Refrigerant
A refrigerant in HVAC is the product responsible for heat transference from the evaporator coils to the condensing coils, with the chemical properties of the product allowing it to change from liquid to gas and back again. More commonly referred to as R-22, Chlorodifluoromethane (a type of freon), was the most common refrigerant used in air conditioning and heat pump systems until 2010, when the government ordered its use to be phased out due to concerns about its impact on the earth’s ozone layer. Newer HVAC systems use R-410, an ozone-friendly, freon-like compound. R-22-based systems can continue to be serviced, but the refrigerant can no longer be replaced as of this year.