Why Is A Freon Recharge Service So Expensive?

Finding out that your air conditioner is out of refrigerant can be unexpected and disappointing, especially on a sweltering afternoon. Notwithstanding, since your HVAC technician is only a call away, you can easily get a quick Freon refrigerant recharge.

If this is your first time recharging your Freon refrigerant, you may be shocked at how expensive this service is. Well, you are not alone. Many people wonder why freon recharge service is so expensive, but they can’t seem to find a direct and convincing answer. So in case you are one of those asking Why Is Freon so Expensive | Top HVAC Long Island, and you are still yet to get a convincing answer, then you’re reading the right post. In this article, we’ll enlighten you about Freon refrigerant and why it has become quite expensive. Let’s get to it!

What Is Freon Refrigerant

Freon is a brand name for a synthetic refrigerant commonly used in most air conditioning and refrigeration systems across the country. Freon refrigerants are non-combustible gas refrigerants that contain fluorine, carbon, bromine, chlorine, and hydrogen. Freon refrigerants are categorized as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These refrigerants are non-corrosive, odorless, colorless, and less toxic. 

Freon refrigerants are excellent coolants, and they’ve been widely used since the 1930s. Due to its excellent cooling capacity, several air-conditioning and refrigeration systems were designed to be dependent on Freon refrigerants, especially the Freon R-22.

How Freon Works in Air Conditioning System

The refrigerants of the air conditioning system are located in the copper coils, also known as refrigerant lines. The lines run through the air conditioning system, starting from the condenser and into the evaporator inside the home. The Freon refrigerant travels through the air-conditioning system as it rapidly cools your home during the refrigeration process.

During the process, the Freon refrigerants get compressed in the compressor and then move through the condenser coil to get the heat out of your home. Thereafter, Freon cools and becomes liquified before moving through the thermal expansion valve and into the evaporator coil to cool your home. Normally, refrigerant won’t dry out on its own, except the refrigerant lines become leaky, and when this happens, it means you need to recharge your costly Freon refrigerant.

Reasons For the Increased Price Of Freons

Non-Eco-friendly

After several studies, freon R-22 refrigerants were found to be one of the gases responsible for ozone layer depletion. This is because the gases in the refrigerant are extremely volatile compounds that can travel far into the stratosphere and gradually depletes the ozone layer. Due to the adverse effect of Freon R-22 on the ozone layer, the production and importation of R-22 and other related products were phased out over 10 years ago by the Montreal Protocol. Also, newly produced refrigeration and air conditioning systems filled with Freon R-22 were banned. 

Demand and Supply

Freon recharge has become unavailable for purchase because the Freon ban is gradually taking a strong footing across the globe. The little quantity available has caused demand-push inflation, meaning the high demand for the product has made vendors increase the cost of the product. Only a few licensed Freon R-22 vendors are left in the business, and most of them source this compound at a ridiculously high price.

Importantly, the increased price is to gradually discourage the purchase of the product until it finally fades into extinction in the coming years.

The Solution To Banned Freon Refrigerant

Many homeowners still require refrigerant replacement even though Freon refrigerant has been banned and is now more expensive; for this reason, a suitable alternative replacement is now available for sale. The replacement refrigerant R-410A is chlorine-free, and it doesn’t cause much damage to the environment and the ozone layer. It is also EPA-approved as it meets all the strict environmentally friendly guidelines set by the government. R-410A refrigerants are compatible with some air conditioners that are designed for Freon R-22, and they also allow more heat transfer during operation. In general, R-410A is more efficient but operates at higher pressure. However, there are rumors that R-410A is currently under much scrutiny, and it could get banned in the coming year.

This leaves us with one more option, which is to get rid of all air conditioning systems that operate with Freon R-22. Though this might be a more expensive option, it’ll save you more money and effort in the long run. 

Also, most new model air conditioners are non-Freon based, and they are built to function efficiently and will legally approve refrigerants. They also consume less energy which means you can save more on energy bills annually. Furthermore, newer model air conditioners require less maintenance, and the refrigerant recharge is less expensive. 

If you wish to stop buying expensive Freon refrigerants, be sure to replace your air conditioning system.