In the wake of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) delisting from the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program of certain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in specific applications, HVACR technicians are likely to deal with an increasing number and variety of refrigerants in the near future. The ruling is widely expected to lead to a growth in the use of so-called natural refrigerant options, such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants — such as propane and isobutene — as well as a variety of hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants designed to replace HFCs.
The increasing number of options will make it more essential than ever for technicians to be aware of the hazards of mixing refrigerants and also to cautiously approach systems they’re servicing in case it contains a refrigerant mixture that has been adulterated — perhaps dangerously so.