seller with cylinder gases
r134a 12kg 550€
r1234yf 5kg 2600€
r134a 12kg 550€
r1234yf 5kg 2600€
New AC R-1234yf - Is toppin off smart?
- Thread starter dihi22
- Start date
Yeah I am buying R-134a @ $450 for 30lbs.
Aren’t the compressor oils not compatible?
You're adding refrigerant not oil. 1234YF is backwards compatible, but 134A oil cannot be used in a 1234YF system.
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I had success using the above, after I paid a shop to replace my condenser and they overfilled the system-- A/C compressor would cut on and off constantly due to overpressure. I vacuumed, refilled with correct weight, verified pressure and it's been solid for 3+ years now.
In the future, I'd like to maintain/repair my own A/C systems. Is there any economical way to capture the refrigerant, say in a sealed canister designed for such, or is this cost prohibitive for your average DIYer?
Keep an eye on FB marketplace and eBay. Recovery tanks are pretty cheap, but good used machines are still $300-$500
I heard the equipment which evacuates these systems is extremely expensive and slow hence the high shop price for fixing/recharging these systems.
The equipment is more or less comparable. The refrigerant is like $500 for 10lb
Up until a few months ago, the amount of 134a in an average vehicle was worth maybe $5. Even now with more than triple the cost, that's still under $20. Not worth it for the average DIY'er, especially if you don't even know the condition of what you recover unless you spend another thousand on a freon identifier.
Not worth recovery in what sense?
Releasing it into the air is a Federal crime, and though the EPA tends to go after bigger fish, not DIY, they did prosecute a guy who stole an air conditioning unit by cutting the copper lines under that law.
Enforcement Actions under Title VI of the Clean Air Act | US EPA
Learn about EPA's efforts to enforce regulations designed to protect the ozone layer.
www.epa.gov
Not committing a crime might be worth the cost of recovery equipment.
In the sense of spending $1000 on a machine for a DIT'er that may use it 2 or 3 times a year when you can replace the freon for $5. The legality or morality of discharging freon wasn't the topic as the system is often already empty when you start to service it. Not to mention that 134a was introduced according to the EPA as an ozone friendly refrigerant, and 1234yf 100 times more friendly then that, so why are they saying its such a crime to discharge it.
A couple years ago I paid about $75 per 30lb keg when I would buy 5 at a time.
Now you’re changing the situation to cover your answer. Recovering the refrigerant absolutely was the topic. If the OP wants an accurate charge in his system, then recover and refill by weight was the professional recommendation.
You said recovery equipment wasn’t worth it because of the cost of refrigerant.
That means we are talking about a system that has refrigerant.
Which, under Federal Law, needs to be recovered, regardless of cost. If you had an actual EPA 609 license to buy refrigerant, and to work on auto AC systems, you would already know that.
You already stated that recovery wasn’t worth it.
Recovery is worth it, DIY or Professional, to avoid committing the crime.
Dumping refrigerant into the atmosphere is like dumping used oil into a nearby stream. No matter how much you want to rationalize it, or explain it away, you’re committing a criminal act.
Dumping r134a into the atmosphere is legal. Working on a ac system and releasing the refrigerant in the atmosphere is illegal. The laws appear to be made to protect the industry. They don't make sense and keep changing, forcing people to buy new equipment and retrofit to the latest Rwhatever.
I think I'll go buy a can of r134a duster gas and cool down a beer with it.
I think I'll go buy a can of r134a duster gas and cool down a beer with it.
$289 at WorldPac right now. Running low and might pick one up now, but maybe the price will drop as summer wanes.
It‘s NEVER LEGAL to dump refrigerant into the atmosphere! If you get caught, it’s a pretty hefty EPA fine, too-possibly up to $50K. FYI-the refrigerant & equipment manufacturers are the ones that keep moving the target with new refrigerants-I’ve been working with R449A as the new replacement for HFC R404A, which was allegedly an ozone safe refrigerant (unlike the R502 & R12 it replaced). Seems hard on compressors, though!
The portable air horns use R134a and some of the keyboard duster is R134a. Somehow thats fine to vent refrigerant to atmosphere in those cases but not a few ounces from your ac system is not.
when i look at automatic machines, only few are dual gas. and they cost +-10000€,I just bought couplers and adapters like these to use with my 134a equipment.
our company has dozen of climatic chambers for tests. it must be done yearly gas check.
since they are mostly 2 stage systems, quite nasty gases are used. (no eco replacement for those, due to very low temps)
ozone hole was a real thing, world negotiated to minimize use of harmful substances.
years later situation is much better. people should be responsible, don´t do stupid things.
r134a is worse in that regard
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hmm...
