CMX 2004 - Plumbing & HVAC

Honeywell Genetron
Technology Lets AC Industry
Avoid Refrigerant Chaos
The reduction in availability of R-22
due to Environment Canada regulations
has many in the HVAC trade
asking, “What’s going to replace R-22?”
For air-conditioning contractors,
there has been fear that they might face
the same “refrigerant chaos” faced by
refrigeration technicians when R-12
was phased out. The phaseout of R-12
resulted in dozens of replacement products
with competing, and sometimes
misleading claims about performance,
reliability and safety. Many refrigeration
engineers still find themselves toting
around several different R-12
replacement refrigerants to be able to
service the different systems they run in
to each day.
Someone Put a Cap on R-22?
The widespread introduction of central
air conditioning systems using R-
410A refrigerant by the major manufacturers
has made life for HVAC dealers
appear to have been given a clear message
by manufacturers that they only
need to stock two refrigerants on their
truck to carry them through the phaseout:
R-22 for servicing R-22 systems,
and R-410A for installing and servicing
R-410A systems.
Some dealers have asked “Why R-
410A? Why not a replacement that acts
more like R-22?” Testing has shown that
although R-22s “drop-in” and “direct”
replacements are designed to mimic R-
22, they typically suffer from losses in
Beginning January 2004, Environment Canada will implement a “cap” on the amount of HCFC
that can be either manufactured or imported in Canada. Yet the demand for R-22 could continue
to increase due to higher residential SEER requirements.
If you service, manage, or specify air-conditioning systems we invite you to learn more about the
quiet operation and outstanding reliability of systems charged with R-410A... because you can teach
an old dog a new trick.
St. Lawrence Chemical
Exclusive distributor of Genetron refrigerants in Canada
Ontario and Western Canada Tel: (416) 243-9615 Fax: (416) 243-9731
Quebec and the Maritime Provinces Tel: (514) 457-3628 Fax: (514) 457-9773
capacity, efficiency and oil return to the
compressor compared to R-22.
Invented by Honeywell, R-410A represents
an advancement in refrigerant
technology with several themophysical
properties that improve on the performance
of R-22 in new equipment. Various
HVAC manufacturers have taken advantage
of the superior properties of R-
410A in different ways, by making systems
that are smaller, quieter, or even
more reliable than their R-22 versions.
There are now millions of R-410A air
conditioners running around the world,
and the proven safety and reliability of
these systems has allowed R-410A to
become the new global standard.
Many HVAC dealers have found that
consumers are typically unaware of the
phaseout of R-22, which is why
Honeywell launched the consumer website
www.410A.com earlier this year.
For more information on R-410A
systems, tools, and Genetron AZ-20 R-
410A service refrigerant, Honeywell
recommends that technicians contact
their preferred equipment manufacturer
and Genetron refrigerant wholesaler.
St. Lawrence Chemical
Exclusive distributor of Genetron
refrigerants in Canada
Ontario and Western Canada Tel: (416)
243-9615 Fax: (416) 243-9731
Quebec and the Maritime Provinces Tel:
(514) 457-3628 Fax: (514) 457-9773
Find us at genetron.com
Circle Number 136 for More Information
34 Plumbing & HVAC Product News – March/April 2004 www.plumbingandhvac.ca