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What Should the Pressure Readings Be on a Residential Air Conditioner

Photograph of a  commercial air conditioning compressor charging gauge set (C) InspectAPedia.com Air Conditioner Compressor & Refrigerant Pressure Readings
HVAC refrigerant pressures, quantities, boiling points, chemical formulas, Global Warming Bear upon GWP & ODP data

  • Postal service a QUESTION or Comment about refrigerant force per unit area readings in air conditioners, heat pumps, & other refrigeration equipment

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of involvement. We accept no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.


Refrigerant charge quantity for air conditioners & heat pumps:

This air-conditioning repair article series discusses the the diagnosis and correction of abnormal air conditioner refrigerant line pressures as a ways for evaluating the condition of the air conditioner compressor motor, which in plow, is a step in how we evaluate and correct lost or reduced air conditioner cooling capacity.

We explain how overcharging or undercharging of refrigerant in an air conditioner or heat pump is detected and we listing the effects of overcharged or undercharged refrigerant. We talk over how to diagnose refrigerant pressure level problems; how to make up one's mind the proper refrigerant charge quantity.

Definitions of Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVACR) "high side" & "low side" pressures; typical refrigerant pressures; effects of overcharged or under-charged refrigerant are found hither as well.

We as well provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to discover information you demand.

What are the Typical Air Conditioner or Heat Pump System Pressures During Normal Operation

Photograph of a  commercial air conditioning compressor charging chartMeasuring the refrigerant force per unit area in air conditioning, heat pump or other refrigerant systems tin can diagnose a range of operating problems including a refrigerant leak, over charging or nether charging.

Refrigerant pressure readings measured at the air conditioning compressor/condenser unit and which are establish to be too low on the loftier pressure level side (compressor output) or on the depression pressure level side (compressor input or suction line) can indicate a trouble with the compressor's ability to develop normal operating pressure ranges and thus will touch on the cooling capacity of the air conditioning system.

Abnormally high compressor output pressures are possible simply less likely.

Refrigerant Pressures & Pressure Diagnosis

  • Loftier SIDE, Low SIDE Pressure DEFINITIONS
  • TYPICAL REFRIGERANT PRESSURES constitute in air conditioners, heat pumps, refrigeration equipment for various refrigerant gases
  • Comparing of REFRIGERANT GAS Backdrop - table just below gives replacements for now-obsolete refrigerants like R22
  • COMPARISON of REFIGERANT GAS PRESSURES/TEMPERATURES - refrigerant pressure of diverse gases at the same temperature?
  • DETAILED REFRIGERANT TEMPERATURE - Force per unit area CHARTS
  • R134 REFRIGERANT PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE CHARTS - separate article
  • R22 REFRIGERANT Force per unit area / TEMPERATURE CHARTS - and rules of thumb - split article
  • R32 REFRIGERANT PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE CHARTS - separate article
  • R410A REFRIGERANT PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE CHARTS - separate article

Refrigerant Pressure level & Leak Correction

If you already know your refrigerant pressures are wrong or that you have a refrigerant leak, please meet

  • CORRECTING REFRIGERANT Force per unit area & LEAKS
  • REFRIGERANT CHARGING Procedure

Overview of Refrigerant Types - past and current

The types of refrigerants can exist a confusing soup of acronyms. Here'due south a summary of the different types of refrigerants:

  • CFCs are ChloroFluoroCarbons - first generation refrigerants like R12 (early replacements for still before & harder-to-use COtwo refrigerant) & R22 (1950s & later on) widely used in refrigerators and air conditioners.

    R12 was phased out in the U.s.a. in 1994. R22 was phased out in 2010 and are no longer widely available.

  • HCFCs = HydroChloroFluoroCarbon - refrigerants that were considered less dissentious to the surroundings than CFCs. Less harmful to the ozone layer.

    HCFCs and CFCs both comprise chlorine that was found to damage the earth's ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol was an agreement to phase out both CFCs & HCFCs.

  • HFCs = HydroFluoroCarbons - a third generation of refrigerants less damaging to the ozone layer were intended to replace older refrigerants.

    Current HFCs were considered less damaging to the surround than CFCs and HCFCs.

    HFCs are made up of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. They are now recognized as a serious contributor to greenhouse gases and global warming.

In sum there were at to the lowest degree 2 classes of damage:

Holes in the ozone layer:

Chlorine-containing refrigerants that contributed to the ozone hole (consider getting skin cancer in Australia). These include CFCs and HCFCs.

Greenhouse gases:

Greenhouse gas formation that contributes to global warming. These include HCFCs and HFCs.

Environmental Alternatives

The EU has proposed more climate-friendly alternatives to HFCs. The article below provides a more-all-encompassing list of alternatives to HFC type refrigerants.

  • CLIMATE FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES to HFC REFRIGERANTS - EU [PDF] European Committee for Climate Activity, (This department leads the European Committee's efforts to fight climate change at EU and international level.)
    European Commission, Charlemagne edifice, Rue de la Loi 170, 1040 Brussels Belgium (Visitors Centre), Web: https://ec.europa.european union/info/index_en - retrieved 2021/12/22, original source: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-activeness/fluorinated-greenhouse-gases/climate-friendly-alternatives-hfcs_en).

In choosing refrigerants that reduce or eliminate the contribution of those products to global warming, alternatives include:

  • Natural refrigerants
  • HFCs with lower GWP, such equally R32
  • Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs)
  • HFC-HFO blends

More nigh environmental concerns updates at

REFRIGERANT TYPE & Environmental CONCERNS UPDATE

Comparison Tabular array of Refrigerant Gas Properties

Comparing of Refrigerant Gas Backdrop

Refrigerant Gas Properties Refrigerant
Type
14
Replaces
Substitutes20
Replaced
Past20
GWP1 ODP1

Com-
bustibile
1

Force per unit area Charts & Details

R11 Trichlorofluoromethane
CFC-xi = Freon-eleven = R-11.
Banned-1996 Montreal Protocol
CFC 4000 1.0 Y Basis for ODP comparisons
R12 Dichlorodifluoromethane
Freon
No remaining life
Banned-1996 Montreal Protocol
CFC
HFC
R124
R134a
R401a
R401b
2400 1.0 Northward due north/a
R12 B1 CFC R124, R142b Due north
R13 B1 Bromotrifluoromethane
Halon 1301 or BTM CBrF3
CFC
Halon
R410A,
ISCEON®
MO89
R402B?
x Due north
R22 Chlorodifluoromethane
No remaining life
Do not become to R-410A
HFC
HCFC
R404A R407c ? 1700 0.05 Y R22 REFRIGERANT PRESSURES
R23 Additions banned 1 January 2020
Reclaimed use permitted
to end of 2029
HFC R13, R503
Halon 131
eighteen,400 0 N
R32 Difluoromethane, CHiiF2
Apply in new equipment
HFC R134A ?
R410A ?
North ? R32 REFRIGERANT PRESSURES
Eco 32 Blend: Propane R290
+ Ethane R170
reduced-GWP

HC

R32, R410a ? ? Y Eco-32 REFRIGERANT PRESSURES [PDF] 17
R32 Difluoromethane
R 410A replacement in
new equipment
Not to be used equally a retrofit
HFC R410A 650 77119 0 Y R32 REFRIGERANT PRESSURES
R113

Trichlorotrifluoroethane
Banned-1996 Montreal Protocol

CFC 4800 0.8
R114 Dichlorotetrafluoroethane
Banned-1996 Montreal Protocol
Cfc R124, R142b 3.nine i.0
R123 Dichlorotrifluoroethane HCFC R11 0.02 0.02
R1234YF Automotive Ac
2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene
HFO R134A four Y R1234YF Pressure level Chart [PDF] 10
R1234ZW [citation needed]
R124 Chlorotetrafluoroethane HCFC R12, R114 620 002
R125 Pentafluoroethane 3400 0
R134A

Tetrafluoroethane
Domestic HVAC, "Freon"
CFC Substitute
Short remaining life
Banned as of 2024

HFC R12
1234yf
R-152a
R-744
1300-
1430
0 Northward R134 REFRIGERANT PRESSURE CHART
R143A Trifluoroethane 4300 0
R152A Difluoroethane 120 0 Y
R245A Pentafluoropropane ? 0 N Flammable under pressure
R290 Pure HC Propane, Care® xl HC

R12, R22,
R134A

R502 ?

3 ? Y R290 PRESSURE Chart [PDF] 3
R401A Blend
53% R-22, 34% R-124,
13% R-152a
HCFC R12, R500? 1100 0.037 N
R401B Blend
61% R-22, 28% R-124,
11% R-152a
HCFC 1200 0.04 N
R402A / HP80 Blend of R-22 & R-125 w/
hydrocarbon R-290 (propane)
38% R-22, sixty% R-125,
2% R-290
HCFC R502 2600 0.02 N R402A PRESSURE CHART [PDF] thirteen
R402B Blend of R-22 and R-218 west/
R-290 (propane)
HCFC R502
R-13B1?
N
R403B Blend of R-22 and R-218 due west/
R-290 (propane)
HCFC R502 N
R404A Blend, replaces R502 & R22
Short remaining life2
44% R-125, 52% R-143a,
R-134a
HFC R502, R22 3300
3922 ?
0 Due north R404A PRESSURE Nautical chart [PDF] 4
Flammable nether pressure level
R407A Alloy
xx% R-32, 40% R-125,
40% R-134a
HFC R22 2000 0 N
R407C Blend
23% R-32, 25% R-125,
52% R-134a
HFC R22 1600 0 N
R407H Mixture of R32, R125, R134A,
not ozone resistant
HFC

R22, R-404A?,
R507

1490
1495
- N

R407H Pressure level Nautical chart [PDF] 5 16

R408A / FX10 Blend, Forane® HCFC R502 3152 0.024 N R408A PRESSURE Chart [PDF] 13
R409A Blend of R-22, R-142b HCFC R12 N
R410A

Domestic HVAC
Curt remaining life
50:50 blend R32 + R125
Banned every bit of 2024

R-22 R-32
Eco-32
2088 North R410A REFRIGERANT PRESSURE Nautical chart
R414B Alloy of R-22, R-124, R-142b
w/hydrocarbon R-600a
(isobutane)
HCFC

R12
Automotive

N
R448A Blend
R32, R125, R134A,
R1234YF, R1234ZW
HFC
HFO
R404A or R507 1273 N R448A / N40 PRESSURE Chart [PDF] 6
R449A Blend HFC
HFO
R404A 1282 Northward R449A Pressure Chart [PDF] vii
R452A Blend HFC
HFO
R404A, R507 1945 Due north R452A Force per unit area Chart [PDF] 8
R452B Blend
alloy R32 + R125+ R1234yf?
HFC
HFO
R410A Y
R454B Blend HFO R410A Y
R500 Blend
R-12 / R-152a
Banned-1996 Montreal Protocol
Cfc R12 Due north
R502

Freon
(Chloropentafluoroethane)
Blend
48.8% R-22, 51.2% R-115
Banned-1996 Montreal Protocol

Chlorofluorocarbon R-22 / R115 R404A 4.i 0.283 N R502 PRESSURE Chart [PDF] 12
Becomes flammable nether force per unit area
R507 Blend
50%-50% R-125 & R-143A - or
45% R-125, 55% R-143
HFC R22, R502 3300 0 N R507 Force per unit area CHART [PDF] 11
Becomes combustible under pressure level
R600A Iso-butane R12, R134 iii Y R600A Pressure level Nautical chart [PDF] nine
R717 Ammonia - NHthree
Among oldest refrigerants

R134A-?
R32-?
0 0 Y Flammable at high temp.
R718 Water - Hii0 0 N
R729 Air 0 North
R744 Carbon Dioxide - CO2
GWP REFERENCE GAS
1 0 N

Notes to the table above

  1. GWP = Thousandlobal Warming Potential, relative contribution to global warming by contributing to greenhouse gases that trap heat in the earth's atmosphere. CO2 (Carbon dioxide) has a GWP of 1.0.

    By 2025, loftier Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants with a GWP of over 750, volition exist banned together forth with HVACR equipment that uses that gas. Note that GWP ratings are controversial.

    ODP = Ozone Depletion Potential - relative impairment to the world's ozone layer.

    ODP is divers equally the total amount of ozone destroyed past that substance compared with the amount of ozone that would exist destroyed by the same mass of Chlorofluorocarbon-11 = Freon-11 = R-xi.

    Combustible or flammable: refrigerants ar rated as
    1 - non flammable,
    2L - very depression flammability,
    2 - low flammability,
    3 - loftier flammability

    - Source:
    ASHRAE: ASHRAE Standard 34 describes a shorthand way of naming refrigerants and assigns prophylactic classifications based on toxicity and flammability data
    ASHRAE Standard 15 establishes procedures for operating equipment and systems when using those refrigerants.

  2. R404A, commercial utilize banned afterward 2020 is replaced by R448A, R449A, R452A, R407H.
  3. R290 PT Chart, A-Gas, Units 7 & 8 Gordano Court Serbert Shut Portishead, Bristol BS20 7FS Britain, +44 1275 376600 Offices world wide, Website: www.agas.com, retrieved 2020/02/ten original source: https://www.agas.com/media/2422/r290-propane-pt-nautical chart.pdf

    Linde, R290 REFRIGERANT GRADE PROPANE [PDF] Linde AG Linde Gases Segmentation, Seitnerstrasse seventy, 82049 Pullach, Germany Phone +49.89.7446-0, Fax +49.89.7446-1230, www.linde-gas.com/refrigerants, refrigerants@lindegas.com retrieved 2021/12/22 original source: http://hydrocarbons21.com/files/refrigeration_R290.pdf
    Excerpt:

    R290 is the common proper noun for high purity propane (C3H8) suitable for employ in the refrigeration and air conditioning manufacture. Information technology is also known equally Care® twoscore.

  4. R490 PT Chart, A-Gas, op. cit. retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: https://www.agas.com/media/2405/r404a-pt-nautical chart.pdf
  5. R407 Data, Daikin Chemical Europe GmbH Am Wehrhahn fifty 40211 Düsseldorf, Deutschland Phone: +49 211-179225-0 Fax: +49 211-179225-39 daikinchem.de, retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: https://www.daikinchem.de/sites/default/files/pdf/Refrigerants/Daikin_R407H_Handling_Brochure_EN.pdf

    R407H: zeotropic mixture of 32.v weight% R32, 15 % R125, and 52.5% R134a. It is a drop-In refrigerant for R404A / R507 and a retrofit refrigerant for R22.

  6. R448A Information, (N40) Pressure level & Temperature, FSW op. cit. retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: https://www.fsw.britain.com/sites/world wide web.fsw.uk.com/files/r448a-n40-pt-chart.pdf

    Culling Chart: R448A Data Honeywell'southward Solstice® N40 = R448A [PDF] Honeywell Avant-garde Materials 115 Tabor Road Morris Plains, NJ 07950 honeywell-refrigerants.com retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: https://www.fluorineproducts-honeywell.com/refrigerants/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SPM-FLP-00643-PT-Nautical chart-Solstice-N40_3x5_LR.pdf

  7. R449A / XP40 Data, FSW Cannock Delta Firm,Fairway, Bridgtown, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 0DJ Electronic mail Sales@fsw.uk.com Tel: 01543 437 010 retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: https://www.fsw.great britain.com/sites/world wide web.fsw.uk.com/files/r449a-xp40-pt-chart.pdf
  8. R452 Data, FSW, Op. Cit., retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: https://www.fsw.uk.com/sites/world wide web.fsw.uk.com/files/r452a-xp44-pt-chart_0.pdf
  9. R600A Data, Iso-Butane, A-Gas, op. cit. retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: https://www.agas.com/media/2423/r600a-iso-butane-pt-chart.pdf
  10. R600A Information, Iso-Butane, A-Gas, op. cit. retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: https://www.agas.com/media/6742/r1234yf-pt-nautical chart-two.pdf
  11. R507 Data, Agas, Op. Cit., https://www.agas.com/media/2421/r507-pt-chart.pdf
  12. R502 Datra, R502 is replaced by R402A / R-408A, retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: http://world wide web.pchetz.com/_Uploads/dbsAttachedFiles/R502PressureEnthalpy.pdf
  13. R402A Information, REFRIGERANT CHANGEOVER GUIDELINES R-502 TO R-402A/R-408A [PDF] (2005) Copeland / Emerson Climate Technologies, 1675 Due west. Campbell Road Sidney, OH 45365-0669 (937) 498-3011 copeland-corp.com

    Excerpts: Copeland does not advocate the wholesale changeover of CFC refrigerants to HCFCs or HFCs. If a system is not leaking refrigerant to the atmosphere, and is operating properly, there is no technical reason to supplant the Cfc refrigerant.

    In fact, changing the refrigerant may void the U.L. listing of the unit. However, one time the conclusion has been made to make the modify from R-502 to the interim R-402A or R-408A, the following guidelines are recommended.

    R-402A/R-408A should exist used only in systems that currently use R-502. Information technology should non be mixed with R-502 or any other refrigerant nor should it be used to supervene upon CFC-12 or HCFC-22

  14. R408A Information, see #13 higher up.
  15. Daikin, R407H Backdrop, USE & HANDLING [PDF] Daikin Chemical Europe GmbH Am Wehrhahn 50 40211 Düsseldorf, Germany Telephone: +49 211-179225-0 Fax: +49 211-179225-39 daikinchem.de
    Extract:
    R407H can be used every bit a Drib-In refrigerant in R404A / R507 systems. A Drib-In is the easiest way to catechumen a refrigeration system to another refrigerant. It is linked with minor changes and information technology usually uses the same oil type.
  16. Eco Freeze, Eastward.F. International bvba Boombekelaan 11E B-2660 Hoboken (Antwerp) Belgium + 32 498 648 933 – Arya Mohadjerin arya@eco-freeze.com source of our Eco-32 pressure chart given in the table above, retrieved 2021/12/22 original source: https://eco-freeze.com/resources/#32chart
  17. Engineering Toolbox, "Refrigerants - Environmental Properties, Refrigerants - Ozone Depletion (ODP) and Global Warming Potential (GWP)", retrieved 2021/12/22 original source: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/Refrigerants-Environment-Backdrop-d_1220.html
    This article provided data for some of the gas properties entered in the table above.
  18. The GWP of R32 was increased from 675 to 771 in August, 2021 past the Intergovernmental Console on Climate Change (IPCC), sixth assessment report "Climate Change 2021 – The Concrete Science Basis."
  19. US EPA UNACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE REFRIGERANTS [PDF] U.S. EPA, retrieved 2021/12/22 original source: https://www.epa.gov/snap/unacceptable-substitute-refrigerants

Comparison of Ambient Pressure/Temperature for Refrigerants

Notes to the table above

  • These are vapour pressures unless stated otherwise
  • [6] Alternative Nautical chart for R448A (N40) Pressure & Temperature, FSW op. cit. retrieved 2020/02/x original source: https://www.fsw.britain.com/sites/www.fsw.britain.com/files/r448a-n40-pt-chart.pdf

Definition of Air Conditioner High Side and Low Side Pressures

Commencement let's explain "low-side" and "high-side" air conditioner compressor motor pressures and what they mean.

Air-conditioning service manuals and training refer to:

  • Low-side air conditioner compressor motor force per unit area:

    This is the pressure in the air conditioner's refrigerant suction line (low side pressure during compressor functioning) and this will be a relatively depression number, often less than 100 psi.

    During operation, refrigerant is returning to the compressor from the cooling (evaporator) coil in this line. If we connected the suction line directly to a sealed vacuum test judge nosotros'd really find that the compressor could pull an bodily vacuum on the line.

    Nosotros used to use an old Frigidaire™ rotary-design compressor motor as our vacuum pump when we needed to get the air out of a refrigeration system prior to charging it with new refrigerant.

    The low-side of an air-conditioning arrangement is always located inside of the infinite to be cooled, or inside of an air handler which moves air through the space to be cooled.

    By lowering the pressure in the cooling whorl located on the "low side" of the air conditioning organisation, the compressor permits liquid refrigerant to be discharged into the cooling coil where the change of refrigerant land from a liquid to a gas absorbs heat and brings the cooling ringlet to the proper operating temperature.

    The Low SIDE of a refrigeration system is the low-pressure and depression temperature half of the system. Commonly this is the indoor air handler - located within the space that is to be cooled by bringing indoor air to operating temperature. (For a refrigerator this is typically 38 to 45 °F.)

  • High-side air conditioner compressor pressure:

    Output (loftier side force per unit area during operation) is the pressure of the compressed refrigerant gas as it leaves the compressor motor. In other words, refrigerant gas returns to the compressor through the suction line from the cooling curl (which is cooling building air).

    The low-pressure refrigerant gas is compressed to a loftier-force per unit area refrigerant gas inside the compressor motor. This loftier temperature refrigerant gas is then cooled down to condense into a refrigerant liquid before it is returned indoors to the air handler and evaporator scroll to be used to cool building air. (Thus we get the name "condensing coil" and "condensing unit" or "condenser" for the outside half of an air workout organisation.)

    The high side components of an air-conditioning organisation, such as the compressor, condensing coil, and fan unit used to cool the condensing coil are located exterior of the conditioned or refrigerated space, and will be immersed in air at ambient outdoor temperature, say 72 °F.

    Here is where the magic of air conditioning occurs. Equally long as the compressor tin produce a temperature in the outdoor condensing coil which is to a higher place ambience outdoor air temperature, heat will flow from the condensing coil into outdoor air (for example outdoor air blown beyond the condensing coil by a fan).

    If you studied thermodynamics in high schoolhouse you learned that heat ever flows from the warmer to the cooler material. The result is to transfer oestrus gathered in the indoor or conditioned space into outdoor air.

    The HIGH SIDE of a refrigeration system is at high temperature and higher (refrigerant) pressure level and volition always exist above ambient temperature. And so in a cooling system information technology will exist located outside in order to transfer rut to the outdoor air. A estrus pump designed to pump heat into a building will, of grade, reverse these roles when in heating mode.

Refrigerant Pressure / Temperature Chart & Table Downloads

  • R22 REFRIGERANT PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE CHARTS [Web Artilcle] Troubleshooting, repairing, + R22 chart downloads.
  • REFRIGERANT PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE CHARTS for R-22, R-410A, R-134A, R-404A REFRIGERANTS [PDF] Advantage Engineering, Inc. 525 Eastward Stop eighteen Road Greenwood, IN 46142USA, Tel: 317-887-0729 Spider web site: www.AdvantageEngineering.com Email: sales@AdvantageEngineering.com

    HCFC-142b REFRIGERANT GAS Production Information [PDF] Op. Cit.,
  • R32 REFRIGERANT PRESSURES [Web Article] includes downloadable PDFs of R-32 pressure level/temperature charts
  • R32 PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE CHART [PDF] Agas, Op. Cit., retrieved 2020/02/10 original source: https://www.agas.com/media/2427/r32-pt-chart.pdf
  • R134 REFRIGERANT PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE CHARTS [Web Article] + additional data on & downloads for R-134
  • HFC R-134A Pressure level TEMPERATURE CHART [PDF], Pacific Sea Breeze Marine Products, 100 Grace Way, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 USA, Tel: 831-600-7878 Website: http://pacificseabreeze.com/technical_library
  • R134A REFRIGERANT PT CHART [PDF] Agas, Op, Cit. retrieved 2020/02/x original source: agas.com/media/2404/r134a-pt-chart.pdf
  • R410A REFRIGERANT PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE CHARTS [Web Article] Troubleshooting, repairing, + R-410a refrigerant pressure chart downloads.
  • REFRIGERANT TEMPERATURE / PRESSURE CHARTS for R-407, R-22, R410a, R-407c, R-134a, R404a, [PDF], Op. Cit.,
  • REFRIGERANT PRESSURE / TEMPERATURE CHARTS for R-11, R-113, R-123, R-12, R-13, R-134A, R-114, R-14 or Freon-14, Tetrafluoromethane,R-22, R-23, R-410A, R-409A, R-416A, R-500, R-503, R-507, R-503 [PDF]

    Airgas Refrigerants, Inc., Headquarter Part 2530 Sever Road, Suite 300 Lawrenceville, GA 30043 Tel: 1-800-473-3766, Website: world wide web.airgasrefrigerants.com Email: ARF-Contact.us@airgas.com

  • HCFC-142b REFRIGERANT GAS Product Information [PDF], DAIKIN AMERICA, INC. 20 Olympic Bulldoze, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA Phone: +1-845-365-9500 Toll-Free: +1-800-365-9570 Facsimile: +ane-845-365-9598 http://www.daikin-america.com,

    DAIKIN Chemic EUROPE GmbH Immermannstr. 65D, 40210 Dusseldorf, Germany Phone: +49-211-179225-0 Facsimile: +49-211-1640732 http://www.daikinchem.de

    Chemicals Sectionalization Umeda Center Bldg., 2-4-12, Nakazaki-Nishi, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8323, Japan Telephone: +81-6-6373-4342 Facsimile: +81-6-6373-4390 http://www.daikin.com/chm

  • HCFC R-142b REFRIGERANT GAS MSDS [PDF], National Refrigerants, Inc., 661 Kenyon Ave., Bridgeton NJ 08302, USA

Typical HVAC Refrigerant Pressures

Photograph of a  commercial air conditioning compressor charging chart

Typical residential ac refrigerant pressures vary depending on the model, compressor motor size and design, and the refrigerant used.

The design pressures may be provided on labels attached to the equipment but the actual air conditioner operating pressure will vary in function as a function of the incoming air temperatures.

"Charging Charts" (such as the commercial unit charging chart shown here) are provided in service manuals to determine the target suction vacuum (negative) force per unit area and output pressure for a given compressor motor.

Use of the charging chart for the specific compressor is the right style to service information technology. The following instance pressures are based on "rules of thumb" that become you in the correct "ballpark" if no charging nautical chart is at hand.

Case of bodily air conditioner compressor high side output pressure level:

Using R-22 refrigerant and assuming an outside air temperature of 85 °F called for 120 °F inside the compressor (add 35 °F to incoming air temperature) and an output high-side compressor pressure of about 260 psi.

Instance of actual air conditioner low side input or suction line force per unit area during operation:

Depression-side pressure level during normal operation of the aforementioned compressor model and refrigerant and the same outdoor air temperature of 85 °F called for 45 °F temperature entering the compressor (subtract 40 °F from incoming air temperature) which on the service chart indicates that the incoming or suction line pressure would exist about 75 psi.

Case of a more theoretical air conditioner or heat pump force per unit area and temperature at the compressor and at the cap tube or thermostatic expansion valve:

During normal operation: at an outdoor temperature of 72 °F, liquid refrigerant (R12 for case) leaving the outdoor condensing coil and inbound the cap tube or TEV might be at 100 psi and 95 °F.

These numbers vary by changes in ambience temperature, compressor model, and refrigerant gas used.

On the low side of the TEV or cap tube (in the cooling scroll in the air handler) where the liquid refrigerant is irresolute state to a gas, it may be cooled downwardly to ten °F. and by the fourth dimension the refrigerant leaves the cooling curl (evaporator coil) and gets back to the compressor motor information technology will be all vapor and may be at just 15 psi. [R12 refrigerant changes from liquid to vapor at 14.6 psi at ten °F.]

Air Conditioner or Estrus Pump Refrigerant Equalization Pressure - System-OFF refrigerant pressures

When you measure out heat pump or cooling system pressures makes every bit much deviation as where y'all measure information technology. When an air conditioning or heat pump system has turned off and been off for some fourth dimension (xxx minutes or more) pressures equalize throughout the system between the high and depression sides.

At that point the refrigerant pressure in both the high side and low side of the air conditioner or heat pump arrangement volition be in accordance with the ambient air temperature and the properties of the item refrigerant gas present.

The static or equalized system refrigerant pressure level will be divers by the refrigerant gas blazon (which defines its boiling point and pressure at diverse temperatures).

For example with that cute old R12 refrigerant, every bit long as in that location is just about any refrigerant in the organisation - enough so that there is some liquid refrigerant, i.e. it's not all just gas) and then in equalized status at seventy psi ambient temperature the refrigerant force per unit area will exist lxx psi.

With a temperature correction nautical chart you can read the static or equalized refrigerant pressure for whatsoever refrigerant gas and the actual ambient temperature.

Reminder: this refrigerant gas behavior ways that if you use pressure level examination gauges to measure the refrigerant pressure in the static or equalized air conditioning or heat pump system, the gauges only tell you the refrigerant pressure, not the quantity of refrigerant that is present in the organisation.

Encounter GAUGE, REFRIGERATION PRESSURE TEST

Correcting Refrigerant Pressure & Leaks

If after review of the higher up article, you have determined that y'all take a refrigerant pressure level problem or a refrigerant leak, there are procedures to address those issues. These corrections volition include getting the right refrigerant accuse by any of several means (weight or book measurements or some techs monitor refrigerant line temperature).

It also means finding and fixing the refrigerant leak if the problem was simply lost refrigerant.

For help with these corrections, run across:

  • REFRIGERANT CHARGING PROCEDURE
  • REFRIGERANT DRIERS & FILTERS
  • REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION
  • REFRIGERANT LEAK REPAIR

Refrigerant Type & Environmental Concerns Update

US HFC Emissions in 2014 - U.S. EPA cited & discussed at InspectApedia.com

Illustration, excerpted from TRANSITIONING TO Depression-GWP ALTERNATIVES in Residential & Lite Commercial Air Conditioning [PDF] (live link given just below), U.S. EPA, accounts for an estimated 36.7 metric tons of COtwo equivalent released into the atmosphere by residential and light commercial A/C equipment in 2014.

At Comparing of REFRIGERANT GAS PROPERTIES we explained the 2 nearly widely-used measures of ecology affect of refrigerant gases, GWP and ODP, and that table makes articulate that there are meaning differences in both Global Warming Potential and Ozone Depletion Potential among refrigerants.

More almost environmental concerns among refrigerants and the move towards refrigerants that offering less contribution to global warming and its costs is in the following articles:

  • CLIMATE FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES to HFC REFRIGERANTS - EU [PDF] European Commission for Climate Action, (This section leads the European Committee's efforts to fight climatic change at European union and international level.)
    EuropeanCommission, Charlemagne building, Rue de la Loi 170, 1040 Brussels Belgium (Visitors Middle), Spider web: https://ec.europa.eu/info/index_en - retrieved 2021/12/22, original source: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/european union-action/fluorinated-greenhouse-gases/climate-friendly-alternatives-hfcs_en).
  • TRANSITIONING TO LOW-GWP ALTERNATIVES in Residential & Low-cal Commercial Air Conditioning [PDF] (2015) The states Ecology Protection Agency (EPA), SNAP (Significant New Alternatives Policy), Contact: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/forms/contact-epa, Web: www.epa.gov, retrieved 2021/12/22, original source: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/epa_hfc_residential_light_commercial_ac.pdf
  • TRANSITIONING TO LOW-GWP ALTERNATIVES in Domestic Refrigeration [PDF] (2016) U.South. EPA (SNAP, retrieved 2021/12/22, original source: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-12/documents/transitioning_to_low-gwp_alternatives_in_domestic_refrigeration.pdf
  • TRANSITIONING TO Low-GWP ALTERNATIVES in Commercial Refrigeration [PDF] (2016) U.S. EPA, (SNAP), retrieved 2021/12/22, original source: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-12/documents/transitioning_to_low-gwp_alternatives_in_commercial_refrigeration.pdf
  • TRANSITIONING TO LOW-GWP ALTERNATIVES in Passenger vehicle Air Conditioners [PDF] (2015) U.S. EPA, (SNAP), retrieved 2021/12/22, original source: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/epa_hfc_passenger_vehicle_ac.pdf
  • K-J Thomas Mechanical, "HFC Refrigerants and Climate Modify" [web article], M-J Thomas Mechanical, 6175 Trevarton Dr. Longmont, CO 80503 The states [Non Open to Walk-in Traffic] Tel: 303-435-8141 - retrieved 021/12/21 original source: https://www.kjtmechanical.com/webapp/p/574/hfc-refrigerants-and-climate-modify
    Excerpts:

    ... the Paris Climate Accord, reached in December 2015 "gentleman's agreement" [goal] is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 0 by 2050 and hold the increment in global temperature to one.5 degrees Celsius.
    ...
    President Obama pledged that the United states of america would reduce greenhouse gas emissions approximately 25 percent past 2025 using multiple ways including ... reducing HFC refrigerants use ...

    In June 2017, President Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement.

    Nonetheless, as of July 2017, 350

    [U.S.] mayors have formed the Climate Mayors and pledged to continue to follow or increase the Paris guidelines. In fact, many of them take committed to the goal of 100% clean energy.
    ...
    The Kigali Amendment on October xv, 2016 to the Montreal Protocol specifically addresses HFC refrigerants, and stipulates a timeline for limiting production and use. Rich developed countries in the European Marriage and the United states volition brainstorm with a ten% reduction (from 2012 baseline) in the utilise and product of HFCs in 2019 down to by 85% by 2036. Developing countries have a more lenient timeline.

    Reduction volition avoid upwards to .5 degree Celsius of warming by the end of the century.

    Annotation that the United states of america has non ratified the Kigali treaty yet (and it's fate would be uncertain under the new administration), merely indications are that motility will go along in the direction of implementing the phasedown, whether legally required or not.

Reader Q&A - also see the FAQs series linked-to below

R22 REFRIGERANT PRESSURES will show what pressures are establish with R22 refrigerant

What is the working gas pressure for R22 in the aircon

Anon

You tin can discover your refrigerant pressure in the article and references above, just you'll see you accept to name the specific refrigerant gas and the ambient temperature.

How many suction gas force per unit area in eleven tr ac

Reader Question: what is the force per unit area in an A/C or heat pump system when the compressor is off?

Hi, I always wondered, motorcar or house A/C, if it is off, compressor off, is there any pressure in the arrangement? Or does the compressor crusade and brand the force per unit area? Cheers, J.Thousand [email 26 Sept 2015]

I would assume less pressure level in organisation when compressor is off and then when on? Thanks, John Kelly. PS: Just had new condenser / compressor unit of measurement put in my house and when running, see modest drip on lower line seems to be diluted oil. Maybe merely condensation mixed with oil that got on while repairing. It don't seem to become that minor drop when I don't run it. Its on the bottom of that weld spot.

Respond:

Absolutely there is pressure in the air-conditioning or heat pump organization when the compressor is not running.

When the compressor shuts off the high side pressure is high - say 200 and the low side depression - say 20 (these are only conceptual equally actual pressure depends on the compressor, ambient temperature, refrigerant blazon).

Then when the motor stays off for a time - say one/2 hour more or less - *normally* pressure in the whole organization equalizes to a lower number which would be the pressure that the particular refrigerant would sit at for the current ambient temperature (at bounding main level).

East.1000. R22 at fourscore °F will stabilize at 143.vii psi in the system while R410 would be at 235.9 psi.

Lookout man out: most that OIL DRIP: is bad if it's really leaking. At that place is oil in the refrigeration system (to lube the compressor); if at that place is oil leaking out at a plumbing fixtures on the refrigerant line then at that place is most likely too an actual refrigerant leak.

If yous clean the joint - wipe information technology clean of oil and condensation - you should not run into more oil there. Condensate yes.

Question: refrigerant pressure differences in an inverter-type air conditioner system?

2016/08/29 Y.Westward. asked [ by private email to editor ]

Hi, firstly I desire to cheers for creating such a helpful site - keep it up!

I only accept a few questions regarding inverter A/Cs - In a split up-blazon home air conditioner which utilize an inverter compressor, does this upshot the PSI needed on either the high or depression side of the organization?

If so how do I know what it is supposed to be? Is the method for adding refrigerant different for inverters than a standard system? and is there a style to know at whatsoever bespeak in time if the compressor is running at full speed or just partly?
Cheers

Respond:

The psi you'd expect to see in any HVACR organisation is a function of:

i. the specific refrigerant used

2. the ambient temperature

3. the compressor having reached steady state or run long enough that the low side and high side pressures are being controlled by the refrigerant metering device such every bit the TEV

For whatsoever specific refrigerant you'll notice a chart that gives the human relationship of refrigerant pressures to temperature - equally the tech has to consider that when charging the system.

The data tag and specs for a given compressor model and brand will besides frequently give the standard working pressure range.

For other readers, an "inverter" in an ac system is a variable speed control that changes the pumping speed of the AC compressor motor in response to the temperature in the conditioned infinite.

By varying the compressor speed nosotros vary the rate at which refrigerant is dispensed into the cooling system. In my OPINION this is a composure of an air conditioning design that relies but on the refrigerant metering device (TEV or cap tube) to manipulate refrigerant into the cooling system.

Inverter designs do not simply rely on varying the compressor motor speed.

Motor on/off cycling, configurations that featherbed refrigerant hot gas output from the high-side over to the low side or suction side of the system, mechanically operated refrigerant control valves, and other approaches allow for an inverter type air conditioner or heat pump blueprint.

The purpose of an inverter type air conditioner system is to match the compressor'due south output to variations in the cooling load on the system, presumably producing a more efficient cooling system.

These systems may likewise be described every bit VRF or variable refrigerant period designs.

I've researched this question further only not notwithstanding found specifications indicating that the refrigerant operating pressures are dissimilar with an inverter or VRF ac or rut pump design. I take institute warnings that lower refrigerant velocity tin can upshot in lubrication issues in the compressor and a reduced compressor life.

Heatcraft warns:

Compressor Operating Limits:

Compressors should not be operated outside of the operating limits shown on the published compressor specification sheets, and low pressure controls should not be set below the minimum settings without prior written approval of the Copeland Application Engineering Department.

Operating below the allowable minimum suction pressure may result in excessive belch temperatures which can cause cylinder and valve harm, and may consequence in lubrication problems. Since loftier discharge temperatures can occur fifty-fifty though the motor is cool, the motor thermostat will not protect the compressor against these conditions.

Performance of motor-compressors beyond the established recommended operating limits will exist considered misuse and corruption, and damage may upshot.

- source: Heatcraft, "Why and How nosotros Use Capacity Command " [PDF], Heatcraft Refrigeration Products – North America, 2175 West Park Place Blvd. Rock Mountain, GA 30087
Usa of America Tel: (770) 465-5600 Cost-Free: (800)-321-1881 hrpd.feedback@heatcraftrpd.com retrieved 2016/08/29, original source: www.heatcraftrpd.com/res/pdfs/faqs/Capacity_Control.pdf
This company has offices globe broad.

More Notes About Residential Air Conditioner Compressor Pressures

Put another manner, loftier temperature or high pressure on the air conditioner depression side is a sign of a problem. That is, as pressure on the high side goes way up, depression side pressure will increase as well, and we may exceed the operating temperature of the system.

The Depression side temperature must be low enough to get transfer of heat from the indoor air into the evaporator coil. The Loftier Side temperature must be high enough to get transfer of heat into the outdoor air.

  • See SEER RATINGS & OTHER DEFINITIONS for boosted definitions of the high side and low side of an air conditioning arrangement.
  • See COMPRESSOR CONDENSER for an explanation of how and why high side and low side pressures in the cooling system enable an air conditioner to movement estrus from indoors to outdoors.
  • Come across OPERATING TEMPERATURES HVAC for a word of the typical temperatures at which diverse types of cooling systems operate.

If your air conditioning or heat pump organisation has lost its cooling capacity or won't start see REPAIR GUIDE for AIR CONDITIONERS.

...

Continue reading at REFRIGERANT Pressure level DIAGNOSIS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the consummate ARTICLE Alphabetize.

Or see REFRIGERANT PRESSURE READING & CHART FAQs - questions & answers posted originally at this page.

Or see these

Recommended Manufactures

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  • DEFINITION of LATENT Rut
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  • DEFINITION of SENSIBLE Oestrus
  • DEFINITION of SUBCOOLING
  • DEFINITION of SPECIFIC HEAT
  • DEFINITION of SUPERHEAT
  • PRESSURE CONTROLS & Rubber SWITCHES
  • REFRIGERANT GASES & PIPING - domicile
    • CAR / TRUCK AC PRESSURE SWITCH
    • FROST BUILD-Upward on AIR CONDITIONER COILS
    • GAS DETECTION INSTRUMENTS
    • GAS EXPOSURE Furnishings, TOXIC
    • GAUGE, REFRIGERATION Force per unit area TEST
    • REFRIGERANT CHARGING PROCEDURE
    • REFRIGERANT DRIERS & FILTERS
    • REFRIGERANT FLOODBACK, LIQUID SLUGGING
    • REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTION
    • REFRIGERANT LEAK REPAIR
    • REFRIGERANT METERING DEVICES TEVs & EEVs
    • REFRIGERANT METERING CAPILLARY TUBES
    • REFRIGERANT OVERCHARGE Furnishings
    • REFRIGERANT Piping INSTALLATION
    • REFRIGERANT Pressure level DIAGNOSTICS
    • REFRIGERANT PRESSURE READINGS & CHARTS
    • REFRIGERANT PROBLEM TYPES
    • REFRIGERANT UNDERCHARGE EFFECTS
    • REFRIGERANT SIGHT GLASS
  • REPAIR GUIDES A/C / Rut PUMP - dwelling house
  • Dissever Organization AC / Estrus PUMP REPAIRS

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What Should the Pressure Readings Be on a Residential Air Conditioner

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