Frequently Asked Questions

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

Deepfreeze Refrigerants Inc. is one of the leading hydrocarbon refrigerant manufacturers in the world today, we produce one of the most sought after hydrocarbon refrigerants available in todays market.

All of the refrigerants blended by Deepfreeze Refrigerants Inc. are in fact blended from the highest quality and purest base stocks available in the market today. We do not sacrifice quality and purity by using low grade or inexpensive hydrocarbons.

Duracool® Refrigerants are guaranteed in writing that our refrigerants will not harm any part of your mobile air-conditioning system.

Duracool® Refrigerants provide consistently superior cooling capabilities and boasts all the qualities of a product that is not only safe and highly efficient but it is also NON-OZONE DEPLETING and NON GLOBAL WARMING.

Duracool® 12a is marketed and sold as a replacement for ozone-depleting CFC R-12 Substitutes and global-warming HFC R-134a refrigerant.

Duracool® 22a is marketed and sold worldwide as a replacement for R22 except for the United States, which has specific legislative restrictions.

In the United States, it is illegal to use a hydrocarbon refrigerant as a substitute for a Class I or Class II ODS refrigerant for any end use other than industrial process refrigeration systems, or retail food refrigerators and freezers (stand-alone units only). See 69 Fed. Reg. 11946, 11952 (March 12, 2004), and 76 Fed. Reg. 78832 (December 20, 2011).

Under the SNAP regulations at 40 C.F.R § 82.172, “use” is defined as “any use of a substitute for a Class I or Class II ozone-depleting compound, including but not limited to use in a manufacturing process or product, in consumption by the end-user, or in intermediate uses, such as formulation or packaging for other subsequent uses.”.

Products offered may not be legal for certain applications in the United States. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to confirm that the intended use of the products purchased does not violate any applicable laws or regulations and that use of products conforms to all Federal and States Laws.

Listed below you will find a collection of frequently asked questions with regards to our refrigerants,If you don’t find the answer your looking for please feel free to send us an email.

OUR FORMULA NEVER CHANGES

Regardless of when or where you may have purchased Duracool® Refrigerant, it always contains the proven formula, skillfully blended to ensure the highest performance in your Air-Conditioning System. With Duracool® “Our Formula Never Changes” means just that.

NON CORROSIVE – WON’T HARM AIR CONDITIONING COMPONENTS:

• Guaranteed in writing!
• Millions of vehicles have been converted to hydrocarbon refrigerants to date word wide.
• System head pressures greatly reduced from R-134a systems – similar to CFC-12 systems.

MUCH COOLER & MORE EFFICIENT! VERY SIMPLE INSTALL!

• Cools extremely better than R-134a – Cools marginally better than CFC-12.
• Up to 35% more efficient than R-134a – Moderately more efficient than CFC-12.

VERY SIMPLE INSTALL!

• Simple economical conversions of high/low screw on fittings for R12 systems.
• Compatible with mineral & synthetic oils including Pag & Ester – No Oil Change Is Required!
• No special equipment is required for installation. Use your CFC-12 or R-134a equipment and tools.
• Requires only 40% of charge by weight of R-134a and 35% of CFC-12.

BETTER PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY!

• Duracool 12a® contains Duracool A/C Oil Chill™ which is a synthetic lubricant that enhances performances and safety.
• Auto ignition of ~1635°F is ACTUALLY a higher auto ignition than R134a which is 1328°F.
• Absolutely non-toxic – 100% natural organic product.

PRODUCT PACKAGING SIZES

DURACOOL 12a® Refrigerants are available in three packaging sizes:

• 6 oz. cans (equivalent to 17 oz. CFC-12 / 15 oz. R-134a)
• 30 lb. cylinder (equivalent to 30lbs R-134a / 34.4lbs CFC-12)
• 50 lb. cylinder (equivalent to 50lbs R-134a / 57lbs CFC-12)

CHARGING INSTRUCTIONS

Using DURACOOL 12a® to replace R-134a is extremely easy. DURACOOL 12a® is compatible with both mineral and synthetic oils found in both systems. You are able to use the oil that was originally installed in the system, mineral in old CFC-12 systems and synthetic oil in R-134a systems. We recommend that you use Duracool® A/C Oil Chill with OEM approved U/V Leak Detection Dye. Additional information on Duracool® A/C Oil Chill can be found by clicking on the A/C Solutions link from the navigation bar at the top of this page.

To replace CFC-12 Substitutes with DURACOOL 12a® requires the removal of all existing refrigerant. Charge the DURACOOL 12a® using 35% of the original (CFC-12) charge weight listed on the system tag. eg; system tag calls for 40oz of CFC-12, use 14oz DURACOOL 12a®. Since DURACOOL 12a® is compatible with the mineral oils there is no need to change or flush your system. DURACOOL 12a® will work with the existing components. Pull a vacuum to at least -10 in hg. If a vacuum pump is not available be sure to use Duracool® DuraDry™ to remove system moisture. A system opened for repair must have vacuum pulled to 30 in gh for a minimum of 30 minutes.

To replace R-134a with DURACOOL 12a® you must remove all the existing R-134a. Charge the DURACOOL 12a® using 40% of the original (R-134a) charge weight listed on the system tag. eg; system tag calls for 40oz of R-134a, use 16oz DURACOOL 12a®. Since DURACOOL 12a® is compatible with the synthetic oils there is no need to change or flush your system. DURACOOL 12a® will work with the existing components. Pull a vacuum to at least -10 in hg. If a vacuum pump is not available be sure to use Duracool® DuraDry™ to remove system moisture.

In Canada there are no requirements regarding the conversion of CFC-12 or R-134a to DURACOOL 12a®.

In the United States the EPA requires that systems using CFC-12 refrigerants must be retrofitted to R-134a prior to the use of DURACOOL 12a® .

CHARGING PROCEDURE

1. Recover any existing refrigerant charge into a suitable container, regulations vary by region and the recovery of existing refrigerant may need to be completed by an authorized technician. Leak test the system, if a leak is detected the system must be repaired prior to charging. DURACOOL 12a® is flammable and should only be leak tested with an electronic hydrocarbon leak tester, soap bubbles or fluorescent tracer fluid. If leaks are detected, ventilate the area, keep away from flames and repair the leak. After repair, continue with the charging procedure. Pull a vacuum of at least 25 cm Hg (10 in Hg). If a vacuum pump is not available be sure to use Duracool® DuraDry™ to remove system moisture.
2. Locate the low side service port of the AC system. Generally it will have a blue or a black cap (Do not connect to high-pressure side. This may cause components to fail and cause bodily injury.)
3. Remove low side dust cap. Connect hose to system by pushing on to the male service port fitting; ensure that the coupler fits snugly into place. The installation of a conversion service port fittings will be required to permit connection to a R12 system.
4. Using only a device designed for the purpose, connect charging hose to the DURACOOL 12a® container. Ensure that you are only charging liquid DURACOOL 12a® (invert the 6 oz. can) into the low side of system.
5. After a minimum charge is achieved, start the compressor and set system to medium fan. When the compressor cycles on and off about every 45 to 60 seconds stop the flow of refrigerant. Check the vent for cooling. If cooling is inadequate or compressor is cycling excessively add small amounts of DURACOOL 12a® by opening and closing valve handle. Low side pressures should read between 28 and 45 psi.
6. Do not overfill. Exercise patience and let the system operate for several minutes before adding refrigerant.
7. Apply refrigerant identification tag on dry area near installation port.
8. DO NOT OVERCHARGE! Exceeding 60 psi on low side may damage compressor. In some cases, clearing the site glass overcharges the unit. Any overcharging may cause loss of cooling efficiency.

When charging systems with DURACOOL 12a® the pressures will be the same for the low side as factory ( 28 – 45 PSI) and about 5-10% lower on the high side than CFC-12 and may be as much as 20 -30 % lower on the high side for R-134a systems.

USAGE & INSTALLATION

Is DURACOOL12a® a “drop in replacement”?
It is important to understand that there are two types of automobile air conditioning units, those charged with CFC-12 and those charged with R-134a (R-134a is in all automobiles manufactured after 1994, some during 1993). DURACOOL12a® is a drop in replacement for R-134 automobiles, but requires a high and a low side fitting to convert CFC-12 systems. This is a very inexpensive conversion.

Does the system need to be completely empty?
Although mixing DURACOOL12a® with CFC-12 or R-134a in your A/C system would not damage or harm your system, it is illegal to charge your AC system without first evacuating the refrigerant that is currently in the A/C unit.

It is illegal to mix refrigerants in a system, environmental regulations require that air-conditioning systems be free from refrigerants before charging a system. Refrigerant removal and recovery must be performed by certified personal.

Are the pressure and volume charts absolutely correct?
No, just like any other refrigerant, the pressure and volume charts should be used as a GUIDE.

We have found that you can have three of the same cars, same age, and they will all take different amounts of refrigerant, not significant differences, but different in volume. The key is to use the chart as a guide rather than the rule. Often systems have component changes such as longer or shorter hoses – these types of changes may affect the volume which will affect the stated or recommended charge.

I’m charging a car and it’s not going into the system, what’s wrong?
It could be one of a number of issues:

1. The compressor may be seized or damaged, in this case the refrigerant will not be pulled through the system. Check the fuse to make sure that there is power actually getting to the compressor.
2. It could be that there is a problem with the installation hose system. To check this, install the can tapper to the hose and do not attached the hose to the automobile low fitting. Insert the DC 0095 low side fitting into the quick disconnect and test for restrictions by releasing a small amount of refrigerant through the hose (pointing the hose away from you or others). If the refrigerant sprays through the hose and low side quick disconnect, this means that the can tapper and the hose components are working effectively.

If the compressor is working well and the kit seems to be working well but the refrigerant is not flowing into the system, you can contact us at (888) 463-2665.

Why can’t I fit the low side fitting on to my low side?
The low fittings are internationally generic on every R-134a system. This would mean everything from 1993/94 onwards. The high side fittings have changed slightly during specific model years but generally the Duracool® DC401 or DC403 kits should accommodate most models and years.

If you find that the fitting appears to be too large to fit the hose attachment, this means that you are trying to fit the hose onto the “high fitting”.

The low fitting is usually on the line from the accumulator or on the accumulator itself. The accumulator generally sits (on most cars) to the left of the engine rear (when facing the automobile as the installer). A line will run from the compressor to the accumulator, through the accumulator and run down towards the firewall. The low side fitting will be somewhere between the compressor and the firewall (generally); however, there are some cars that have their low side fitting under the car before the hose runs back into the compressor (such as some ’92 Pontiac Grand Prix’s which is right underneath the car). If the low side cannot be located, our technical assistance line may be able to locate it in the Mitchell Automotive Air Conditioning and Heating manual(s) – if the low fitting has been indicated on the engine diagrams. If not available, the only alternative is to contact a dealership and request further information.

How come the air is too cold or too warm?

Too warm:
• Compressor may not be working or the system may have a leak and has lost the entire refrigerant charge.
• The automobile may have been overcharged with too much refrigerant. Check to pressures to know whether or not the system has been overcharged. A DURACOOL® pencil gauge or the DURACOOL® low side pressure gauge can be used to check the low side fitting psi. Low side pressure should ideally be in the 28-45 psi range.

Too cold:
• The system may need another ounce or two of DURACOOL® refrigerant. A system running too cold can indicate that it has been undercharged. Check the pressures to determine whether or not the system has been undercharged. A DURACOOL® pencil gauge or the Duracool® Low Side Pressure gauge can be used to check the low side fitting psi. If the system is undercharged the pressure will generally read less than 28 psi. Low side pressure should ideally be in the 28-45 psi range.

When you reclaim DURACOOL® do you have to use separate containers from the other refrigerants if you are not reusing and if you are reusing.
Whether you are reusing the refrigerant or arranging for disposal, you should always use separate reclaiming bottles for different refrigerants, for the following reasons; reused refrigerants cannot be blended by law and secondly, disposal of the individual refrigerants require different disposal procedures.

Can you use the same tank for different refrigerants? Is there residual refrigerants left in the cylinders?
Yes you can use the same cylinders and there will be some residual refrigerant left in the cylinder, but not enough to affect performance. Refrigerant disposal must be carried out by certified personal, it is illegal to vent refrigerants to the atmosphere.

When you recycle does the oil separate?
The oil will not separate when the refrigerant is being recycled.

What setting should the evacuator be on when evacuating a system?
Vacuum settings should be set between 7-15 inches on the low side ideally. If a major evacuation has happened and a major component has been changed such as a compressor or evaporator then a hard vacuum should be pulled to 29 inches.

Does high head pressure get dangerous as it goes up? What is the maximum head pressure?
High head pressures can damage the compressor and other components, this is one of the attributes of DURACOOL® Refrigerants in that they allow A/C systems to operate effectively at lowered head pressures. Because damage can occur if head pressures are very high, it is important to be cognizant of this and measure the pressures accordingly. On the high side, head pressures should not exceed 260 – 300 psi depending on the make and model of vehicle.

Will this product harm my evacuator?
Absolutely not, it is not corrosive and therefore cannot harm your evacuator. DURACOOL® is one of the friendliest products produced today. It will actually enhance performance and provide natural lubrication.

TOXICITY & CORROSIVENESS

Will DURACOOL® harm my Air Conditioning and/or its components?
DURACOOL® will not harm your AC system or it’s components. In fact, it will actually add life to air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. This is because it is non-corrosive as compared to R-134a and the R-22 products that may breakdown into highly corrosive components. We even guarantee in writing that the use of our refrigerants will not harm your air-conditioning system.

Is DURACOOL® Toxic?
No. DURACOOL 12a® is non-toxic, and totally organic. This is one of the major differences between the DURACOOL 12a® product and the R-134a product which is highly toxic.

FLAMMABILITY

Is DURACOOL® flammable?
Like all hydrocarbons, DURACOOL® is flammable, and must be handled accordingly. Practically all lubricants, additives and oils used in the engine of a car are flammable. Gasoline is flammable. Hair spray, deodorant and whipped cream aerosol propellants are flammable. All must be transported, handled and utilized (or installed) using safe practices and following instructions where possible.

Have there been studies to determine the potential level of incidence, in terms of ignited automobile compartment leakage?
Internationally respected risk assessors Arthur D. Little, in a detailed UK-based study, estimated the risk of an ignited refrigerant leak in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle as being in the area of 3 in 10 million. Their findings, from a local perspective, mean that if every car in the USA (some 50 to 60 million vehicles) were to use a hydrocarbon refrigerant such an accident might occur once in every 50 years.

What would the impact of and “incident level, once every 50 years” ignited automobile compartment leakage actually be?
In terms of the “impact”, it is important to recognize that automobiles generally have 12-15 ounces of DURACOOL® refrigerant. If there were a full amount leak into an automobile compartment and it ignited, it would theoretically create a “flash” which would last 1-1.5 seconds.

There are eminent Risk Assessment Reports available which document the safety of hydrocarbon refrigerants in motor vehicle air conditioning systems.

What is the difference between regular propane and the refrigerant propane that is used to manufacture the DURACOOL® products?
The propane that is regularly used for barbecues, and general consumer or commercial use is a by product or deritive of the hydrocarbon manufacturing process (the production and refining of raw oil products). The propane used for standard applications (such as your home barbecue). In order to utilize the product as “refrigerant grade” the product is further refined to render out methane gases and other impurities. This refrigerant propane is different in many ways, most notably is the disparity in the auto ignition. Essentially this refining makes the product safer and more stable. The Auto ignition for regular grade propane is ~842 F., while the DURACOOL® products auto ignition is ~1635 F.

Why does DURACOOL® have a citrus scent?
The additive “D-Limonene” is actually a stenching agent that is added for safety reasons. The addition of D-Limonene should be viewed as a safety feature (see below). D-Limonene is also condensable in the AC system and can not limit performance in any way and will not negatively impact components. The D-Limonene smell is not detectable under regular working conditions or under normal install conditions.

Note: It is important to recognize that, whether a refrigerant is toxic or flammable, the risk of leakage into the automobile compartment is very, very minimal. The great thing about DURACOOL 12a® is that the product provides for a built-in safety feature that ensures IMMEDIATE notification to the driver and the drivers family when there is a leak. This safety feature is the addition of D-Limonene. Overall, the safety aspects of the DURACOOL® Refrigerants by far outweigh those of the toxic alternatives available today.

ENVIRONMENTAL

Is DURACOOL® Environmentally friendly?
Yes. The DURACOOL® line of products is NON-OZONE DEPLETING and NON-GLOBAL WARMING. Only hydrocarbon refrigerants can claim to achieve both of these criteria. GREENPEACE have been long singing the praises of the hydrocarbon technology, and encouraging governments and industry to adopt it over the current products.

Is Global Warming really an issue?
The Government first found that use of CFC-12 greatly contributes to the depletion of our ozone and has accordingly outlawed the use of the CFC-12 through a phased-out plan that was greatly accelerated. Now the Government has found that R-134a greatly contributes to the high global warming potential (GWP). The GWP issue has been the focus of the Kyoto Protocol Branch of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the issues of temperature changes throughout the world are receiving a great deal of focus. In fact, there has been an agreement with the countries in the United Nations to go forth with a gradual phase-out of HFC’s such as R-134a (following in the footsteps of CFC-12).

Does Environment Canada endorse this product?
Environment Canada does not endorse or approve any refrigerant. They do, however, regulate refrigerants that are found to be harmful to the environment (products such as CFC-12 and R-134a, both of which are regulated by Environment Canada). Because DURACOOL® is not harmful to the environment, this product is not regulated.

EFFICIENCY & EFFECTIVENESS

IS DURACOOL 12a® efficient?
Yes. It has been found to operate even more efficiently than CFC-12, and significantly better than R-134a. We have recorded energy savings up to 35%. There are also efficiency increases over the long term because the DURACOOL 12a® offers longevity to the air conditioning systems and components. This equates to long term savings on repairs and maintenance of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

Do you have clear supporting evidence of higher efficiency, etc?
DURACOOL® labs have converted and documented the energy effectiveness and the superior cooling capabilities.

MISCELLANEOUS

I’ve been informed that if I put DURACOOL® in my AC system, that it will void the compressor warranty.
Many compressor manufacturers claim that they will void a warranty if there is any product other than CFC-12 or R-134a installed in the system. We can only speculate as to why this statement has been made, with all the benefits over the R-134a product. This statement is biased and demonstrates a strong allegiance between the OEMs and the compressor manufacturers – such is business these days. These statements are made despite the fact that the DURACOOL® product is less corrosive and has been repeatedly tested and proven to not harm any portion of the air conditioning system. Duracool A/C Compressors are fully warranted with use of Duracool® refrigerants. The use of DURACOOL® Refrigerants cannot void a manufactures warranty.

Although the compressor companies have made this statement it is virtually untrue. Additionally, compressor manufacturers state that their business is fully aware that DURACOOL® can not harm the system. Compressor manufacturers state that they do not return compressors when DURACOOL® is installed, although their printed warranty states otherwise.

Are the DURACOOL® products guaranteed?
Yes. DURACOOL® Refrigerants Inc. guarantees in writing that the DURACOOL® products will perform as an efficient refrigerant, and will not harm any air conditioning or refrigeration components and equipment.

Where is DURACOOL® Manufactured?
The DURACOOL® product is manufactured by Deepfreeze Refrigerants Inc. which is a company incorporated and operating in Ontario, Canada. Deepfreeze has made Quality Control the over-riding goal, and offer comprehensive technical and back up service. The company is built on integrity and professionalism, and their distributors and employees reflect this in their work ethics and honesty.

Is DURACOOL® all-natural?
Yes, DURACOOL® is absolutely all natural and organic. All components and additives are also natural and organic and the blends are fully “condensable” which means that they condense within the AC system.

Are hydrocarbons used in other areas of the world?
Overall, the experiences in Europe with ozone depletion and global warming have facilitated the need for government and industry to recognize and deal with the ever-growing environmental issues that face the planet. This has essentially galvanized many world leaders and governments to swing in behind the trend to hydrocarbon technology.

Europe has adopted a new Standard (EN-378) that recognizes the use of hydrocarbons. The Danish government has embraced the use and development of hydrocarbons and applications. German technology is leading the world in applications of hydrocarbon technology in domestic refrigeration.

Most countries have embraced the commitment of the Kyoto agreement to phase out HFCs, which includes the R134a product, and all SNAP approved products. Most countries have recognized that the only alternative is hydrocarbons.

Have there been many automobiles converted to Hydrocarbons? What do you base your conversion estimates on?
In Canada and the United States it is estimated that there have already have been millions of conversions to hydrocarbon refrigerants within automobiles. These estimates have been based solely on the sales figures for hydrocarbon refrigerant sales (since 1990) and the average system installation charge. In Australia ( OKA ) O.E.M. Vehicle manufacturer has been using Hydrocarbon Refrigerants in the Vehicles they manufacturer since 2010.

Does DURACOOL 12a® contain an additive?
Yes. It is a trademark special synthetic additive and is not available to any other company, (Duracool A/C Oil Chill™) is engineered to our exact specifications. This proprietary additive enhances it’s uniqueness and was developed after years of testing and study. The addition of Duracool A/C Oil Chill™ enhances performance and safety to both DURACOOL 12a® and the equipment that it operates in.

Are there major differences between the DURACOOL 12a® product and the HFC R-134a product?
Yes, incredibly so! This chart clearly illustrates the differences:

DURACOOL®	HFC R-134a
Non Global Warming (GWP negligible)	Global Warming (GWP of 3200 on Greenpeace calculations and publications)
Both products are non-ozone depleting
Non Toxic	• Animal testing has indicated that with repeated exposure: • Benign testicular tumors may develop • Postmortem will indicate increased organ weights • Human testing has indicated that with repeated and/or high concentration single exposure humans may experience any of the following: • Reduced oxygen intake • Temporary alteration of heart’s electrical activity • Irregular pulse / palpitations • Inadequate circulation • Heart irregularities • Tremors and other central nervous system symptoms • Unconsciousness or death • Thermal decomposition (exposure to open flame, glowing metal surface) forms “hazardous” hydrofluoric acid and possibly carbonyl fluoride (both of which can cause severe central nervous system reactions)
Compatible with both mineral and synthetic oils, including PAG and ester oils.	Not compatible with mineral oils. Need Ester and PAG oils. Ester oils are very hygroscopic. PAG oils are subject to toxic registration in certain states/regions.
Non corrosive	Highly Corrosive
Pressure “high side” of MVACS approx. 150 psi	Pressure “high side” on MVACS approx. 300 psi
Energy efficient compared to CFC-12 R12	Not energy efficient compared to CFC-12