What’s an Air Conditioning Dry Charge?

Over the past 10 years, both the U.S. and Canadian governments have instructed that all manufacturers of air conditioning equipment halt production of the refrigerant R-22 (Freon) or Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These refrigerants have been standardly used in air conditioners and heat pumps for a long time. These mandates are suppose to have the HVAC industry move to a more green friendly refrigerant with a technical designation R410A. R410A has been verified to be safer for the environment. 

In late 2010 reputable air conditioning producers began manufacturing Air Conditioning and Heat Pump units, without adding refrigerant at the factory. Such systems are more commonly called “dry charged units”. They can legally be sold and installed which permits your Fort Lauderdale area HVAC contractor to charge the unit on-site with R22. R22 is still legal for AC repair or service a while longer. The reason for these Dry Charged Units is to provide the greater Fort Lauderdale area a more simple and cost effective replacement option for central air conditioners and heat pumps. However, these units also bypass the spirit of the mandates, which was to help the environment by introducing more environment friendly solutions. 

Fort Lauderdale homeowners should understand that these Dry Charged Units are allowed in the U.S. and Canada. Because of some key ambiguities in the written policies, the entire outdoor unit is technically looked upon as a replacement “part”. These days, condensers or heat pumps intended for use in a replacement R-22 system are often referred to as “Dry Charge” or “Nitrogen Charged” systems. The following are some Frequently Asked Questions about this recent A/C Dry Charge trend. 

Should I buy a “Dry Charge” A/C system? 

Well, it really depends on a number of things. The number one thing to do is determine what types of HVAC equipment the heating and air conditioning industry offers and seek solutions to meet your personal comfort, efficiency and lifestyle needs. Take time to understand the benefits and difference between a dry charge unit and new air conditioning products with R-410A refrigerant. 

Reasons to buy an R-410A refrigerant system 

Current R-410A systems provide benefits to Fort Lauderdale homeowners that Dry Charge units do not. A few of the benefits include: 

• Greater energy efficiency for affordable in-home comfort 
• Modern technology to reduce humidity 
• Current production refrigerant solutions ensuring longer life and extended availability of refrigerant 

• Extended warranty periods for even greater peace of mind 
• Quieter operation for a more peaceful indoor environment 
• Ozone friendly refrigerant that protects the environment 
• Matched coil solutions for increased reliability and guaranteed cooling and heating performance 

Is it legal to install Dry Charge units? 

Absolutely. There are no Federal laws or legal restriction on the installation of R-22 or Dry Charge Equipment, with the stipulation that it is repairing an existing air conditioning system. 

Does a warranty come with a Dry Charge Unit? 

Major manufacturers honor a standard 5-year parts warranty on dry charge units. While this offers industry standard protection on the components it does not provide protection against R-22 refrigerant prices, which are expected to increase substantially. 

Will the R-22 refrigerant be expensive to buy? 

It is likely that as a result of supply and demand, the refrigerant will probably go up in price. As the phase out process of R22 continues, new R-22 refrigerant production will slowly be reduced, with full elimination of its production in 2020. Until that time however, indications are that there will likely be sufficient supply to meet the current demand. 

If you have more questions about refrigerant, we encourage you to contact Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for clarification.