kay.

 

R134a is CFC free.

 

EPA requires all my techs to have a license and all our refridgerant machine serial numbers must be on file with them. $10,000 fine per repair can be levied for violations.

 

My understanding is this new stuff is safe for the atmosphere that is why it replaced the old R-12.

 

Excerpts from THE CLEAN AIR ACT 1990-SECTION 609
Full text at http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/title6/609/justfax.html

TECHNICIAN TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

Before the final rule is published and goes into effect, technicians repairing or servicing HFC-134a MVACs do not need to be trained and certified to handle HFC-134a. After the effective date of the rule, however, technicians who repair or service HFC-134a MVACs must be trained and certified by an EPA-approved organization. If a technician is already trained and certified to handle CFC-12, he will not need to be re certified to handle HFC-134a.

RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS

Service shops must certify to the EPA that they own approved HFC-134a equipment

SALES RESTRICTIONS

At the time of publishing, there is no restriction on the sale of HFC-134a, so anyone may purchase it. The EPA will issue a proposed rule under section 608 of the Act that will include a proposal to restrict the sale of HFC-134a so that only technicians certified under sections 608 and 609 may purchase it. After the proposed rule is published, the EPA will review comments from the public on the proposal and will then publish a final rule sometime in late 1998.

 

Atmosphere is one thing, humans are another. The warning label states "Vapor will reduce the amount of oxygen available for breathing, can cause rapid suffocation. Inhalation of product can result in series injury or death. May decompose in contact with hot metal surfaces, to release toxic, corrosive decompostion products. Do not vent contents to the atmosphere...etc etc..."

The chemical in R134a is Tetrafluoroethane if anyone wishes to google it.

 

I think the reason Walmart can sell these is the quantity in the can. We buy 30 containers at a time that have 30 lbs of freon in each one. There is probably a cutoff as to who needs a license to buy or sell, based on amount purchased, but I'm not positive. I would think that Walmarts legal department is on top of their game on what they can and can't sell.

 

those cans do work sort of I have used it on my Blazer a few times last summer but you are better off going to a real certified shop to have it done. If I remember right one valve is the lowe pressur side and the other is the High Pressure. Which would be very bad to hook up to. To do it the right way you need to drain out all the old crap. it will never be as cold as a shop can get it

 

Wait a dog gone minute... I'm pretty sure that is the same stuff I read on the label of the can of computer air duster I have at work, that I'm always blasting my keyboard with. Seriously. Tetraflouroethane. It was definitely tetraflouro-something. Yikes.

 

Lone Ranger, can of 3M Dust Remover I have says difluoroethane ------vapors may ignite, use only with adequate ventilation.(also made in China) Is any thing safe these days? might as well go back to smoking and drinking!