Most people would know that refrigerant, or 'gas' as it's known, is an integral part of a refrigeration or air conditioning system; it's the fluid which gets pumped around the system allowing your system to cool or heat your room. Some of you will know also that refrigerant prices have sky-rocketed over the last 12-14 months. Why though?
Put simply, the large increases we are now experiencing are down to the good old fashioned ‘supply & demand’ dynamic. One of the major components used in the manufacture of some refrigerants are Hydrofluorocarbons, more commonly known as HFCs. These HFCs contain a high GWP (Global Warming Potential) and, as a result, are being forced out of the market place under the government’s phase-down of HFCs. So as supply drops and demand continues, prices rise.
Our supply partners have had their HFC quota cut by 40% in 2018 so certain refrigerants, particularly R410a & R407c, will be in short supply. Like anything that is scarce, it comes at a cost!
Our recommendation; use R32 refrigerant for new installations instead of R410a and tighten up on your leak testing as part of your maintenance regime as, in this instance as well as many others, prevention is better than the cure!
For more news and updates, feel free to call the experts at Hertfordshire Air Conditioning. Our services are available across Hertfordshire.
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