News On Air Conditioners

Discussion in 'Home Improvement' started by Mary Stetler, Aug 9, 2024.

  1. Mary Stetler

    Mary Stetler Veteran Member
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    Have to replace the ac at the farm. Should have done it when I replaced the furnace in the spring or whenever.
    The hvac guy took a long time to come out for an estimate. I asked is everyone's ac breaking down? He said, no. The government has changed the coolant requirements again and we have until the end of the year before we have to go to more expensive products. The latest coolant has a tendency to explode so people don't want it.
    Goodness. Why would we not want to just accept a government required product?
     
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  2. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I would like to know more about the exploding coolant...?? Exactly which one is exploding? You'd think there would be widespread warnings being broadcast.
     
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  3. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    The new coolant contains propane.

    edit to correct: The new coolant is a pure form of propane.
     
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  4. Mary Stetler

    Mary Stetler Veteran Member
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    Since the government is forcing the changes, why tell anybody?
     
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  5. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    Are you joking John B or serious?
     
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  6. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I'm serious. I did not know until I searched on it. And there are warnings about it beign flammable.

    Keep in mind this was not legislated through Congress, so none of us have any input into this law regulation.
     
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  7. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    Well, is propane the new coolant? I'm confused, isn't propane flammable?
     
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  8. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Yes, there is a pure form of propane (R-290) that is to replace prior forms of coolant because "global warming." Apparently its use goes back to the 1930s, but its flammability kept it from going mainstream. Saving the planet (I guess by incinerating humans) has now pushed it to the forefront.

    I do not know when the cut-off date is for it to be the mandated standard.
     
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    Last edited: Aug 10, 2024
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  9. Don Alaska

    Don Alaska Supreme Member
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    Now that the Chevron Deference has been overturned, perhaps someone will prevent the full implementation.
     
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  10. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I believe the Dems are i the process of formalizing the authority agencies have to create regs.
     
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  11. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Will the new and improved coolant be cheaper? It costs a fortune to "charge" a central air unit. The idiot repairing my MIL's A/C managed to dump all the freon (or whatever) and we had to pay to have it replaced to the tune of several hundred dollars.
     
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  12. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
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    Call me a 'lost cause' because I'm not understanding your last statement.o_O
     
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  13. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Saving the planet comes at a cost.
     
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  14. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I tried to find a specific date but I could not. The EPA has mandated that all new refrigerators, freezers, HVAC systems, etc convert to the new standard. I do not know if our legacy system can use the new propane coolant, or if the legacy coolant will still be available.
     
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  15. Mary Stetler

    Mary Stetler Veteran Member
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    The guy I talked to said the cut off was next March? (maybe) so everyone is trying to get AC units new or repaired before then. He was putting in non-flammable units, in that they used different coolants. until the cut off date. So I asked if they could be recharged with the 'old' coolant or could they use crossover gas. He said he bought tanks of the old stuff so he could service his clients for many years.
    I told hubby we could just go into the basement with the dehumidifier.o_O
     
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