What’s an Air Conditioning Dry Charge?

Over the past decade, both the U.S. and Canadian governments have mandated that all producers 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 many decades. These mandates are suppose to have the HVAC industry move to a more environmentally friendly refrigerant with a technical designation R410A. R410A has been shown 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”. The units can legally be sold and installed then your local HVAC contractor (such as Stevenson Service Experts) can charge the unit with R22. R22 is still legal for AC repair or service for a few more years. The reason for these Dry Charged Units is to offer the greater Columbus area a more simple and relatively inexpensive replacement option for central air conditioners and heat pumps. However, these units also bypass the spirit of the mandates, which was to wean the industry off less eco-friendly refrigerants. 

Columbus homeowners should be aware that these Dry Charged Units are permitted in the U.S. and Canada. Taking advantage of an unclear definition of the outdoor unit in these policies, the entire outdoor unit is technically looked upon as a replacement “part”. As a result, condensers or heat pumps intended for use in a replacement R-22 system are often referred to as “Dry Charge” or “Nitrogen Charged” systems. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions about this recent A/C Dry Charge trend. 

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

The answer to this question hinges on a number of things. The most important thing to do is learn what types of HVAC equipment the heating and air conditioning industry can offer and seek solutions that speaks to 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 offer benefits to Columbus homeowners that Dry Charge units do not. Some of the benefits include: 

  • Improved energy efficiency for comfort at a cost savings 
  • State-of-the-art technology to lower humidity 
  • Current production refrigerant solutions allowing 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 for lower impact on the environment 
  • Matched coil solutions for enhanced reliability and guaranteed cooling and heating performance 

Is it legal to install Dry Charge units? 

Definitely. 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. 

What about the warranty? 

Most manufacturers have established a standard 5-year parts warranty on dry charge units. While this provides 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, R-22 refrigerant will become more expensive. 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 then, 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 Stevenson Service Experts for clarification. 

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