Hate too dump my a/c with R 22 , anybody repair within Fl

[Al B]

I have a AIRRRRRRR Marine a/c unit on my power cruiser
9000 BTU ,
30 amp
R 22
original too boat 2002
when your old a/c starts too go have any of you found a repair guy too fix , swap out R 22 or buy new ?

Last year after a 1 hour of running , temp in cabin starts too feel warm , temp on thermostat rising , ice on coils

Tech working dock came too to check , Unit stuffed into a cavity , impossible too view , able too get hands on top , feel around , any service must be removed .
He was able too get gauges too test , R 22 was little low , Stating its illegal now , I have a little , if it works great , if it leaks out buy new unit ,
Year later I am faced with same , AFTER hour of so , ICE build up on coils ,
Tech wanted $ 3500 new installed
On line marine wholeslaers Advertising perfect replacment for Marine AIRRR with old R 22 , basically drop in , hook up electrical ,
$ 1600
Here in Fl a must ,
Install of new is simple for a handy guy like me but if I run into a problem , maybe mfg ships a little low on Freon and has too be topped off ,
I'm having too call the guy , now he really gets me ,
What have you fellow boaters done , Not uncommon
Market place loaded with used R22 units cheap

[Coolerking]

417a.

[capn_billl]

https://www.marinaire.com/Marine-air...8aAuVVEALw_wcB

I bought one of these about 4 years ago.

I just dropped it in, the onboard gauges tell you if Freon is low. It arrived from factory with the correct amount, has worked fine ever since.

[Richard Kollmann]

Where in FL are you located?

[CHM]

You can still get R22. Its just expensive.

[capn_billl]

I'm on the west coast Ft Myers, but the guy i bought it from (i think it was mermaid air) is in Ft Lauderdale.

[Richard Kollmann]

Will I am too far away on east coast north. It is against regulations to sell you R22 but no rule against giving it to you. My Lauderdale address is no longer good.

[Scubaseas]

There are "drop in" replacements for R22. Like RS44b.
You can still buy R22 (new or recycled) with a MACS license from the EPA which is basically a simple exam. Unless Florida is different from Maine or NY. Never tried buying it in FL.
They no longer make R22 in the States and will completely phase it out by 2030.

[briblack]

Hawthorne Refrigeration in Ft. Lauderdale is good, the guy's a problem solver.

[wannacat]

Hawthorne is really good but doubt he has enough time to drive to Ft Myers and if you have enough money to pay him to do that you might just as well bite the bullet and buy a new one. Besides, you were already given a one year repreave to save money for it.

[zstine]

Any tech should be able to suck out the old R22 and put in 134a. They should even pay you for the R22 as it is in dmeand. There's no issue with your tech doing so. You can even add 134a to your system yourself and assuming there's no big leaks, it will work just fine with a mix of refrigerants. I did it to mine years ago, no issue. Auto parts store has the gas and adapter about $20... no issue until you go to dispose of it. mixed gas is not technically allowed and cannot be disposed of.

[PLANET EXPRESS]

I called ocean breeze in Stuart Florida they made me a unit to replace old one, same size with more btu. Love the unit have had no problems going on 3 years. Lots of stainless seems to be good quality unit that will last awhile.

[Scubaseas]

Originally Posted by zstine

Any tech should be able to suck out the old R22 and put in 134a. They should even pay you for the R22 as it is in dmeand. There's no issue with your tech doing so. You can even add 134a to your system yourself and assuming there's no big leaks, it will work just fine with a mix of refrigerants. I did it to mine years ago, no issue. Auto parts store has the gas and adapter about $20... no issue until you go to dispose of it. mixed gas is not technically allowed and cannot be disposed of.

Good luck getting someone to buy your R22.

R134a does not have the same thermal capacity as R22. It also uses a different oil (POE versus Mineral which most R22 systems had, PAG for some systems that started with R134a). R134a Systems need a drier, most R22 do not have one. Will it work? Sure. How long? How well?

[Coolerking]

134a in a r22 ac unit?
Please elaborate.
Wondering how you overcame the pressure switches.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Coolerking

134a in a r22 ac unit?
Please elaborate.
Wondering how you overcame the pressure switches.

I’m going to call bull n that 22-134 diatribe.