What’s the Difference Between R-22 and R-410A?

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AC Heating Connect Service Tech uses an iPad 6 for important HVAC information

Comparing Refrigerants Side-by-Side

One of the hottest discussions (pardon the pun) within the air conditioning and heating industry is the difference between two refrigerants – R-22 and R-410A. As a homeowner considering a purchase, it’s important that you understand the difference so you can make the best decision for your system. We’ve outlined below the main differences and why they matter.

R-22

  • Often referred to by a brand name like Freon®
  • As of 2010, R-22 was discontinued for use in new air conditioning systems
  • R-22 is a hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) which contributes to ozone depletion

R-410A

  • Often referred to by a brand name like Puron®
  • Has been approved for use in new residential air conditioners
  • Is a hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) which does not contribute to ozone depletion
  • Will become the new standard for U.S. residential air conditioning systems in 2015

Compare R-22 and R-410A refrigerants

Performance Differences

Newer air conditioning models are designed to be used with R-410A for reliable and more efficient operation. Because R-410A can absorb and release more heat than R-22, your air conditioning compressor can run cooler, reducing the risk of compressor burnout due to overheating.

R-410A also functions at a higher pressure than R-22, so new compressors are built to withstand greater stresses, reducing the chance for cracking. If you were to put R-410A refrigerant into a system designed for R-22, the pressure would be too much and the unit would break.

All air conditioners use an oil to keep the compressor lubricated during operation. R-22 air conditioners use mineral oil and R-410A systems use synthetic oil. The synthetic oil is generally more soluble with R-410A than mineral oil is with R-22. This means the R-410A system operates more efficiently reducing wear and tear on the compressor.

Dry Charging

While R-22 was outlawed in 2010 for use in new units, some companies are taking advantage of the law by producing what’s known as ‘dry charge’ units. These are new units that don’t have the refrigerant installed at the factory. Instead, a technician is required to come out to your home and install the R-22 refrigerant. While this practice is technically legal, this isn’t the best option for the following reasons:

  • There is a limited supply of R-22 and its price will increase as supplies diminish
  • R-410A offers greater efficiency, saving you in energy costs, and is much better for the environment
  • Dry charged units typically offer much shorter warranty periods

What have you heard about these two refrigerants? We can help give you unbiased answers!

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434 thoughts on “What’s the Difference Between R-22 and R-410A?”

  1. When our old AC unit could no longer be repaired (was burning out a wire, but our tech was able to give us two more years out of the unit for about a $200 fix). When the time came to replace the unit, we were offered the “opportunity” to gut our existing system and ductwork and spend $10k or more to pretend to save the environment by going to an R410A system. At the 11th hour, I asked if we could get an R22 replacement unit instead (I had tracked down a compressor for our unit for about $700, which prompted me to ask). We got our new R22 AC for about $2-$3k. In eight years, the original unit (which died in its 19th year) never needed refrigerant. I’ll gladly take my chances on R22 refrigerant prices going up vs. eating a huge government-extorted up-front cost to rip out perfectly good equipment in support of a new R410a system.

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  2. Hello I am in the process of replacing my old AC unit with a new one. The old one is R-22 hence I would like to buy the same type which I found. However, I was told the compressor is filled with synthetic oil instead of mineral but according to your description all R-22 has mineral based oil. Can the freon and oil be mixed where R-22 is mixed with synthetic oil? I am almost ready to buy the unit but because of the oil issue I am unable to decide. I am not 100% sure if my older AC unit used mineral oil but based on the year it was purchased it is likely. The old unit is York model H2DB024S06A. Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.

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    • Your old unit is probably R-22 and has mineral oil in it. The new R-22 unit you are considering is designed for use with R-22 refrigerant, but features the new synthetic oil – called “POE” which is becoming the industry standard. You can check with the contractor, the manufacturer or the seller of the unit to make sure, but most guidelines for these retrofits indicate you can use a new unit with POE in these situations without having problems with the oils. Most of the oil from the old unit will be contained in the old unit being replaced anyway and the residual oil left in the lines and indoor coil should be minimal. This is a good question to ask, as both oils are compatible with R-22 refrigerant.
      Good luck with your retrofit!

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  3. A couple things might be going on here but it seems like the person advising you might be comparing an R410A system or component replacements with an R22 component/system replacement. But R22 indoor air handlers have not been produced for use in the US since 2010 – over three years ago. If there happens to be one in stock somewhere, I could see how it might have been acquired at lower cost – after inflation – or might even be used or reconditioned. The other thing going on might be the cost of new refrigerant. If your old R22 refrigerant can be reclaimed and re-used that might drive those costs a little lower. One other possibility is that the R22 system might have a lower SEER efficiency (if it was produced before they raised the minimum SEER in 2006) and the new R410A system is at the new minimum of 13 SEER. If this is the case, the indoor air handler will be larger and might require more labor to get it to fit into your space. If it is lower efficiency, it would also probably be lower cost too.
    It is always good to ask your contractor to explain these things and show you exactly what they are planning to replace and why. You might also want to get another opinion from another contractor. It is hard for us to speculate without being on the job with you. These are interesting questions though so thanks for sharing. I hope this helps.

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  4. Hi Shawn. Thanks for the post. Here is my interpretation of what you were told.

    “handler” usually refers to the “indoor air handler” which includes a coil, an air moving blower and other components which might be located in your basement, attic or in a utility closet.

    “compressor” is probably referring to your “outdoor unit” which contains a coil, a compressor and some other components”

    Before 2010, if you had an R22 outdoor unit failure you could usually get a replacement to match your R22 indoor air handler. The problem is that the US government agreed to restrictions on the use of R22 refrigerant because it was proven to be harmful to the ozone. After January 1, 2010 it was no longer legal to install a new R22 system.

    Unfortunately, R22 components and R410A components are not compatible with each other due to different pressures, type of oil used, etc., and this includes the compressor which is in the outdoor unit. There are still a few R22 outdoor units available and if you can find one, this might be a low cost repair option. If you have to go to R410A you will have to replace the whole system – both the indoor and outdoor equipment must be matched to the refrigerant. This might be why you are being told that the R410A option is more costly than the R22 retrofit with your existing indoor unit.

    If you decide to stay with R22 you might want to ask about how expensive it will be to recharge the refrigerant if you ever have a leak because the government is restricting the production of R22 and the costs are going up. You might also ask about the efficiency improvement (energy cost savings) you might get from a new system versus retrofitting the old one which might have a lower “SEER” rating.

    A lot the terms used above are mentioned in other articles on this site so you might try searching for them if you have other questions. I hope this helps. Thanks for your post!

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    • Thank you for your reply and the explanation.
      I was told to replace the in door handler with electric heat and also the compressor.
      I just wonder why it will cost much more with r410a system if both of the handler and the compressor are going to be replaced.
      Many thanks

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  5. My AC was not working and I was told to replace it with a new one, both the handler and the compressor. I was told that there was going to be some difference /price for installing r-22 system and r-410a system as the r-410a system requires more work. Why is r-410a system more expensive to install?

    Shawn

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  6. I have a chiller with a 5 ton copeland scroll compressor that needs the compressor replaced. The compressor is an R22 unit. The chiller is 9 years old and was working fine until the compressor failed. Should I replace with a similar sized R410a compressor that I have access to or should I replace with the same R22 unit? Are there other components that need to be replaced when changing compressors?

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    • Hi John,

      Thanks for your question. As the compressor in the original unit you described is a R-22 compressor, any replacement must be R-22 compatible compressor. R-22 specific components are not usually interchangeable with R-410A components and this is definitely true with compressors. So, if your thought is to replace only the compressor, the new compressor must also be a R-22 compressor (like for like). When replacing a compressor, other devices or accessories to consider replacing would include: compressor contactors / relays, start components, run components, crankcase heaters, filter/driers, site glass, ect.

      Hope this helps,
      Scott

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  7. I have to ask why everyone has to have the government dictate policy and we all just follow along like sheep? Wouldn’t be nice if just once some our leading HVAC manufacturers stepped up to the plate and made changes without the government? What comes next the government directs us as with regulations on when we can run the units?

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    • Government sets the laws, we get to follow them. If we didn’t have laws to protect air quality and have uniform building codes it would be utter chaos when disaster hits much more so than current.

      Example: China / Haiti

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      • Companies are worried about one thing, $$$. They will never put customer wants or desires out front unless it interferes with their first priority. Government is usually in the corner of the companies as they have the $$$. The media have their own agenda.

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      • lICENSED hvac CONTRACTOR: “tHIS IS WHAT WE ARE USING TO REPLACE THE r22 AND YOUR SYSTEM IS 2 LBS LOW.” wHATEVER HE PUT IN-THE HOUSE WONT COOL BELOW 80 AND THE SUCTION LINE AINT SWEATING. i WISH THE epa WOULD STOP AND THE fed WOULD STOP AND THE dea WOULD STOP…AND WE COULD ALL LIVE LIFE….yOU LIVE IN THAT WORLD WHERE YOU THINK THIS NEW REFRIGERANT WILL ACTUALLY SAVE THE PLANET? hATE TO BUST A BUBBLE….WE HAVE VOLCANOES……WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THEM,…CORK EM UP?nOW i NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT THE HE PUT IN THERE,IF ITS THAT 410A STUFF,AND HE IS A LICENSED CONTRACTOR, WHY WOULD HE DO SUCH A THING?

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    • Amen… it appears that business and government are clearly working together to stimulate sales and mislead the masses. Interesting that this is NOT what we are led to believe by the media on either side… one side worships business and the other wants to control and manipulate… in reality? Big biz iz walking hand in hand. Consider the number of ex gov officials that become lobbyists. Wasn’t this prez supposed to do away with them? Enough said… I just had a new system installed and not sure I did the right thing. Outside unit is R-22(1.5ton) and inside is R410… should I push for outside unit to be changed to a R410 unit? Serious difference between new and WORKING old system, which was a 15yr old Goodman/Janitrol(2.25ton)… I now have higher humidity upstairs and down and basement is 10 degrees warmer. Installer adjusted Freon(removed) to make unit run more and that helped a small bit but extra runtime will increase our utility bill. Old unit worked was just too big for home and 10 SEER. New furnace is 95% vs 65% and looking forward to those savings… but this AC situation is bothering me.

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          • When I went through the first EPA certification training (when r12 was being banned circa mid-1980’s) the refrigeration industry was patting themselves on the back about how environmentally sensitive they were (they voted the EPA chief that came up with this program “HVAC Man of the Year”). All I thought of was “cha-ching”!! Let’s see . . . everyone will have to replace their systems instead of adding a $2/lb can of R12 refrigerant and they have to come to us (Certified A/C Techs) to get it done. Compare this to the electric utility industry that is constantly taking it on the chin with the media and environmental groups because they care about the impact new environmental regulations have on decisions say a widow on a fixed income must make about paying for food & medicine vs. a high utility bill. BTW, utilities make money by investing in new power plants & pollution controls and passing those ‘prudently incurred’ costs on to their customers along with their guaranteed rate of return on invested capital. Who really is wearing the ‘White Hat’ here?

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  8. Your six year old system probably had R22 refrigerant and not R12 which is used in old refrigerators and not AC. The R410A indoor will not work with an R22 outdoor. You should probably call a good HVAC contractor to get another opinion but I think you should probably replace both the indoor and the outdoor units to R410A. The R22 outdoor has an entirely different compressor with different oil, etc., and will not work with an R410A indoor coil and all the other components.

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  9. I am replacing my air handler with a new r410a system but my outside system is 6 years old and had r12 freon,I am planing to use the r410a freon in the system , will a damage the compressor ? Keep in mind this is a heat pump. Thanks

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  10. No. R22 and R410A are not compatible and combining them in your system will cause serious problems. I would suggest having an HVAC contractor check your system to make sure it really is low on charge. If it is low, maybe the contractor can find the source of the refrigerant leak and fix it so you won’t need to keep adding refrigerant which can get to be expensive. Having the proper charge is essential to HVAC peformance and the long term reliability and life of your system.

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