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R-32 vs R-454B

Brent H.
Brent H. Member Posts: 169
edited May 6 in A-C, Heat Pumps & Refrigeration

Greetings,

I need to replace my R-22 split system in the next year due to a leak and am curious if I should be looking at R32 or R454B equipment. Are techs seeing one having less issues than the other?

I was one vacation at an AirBNB a couple weeks ago and the first floor AC stopped working. The system was only 2 weeks old and the refrig. gas sensor in the air handler failed. Makes me a bit nervous about the new technology.


Thanks.

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 12,854

    where is the leak? i'd fix it if it is fixable.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,102

    @Brent H. Not a lot you can do about it, Thats all the gouberment allows!

    What refrigerant doesn't matter.

    The installing contractor is the most important decision you have to make.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,778

    Doesn't matter. One is a blend. One isn't. The manufactures have picked theirs, mostly because they've been using it globally for years.

    Did the sensor reset and start the system again?

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,726
    edited May 6

    The only thing I've noticed so far is it seems like a lot of guys are having problems buying R454B. I'm sure that will change in the very near future, but right now I'd go with R32 unless I knew I had some 454 on hand.

    If the system comes with enough of a chart for the job it's likely a moot point unless something goes wrong.

    https://www.achrnews.com/articles/164534-hvac-contractors-sound-off-on-r-454b-shortage

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,502

    did the sensor fail or did it detect refrigerant? If the sensor actually failed its a roughly 10 minute fix, if it detected refrigerant near the coil then it's finding a leak for you, letting you know the coil might be bad and the manufacturer gets to warranty it rather than paying a tech to chase down leaks. It doesn't matter what kind of refrigerant is in the system those sensors are pretty much the same either way, probably made by just a small handful of companies worldwide, they also don't just detect R-32 or R454B you could take a can of duster and spray it at the sensor and it will trigger

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,867

    The bad sensor in the AHU has nothing to do with the refrigerant

  • Brent H.
    Brent H. Member Posts: 169

    @HVACNUT @GGross The sensor failed and would not reset. The tech had to come back the next morning with a sensor he pulled from a unit at their shop. He also said they are struggling to get R454B😀

    Like everything else, there seems to be more technology in the new units so more to go wrong.

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,102
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1854760#Comment_1854760

    There talking about a refrigerant detection sensor.

  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 3,212

    I would use the R32 over a blend if I could .. Fracture would be out of the equation …

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,502
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1854763#Comment_1854763

    The refrigerant detection sensor has nothing to do with which refrigerant you choose though, it's the same sensor essentially just calibrated to go off at a different level depending on which refrigerant, you can blow a can of duster at either to trip them

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 6,102

    it’s amazing!

    Mildly flammable refrigerants require detection systems but NG and LP water heaters, boilers, space heaters don’t!

    ChrisJGGrossPC7060
  • Brent H.
    Brent H. Member Posts: 169

    Edited my post to say R-32 instead of R-35. Typo on my part.

  • jumper
    jumper Member Posts: 2,451
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1854812#Comment_1854812

    Fire safety regulations have gone waco decades ago.

  • winnie
    winnie Member Posts: 37
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1854811#Comment_1854811

    I agree that the detection sensor has little to do with choosing between R-32 or R454B, but is there because of the flammability of those refrigerants. You wouldn't have the detection sensor in a system with non-flammable refrigerant.

    That is why I think the failure of the detection sensor has the OP nervous about the new tech.

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