HVAC Refrigerant Oil Information

Purpose

• HVAC refrigerant oil serves multiple purposes besides keeping HVAC system parts from wearing down. The oil also serves as a coolant in the compressor -- the part of an air conditioner unit that pumps the refrigerant oil throughout the system’s tubes. This component also helps unheated air go back into your home’s room so the room’s air remains at a target temperature. In addition, refrigerant oil restricts the noise in the crankcase, a major electrical component of a compressor.

Additives

• Refrigerant oil additives are also available on the market in the form of liquids. The purpose of additives is to increase the lubrication ability of refrigerant oil and to enhance heat travel in HVAC systems’ heat exchangers. A benefit of additives is that they potentially decrease HVAC system energy consumption by 5 to 30 percent.

Tips

• When working with HVAC refrigerant oil, use clean tools such as funnels or pumps and follow manufacturers' instructions to avoid contaminating this liquid. In addition, replace the refrigerant oil bottle cap to keep dirt and dust in the atmosphere from entering the bottle and to prevent the oil from absorbing moisture, which it does easily. Using contaminated oil in an HVAC system can ruin your compressor.

Other Information

• Keep your HVAC refrigerant oil in its original container if possible, but transfer the oil only to an uncontaminated and dry bottle if necessary. Refrigerants can be recycled by removing impurities such as moisture and air from the oils. Otherwise, you must dispose of these oils if they have been contaminated with other refrigerants. Call an HVAC technician to find out how to properly discard HVAC refrigerant oil in your area, as improper disposal allows the chemicals to escape to the atmosphere and harm the ozone layer of our atmosphere.