Gas R-404A is a refrigerant composed of a mixture of refrigerants based on hydrofluorocarbons (HFC); such as: trifluoroethane 52% (R-143A), pentafluoroethane 44% (R-125) and tetrafluoroethane 4% (R-134A). This gas is used to refrigerate cellars, home and commercial refrigerators, among other uses.
It is important to mention that the refrigerant gas R-404A is colorless; being commercialized and used since 1994 to completely replace the R-502 refrigerant gas and R-22 refrigerant gas on the market in 1995, as they are highly polluting gases.
Another element to consider is that R-404A refrigerant gas has extraordinary chemical stability; being classified as A1 group L1. Compared with the refrigerant gases R-502 and R-22, this gas has low levels of toxicity and explosiveness.
How to buy R-404A gas?
R-404A Gas is a refrigerant widely used in refrigeration components throughout Europe. However, the purchase of this type of refrigerant gas has been diminished as of last year by the EU Regulation 517/2014; which establishes gradually reducing the sale of this type of gas to the general public, until the total elimination of the use of this refrigerant before the year 2020.
Therefore, although this refrigerant gas continues to be available in the market; its use at a residential or commercial level will be prohibited from next year.
R-404A gas prices
Depending on the presentation of the container, the prices range from 70 euros to 900 euros approximately. In other words, if they are small packages from 790 gr to 1.7 Kg. The price varies between 77 and 96 euros; if they are 5 kg cylinders, the price is 169 euros; if they are 10 kg cylinders, the price is about 299 euros; while if they are cylinders of 30 Kg. the price is 897 euros.
Refrigerant gas R-404A
Although the refrigerant gas R-404A has an extraordinary chemical stability and was classified as A1 group L1, it is no less true that this type of gas experiences a high level of global warming (GWP); and, therefore, it generates a great environmental impact and emissions into the atmosphere.
In this sense, the main European industry associations, such as AREA, EPEE and EFCTC have agreed to alert the market and to inform the community about the need not to continue using this type of refrigerant. Therefore, they recommend changing refrigeration equipment in poor condition for new equipment that adapts to new technology.