by Scott Lanzer | Jun. 20, 2013
I can remember when I first started in the HVACR industry; there were only 3 colors of refrigerant bottles in the back of the truck – green, purple and white. Along with these limited color options, I can remember using cardboard slide rules and calculators to determine charge amounts and system failure diagnosis.
Air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps all have different regulations and different rating criteria. It is important to keep these ratings in mind when you are comparing various systems from different manufacturers as they will tell you the true performance characteristics of each. Because these can be confusing to read, below is a brief summary on the ratings and what they mean.
As more systems require replacement due to age, or repairs that make it more economical to replace, one of the questions likely to come from a homeowner is about refrigerants. Homeowners can find a mix of confusing information online so following the guidelines below can help provide clear, concise answers when talking to your customers.
In many cases, your original air conditioner and gas furnace were installed as a matched set. When one needs to be replaced it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to replace both, but it’s a good time to start thinking about your options.
