant, you may need additional coolant to recharge it. Understanding what to look for when purchasing coolant and how to choose the right coolant can keep your DuPont central home air conditioner running efficiently.

How often does refrigerant need to be replaced?

Your air conditioner does not need refrigerant replaced unless it has a leak which has allowed the refrigerant to drain out. After the leak is repaired, then the lost coolant is replaced. Each home central air conditioner may have a slightly different procedure, so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions. As refrigerants are gases that are mostly odorless, you typically know that your air conditioner has a leak if you notice any of the following:

• AC is not blowing cold air
• Cold air does not seem as efficient as it should be
• AC is making hissing noises (pertains to the indoor unit)
• Unexplained increase in your electric bill
• Frozen coils

Is there a specific type of refrigerant that home central air conditioning uses?

Air conditioners manufactured before 2003 used freon, such as R22, as the coolant. However, that does not mean that your air conditioner needs R22 freon. Newer models use R410A as the refrigerant. The best way to determine which coolant you should choose is to inspect the unit. Many air conditioners have a nameplate attached to them that identifies the unit, model number, and refrigerant needed. If the type of coolant you need is not listed, you can use the model number to make the right choice.

Should an air conditioner that requires R22 be replaced?

If your DuPont central home air conditioner still uses R22 refrigerant, you do not necessarily have to replace it. If the air conditioner is working fine other than a minor leak, you can opt for a repair and continue to use it. It will take time to phase out R22 freon, so it is still available from eBay sellers. In fact, manufacturers will continue to produce R22 until 2020.

Is it okay to use alternative coolant products?

At times, you may see alternative coolant products, such as R22 drop-in refrigerant. Although alternatives are available for you to use, they are not always recommended. If your unit is currently under warranty, you could void the warranty by using an alternative or drop-in product. It is better to stick with the manufacturer recommended coolant for your specific unit.

Differences between R22 and R410A

Part of the reason that R22 will be phased out is that R410A is considered more environmentally friendly. Should you choose to replace your unit with a new or used unit that requires R410A, you may need to replace both the indoor and outdoor unit. In some instances, you may continue to use the original indoor air handler or furnace, but at the very least, the indoor coil will still need to be replaced if you decide you prefer R410A.

Content provided for informational purposes only. eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by DuPont.

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