Random AC question

If your hoses are pristine, you can keep using them. I recall that R-134A leaks a bit more than R-12 since a smaller molecule, which is one reason they switched to "barrier hose" which has an inner plastic liner. HC refrigerants are mostly a propane-butane mixture which might be a smaller molecule than R-12. At $10/can it won't be pricey if you have to add some every few years, vs R-12 which runs $100/can when you can find it. HC refrigerants work fine with the existing mineral oil from R-12. Not true for R-134A where you must totally flush the system and use PAG oil (or PAO 68, there was an Ester oil which worked w/ leftover traces of mineral oil). A few states or localities outlaw HC refrigerant, but I can buy in California. Duracool used to ship from Canada, but now stocks it in the States. If you have to vent some HC, that will be the same impact on the planet as a cow fart, which is actually a significant climate concern. Re safety, home refrigerators in Germany have used HC refrigerant for decades and no reported fire in the millions of cars using it for many decades. The EPA is cagey on HC refrigerant, still "considering the safety", for 30 years now. Absurdly, they require first converting to R-134A before converting to HC. Check there is no EPA drone watching you if doing at home and you go straight from R-12 to HC.