Refrigerant Gas Types Guide Kenya

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Al Faisal HVAC · Technical Guide · Kenya Technicians

Refrigerant Gas Types Guide Kenya —
R22, R32 & R410A Compared

A practical comparison of the refrigerants used in Kenya’s AC market — what each gas is, which systems use it, how to handle it correctly, and why you cannot mix them. Written for Kenyan HVAC technicians and importers.

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Kenya’s AC market runs on four refrigerants simultaneously — R22 in the older installed base, R410A in the current residential generation, R32 in newer premium inverter systems, and R134a in refrigerators and vehicle AC. A Kenyan HVAC technician working across the full range of residential and commercial systems will encounter all four in a typical working week.

The fundamental rule is that refrigerants are not interchangeable. Each has different operating pressures, different oil requirements, different service tools, and different charging procedures. Adding the wrong refrigerant to a system — or mixing refrigerant types — produces a circuit that cannot be accurately serviced and that will damage the compressor over time. This guide covers what distinguishes each refrigerant, which systems use it, and the handling differences that matter for Kenyan workshop practice.

💡 Always confirm the refrigerant type from the outdoor unit nameplate before any service. Do not assume the refrigerant type from the AC brand, age or appearance. The nameplate on the outdoor unit states the refrigerant type and the exact factory charge weight — this is the authoritative reference for any refrigerant service work. A unit that looks like an R410A system may be R32. A unit assumed to be R22 because of its age may have been previously converted. Always read the nameplate.

The Four Refrigerants — Side-by-Side Comparison

Property R22 R410A R32 R134a
Type HCFC — single component HFC blend (R32+R125) HFC — single component HFC — single component
Flammability A1 — non-flammable A1 — non-flammable A2L — mildly flammable A1 — non-flammable
Operating pressure (high side, Kenya) 180–240 PSI 300–430 PSI 320–450 PSI 150–220 PSI
Compressor oil Mineral / alkylbenzene POE (polyolester) POE (polyolester) Mineral / POE (depends)
Charging method Vapour — upright cylinder Liquid — inverted cylinder Vapour or liquid Vapour — upright cylinder
GWP 1,810 2,088 675 1,430
Phase-down status Being phased out — supply tightening Phase-down underway globally Current — growing market share Stable for service market
Kenya market role Large installed base service Current residential standard New premium inverter systems Refrigerators & vehicle AC

R22 — Kenya’s Service Market Backbone

R22 is the refrigerant that built Kenya’s AC installed base through the 1990s and 2000s. Every split AC, window unit and commercial system installed in Kenya during those decades runs on R22 — and a significant proportion of those systems are still operating. The service demand for R22 is not driven by new installations (none are manufactured for R22) but by the enormous installed base of operating R22 equipment that requires ongoing maintenance.

R22’s key handling characteristic is its simplicity — single-component, vapour-phase charging from an upright cylinder, compatible with standard R22 manifold gauges. The main service risk with R22 in 2026 is supply volatility — global production is declining and spot pricing fluctuates. Kenyan workshops with commercial building service contracts running on R22 should plan their R22 stock proactively rather than buying on demand.

R22 Refrigerant Kenya — pricing & supply →

R410A — The Current Residential Standard

R410A replaced R22 as the standard refrigerant in residential AC globally — and in Kenya, every current-generation residential split AC from LG, Samsung, Midea, Haier and Gree runs on R410A. It is the highest-volume refrigerant in the Kenyan service market by a significant margin.

The critical handling difference from R22 is the charging method. R410A is a blend of two refrigerants (R32 and R125) with different vapour pressures — charging R410A as vapour from an upright cylinder causes fractionation, where R32 enters the system disproportionately and the blend composition in the cylinder changes with each charge. Always invert the R410A cylinder and charge liquid. R410A also requires high-pressure manifold gauges (750 PSI high side minimum) — standard R22 gauges are not safe or accurate for R410A service.

R410A Refrigerant Kenya — wholesale pricing →

R32 — The New Inverter Standard

R32 is a single-component HFC refrigerant with a global warming potential of 675 — significantly lower than R410A’s 2,088. This lower GWP is driving the industry transition from R410A to R32 in new equipment, led by Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and Panasonic — all of whom have moved their current residential ranges to R32. Premium Midea and Gree inverter models are also increasingly R32.

R32 is A2L — mildly flammable — which requires specific precautions in enclosed spaces but presents minimal practical risk in outdoor and rooftop service work. Unlike R410A, R32 is single-component and can be charged as vapour from an upright cylinder without fractionation risk — though weight-based charging is still the correct method for inverter systems where the nameplate specifies an exact gram charge.

R32 Refrigerant Kenya — safety & pricing →

The Handling Differences That Matter Most for Kenyan Technicians

Manifold gauge compatibility

R22 gauges work only for R22 — the pressure range and P-T scales are calibrated for R22 specifically. R410A requires high-pressure gauges (750 PSI high side). R32 operates at similar pressures to R410A and can use R410A-rated gauges if they are A2L-rated. R134a requires its own lower-pressure gauge set. A workshop servicing all four refrigerants needs four compatible gauge sets or carefully matched multi-refrigerant gauges.

Oil compatibility

R22 systems use mineral or alkylbenzene oil. R410A and R32 systems use POE (polyolester) oil. These oils are not compatible — mixing POE oil into an R22 system, or introducing mineral oil into an R410A or R32 system, creates a mixture that loses lubricating effectiveness over time. When replacing a compressor, confirm the oil type for the system’s refrigerant and use only the correct oil specification.

Moisture sensitivity

POE oil (used in R410A and R32 systems) is far more hygroscopic than mineral oil — it absorbs atmospheric moisture rapidly. Any R410A or R32 system opened for service must be evacuated thoroughly before charging, and compressors must stay in sealed packaging until the moment of installation. In Mombasa’s coastal humidity, the moisture ingress risk during service is higher than in Nairobi — shorter open-circuit times and triple evacuation are the correct standard.

Weight-based charging

R22 can be charged by pressure in fixed-speed systems with reasonable accuracy in stable ambient conditions. R410A in inverter systems and all R32 systems must be charged by weight — the nameplate specifies the exact charge in grams and this is the only reliable reference. Pressure charging on an inverter system produces different results at different ambient temperatures and different compressor speeds, making it fundamentally inaccurate for inverter AC.

⚠️ Never mix refrigerant types — the consequences are always worse than the time saved

Adding R410A to a system containing R22 — or any other refrigerant combination — creates a mixture with an undefined pressure-temperature relationship that cannot be accurately serviced. The existing refrigerant must be fully recovered and the refrigerant type confirmed before any charge is added. If the system’s refrigerant history is unknown, recover everything, pressure-test for leaks, evacuate fully, and recharge with the refrigerant type specified on the outdoor unit nameplate. There is no shortcut here that does not ultimately cost more than doing it correctly.

Quick Reference — Which Refrigerant for Which System in Kenya

R22 systems in Kenya

All split AC and window units installed before approximately 2010. Commercial cassette and ducted systems in older Nairobi office buildings. Older hotel window AC throughout Kenya. Hitachi, LG, Samsung, Carrier, Daikin and most brands from this era.

R410A systems in Kenya

Current and recent LG, Samsung, Midea, Haier and Gree residential split AC. Most Hitachi and Carrier commercial systems from 2010 onward. Older Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric inverter systems (pre-R32 transition).

R32 systems in Kenya

Current Daikin residential (Smile, FTKF series). Current Mitsubishi Electric residential. Current Panasonic Aero Series. Premium Midea and Gree inverter models. Verify from outdoor unit nameplate — R32 adoption is growing but not universal across all brands.

R134a systems in Kenya

All domestic refrigerators and freezers. Supermarket display cabinets and bottle coolers. Automotive AC in virtually all Japanese-origin vehicles in Kenya’s fleet (Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Isuzu). Some medium-temperature cold room condensing units.

🌍 Al Faisal — All Four Refrigerant Types for Kenya

R22 · R410A · R32 · R134a — one consolidated Kenya shipment

DG Class 2 documentation prepared — weekly LCL sea freight Jebel Ali → Mombasa


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Frequently Asked Questions

Can R32 replace R410A in an existing R410A system?

No. R32 and R410A are different refrigerants with different pressure-temperature relationships, different charge weights, and different oil compatibility requirements. R410A is a blend of R32 and R125 — they are chemically related but operationally distinct. Adding pure R32 to an R410A system changes the blend ratio and produces a mixture that behaves differently from either pure refrigerant. The only correct refrigerant for an R410A system is R410A, and the only correct refrigerant for an R32 system is R32. If a system refrigerant type is ever in doubt, recover all refrigerant, identify the type with a refrigerant identifier, and recharge with the correct type to the nameplate specification.

Why is R410A being phased out if it is not ozone-depleting like R22?

R22 is being phased out because it depletes the ozone layer — it is an HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon). R410A does not deplete the ozone layer — it is an HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) — but it has a very high global warming potential (GWP) of 2,088, meaning that one kilogram of R410A released to atmosphere has the same warming effect as 2,088 kilograms of CO2 over 100 years. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol targets HFCs with high GWP for phase-down globally. R32, with a GWP of 675, is the transition refrigerant that replaces R410A in new residential AC equipment. For Kenya’s service market, R410A remains available and in widespread use — the phase-down affects new equipment manufacturing, not the existing installed base.

What should a Kenyan workshop stock as minimum refrigerant inventory?

A Kenyan HVAC workshop servicing residential and light commercial AC should maintain minimum stock of: R22 in sufficient quantity to cover the service requirements of the R22 installed base in their service area (this varies significantly by location and client base), R410A in adequate quantity for the current-generation residential installed base (typically the highest-volume requirement), R32 in workshop cylinder quantities for servicing the growing premium inverter segment, and R134a if the workshop also services domestic refrigeration and vehicle AC. The right quantities depend on service volume — a good starting point is three months of anticipated consumption in each type, refined as actual turnover data develops from experience.

Related Pages

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