A refrigerant transition is underway in the HVACR industry, which is affecting how HVACR service technicians install and maintain commercial refrigeration equipment. As the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants ramps up over the next several years, technicians can expect to see a wider variety of refrigeration architectures that use lower-global warming potential (GWP) alternatives.
Compared to legacy HFCs, these emerging refrigerant substitutes have unique properties and characteristics that impact system design and servicing considerations. To navigate this evolving landscape, service technicians should educate themselves on the fundamentals of working with the next generation of lower-GWP refrigerants.