The terms refrigerant and Freon are frequently used interchangeably by homeowners, but there is a distinct technical difference regarding chemical classification and brand ownership. "Refrigerant" is the broad, generic term used to describe any working fluid or chemical compound—such as R-22, R-410A, or R-134a—utilized inside heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems to absorb and release heat through phase changes from liquid to gas. Conversely, "Freon" is actually a specific registered trademark brand name owned by the Chemours Company (formerly DuPont) for a particular family of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants like R-22. Because older CFC refrigerants deplete the Earth's ozone layer, their production has been heavily phased out under international environmental agreements. You can verify types by checking equipment data plates.
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