Refrigerant Piping

Refrigerant piping refers to the system of pipes that facilitates the circulation of refrigerant between key components of a refrigeration or air conditioning system—such as compressors, condensers, evaporators, and expansion valves. This piping network is critical to the operation and efficiency of HVAC systems, ensuring that heat is effectively absorbed and released as part of the cooling or heating process.

In the HVAC industry, copper is the preferred material for refrigerant piping due to its excellent thermal conductivity, ease of installation, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness compared to other high-strength alternatives like stainless steel. Refrigerant piping is generally classified into two categories based on strength and application: Soft piping, which is more flexible and typically used in low-capacity HVAC units, and Hard piping, which is rigid and designed to withstand the demands of high-capacity systems. The choice between the two depends on system requirements, installation conditions, and performance expectations.