The number one issue to be concerned about is the failure of the compressor. R410A is being phased out and becoming much more expensive. Consequently the production of R410A equipment will also become more expensive and eventually extinct.
If your compressor fails and you are forced to use a compressor designed for a different refrigerant then you may have to replace the inside unit too. At a minimum you will have to replace the TXV. Also you will have to flush the line sets. Hopefully they can be reused because if not you are looking at a much more expensive project.
As far as I know, only 410A equipment is available now.
I have looked for a drop in replacement refrigerant and the only one that may be an option for existing equipment is this:
Quote:
R-454B is a close match to R-410A in terms of operating pressures and efficiency. Some manufacturers are starting to design systems compatible with both R-410A and R-454B.
Switching to R-454B could require adjustments or updates to ensure compatibility, but it's often considered one of the best alternatives that minimizes the need for major system overhauls.
|
Quote:
|
For a true "drop-in" replacement that requires absolutely no changes to the system, there are currently no widely accepted options for R-410A. Even alternatives like R-32 (which has a higher pressure) and R-466A (which requires different handling) would still likely need some level of component adjustment or replacement to ensure they work effectively.
|
Some HVAC technicians are recommending to their customers with units 10 years and older to replace their condensers and AHU's now because of the phase out. Don't know if they plan on changing the refrigerant.
Has anyone been given a recommendation to replace an operational HVAC system? If so what refrigerant were they going to require?
I don't consider myself an expert on this topic so please feel free to disagree. Thanks.