I'm having a problem buying AC refrigerant to fix my crappy AC in my car. Everywhere on the board I read, it sounded easy to go out and buy a couple cans of R134a to just top mine off.

Unfortunately, up here in Canada where I live, everywhere I've called says I need a handling license to buy the stuff. All I can find is the crappy R12a "alternative" to buy. Is this a law that is only in Canada? And how would I even go about getting a license, and how much would it cost me?


-Dustin

 

Dont know about how much it would cost to licence in canada but 134A in Texas is only 5-6 dollars for a 12oz can and no licence needed. 134A is cfc free and there is no licence needed in the good ol USA. If you are running R12 then you cant top it off with 134 you need to retrofit the system or top off with the r12 alternative that they sell. Just wondering why you cant buy 134 if you can buy the R-12????

 

No, it's not actually R12, they just named it "R12a" because they wanted to ripoff the name from the Freon, even though it's another cheap knockoff.

My car has already been retrofitted, I just need to top it off with R134a. What I don't understand AT ALL is that the reason we switched to R134a is because it was safe for the environment, but then I still need a license to handle the stuff, because it might leak into the ozone? Dumb...

-Dustin

 

I don't know about Canada, but in the US, there are no Federal restrictions on the purchase of R134a. In a few places, some states have restricted it's sale to licensed technicians, like wisconsin, i believe, and california. I'm not certain on that. The best way to tell is to go to a parts store and ask them if you can buy it.

An interesting thing many folks don't know is that even if you live somewhere you can buy 134 without a license, it is still illegal to vent it out of your system into the atmosphere. 134 is safe for the ozone. Most people don't realize that "ozone safe" does not mean "environmentally friendly". R134a may not damage ozone, but it still contributes to global warming.

I don't know if this license would be good in canada, but you can get an ac license at www.imaca.org for $15, if you pass their test.


One other thing. If you have an R12 system with R12 in it, you can NOT top it off with an alternative. You can only top it off with R12. To use ANY alternative refrigerant, you must convert the system for use with that refrigerant. It is illegal to mix any refrigerants or refrigerant alternatives, and in most cases doing so will result in poor performance, accelerated component wear, or both.

 

My system has already been retrofitted to R134a. I did not know about releasing R134a being illegal though, that is interesting. Is there a correct procedure listed anywhere for collection of refrigerant?

I e-mailed the IMACA to see if their certificate is valid in Canada. My guess is that it is not. Would anybody else have any more info on this or perhaps any places to get certified for cheap?

-Dustin

 

Recovery of refrigerant requires a reclaimer or a recovery machine. They're pretty expensive machines, too expensive for a do it yourselfer to go out and purchase. Shops that do ac service can recover it for you, and then you can do the rest of your work yourself, too.

I can't recommend to anyone that they just go vent their system if they need it discharged, but if you're thinking about it, I can give you an interesting piece of info to think about.

The chemical name of R134a is 1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane. If you go to a store and buy a can of computer air duster, or an air horn, do you know what is in those aerosol cans? Pure 1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane. It is also used as an aerosol propellant in many, many other things.

Funny, eh? The government wants you to spend your hard earned cash paying a repair shop to recover tetrafluoroethane...the exact same thing gettting dumped right out into the air anytime someone uses an air duster, air horn, or most aerosol cans. Kinda makes you want to "recover" your refrigerant yourself then huh?

I'm not suggesting anyone should vent their ac, but what you do when no one is looking, is not my business.

another place that offers certifiications is www.epatest.com, but then again, that one also doesn't mention if it is a valid canadian certification

 

Many products use 134a as a propellant but none are pure. The air dusters contain mostly air and use the 134 to pressurize the can. Another interesting use in asthma inhalers.

134a is not as safe as once thought. Thats why a replacement is being sought. Thats also why some states and canda are restricting its purchase. Dont forget the risk of suffocation when "recovering" your 134a. The system should always be worked on in an open air environment.

To get a liscense i would try to find some information from this site. http://www.hrai.ca/

 

An ASE refrigerant recovery license should be good in canada, its only $15 and when I took it , it was a open book test, you need 24 correct out of 30

ASE