No-fuss replacement for air-conditioning equipment using R22
With the approaching ban on virgin R22 refrigerant for servicing leading to potential pressure on reclaimed R22, David Lettis, sales manager of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Europe, has confirmed that the company’s R410A split sir-conditioning systems can replace most makes of R22 indoor and outdoor units without the need for new pipework or wiring.
He argues that installers should urge commercial and residential users to convert sooner rather than later to avoid the risk of problems during periods of peak demand for heating and cooling. He stresses that using new MHIE units on existing pipe runs is almost certainly the most cost-effective solution for dealing with the new refrigerant legislation, which will permit only reclaimed or recycled R22 to be used to recharge systems still in use after the end of this year.
Only four more years will remain before the use of R22 is banned totally, leading David Lettis to explain, ‘Replacement is the best plan for old R22 units, because by 2014 even the newest will be approaching the end of their useful lives. Alternative refrigerants are available for R22 systems, but their performance is unlikely to match the efficiencies achieved by modern R410A systems.’
