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It's likely you've heard about eco-friendly upgrades for your home heating and cooling, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, a government grant offering up to £7,500 towards installing a heat pump. If so, and you're doing your research on heat pumps, the term R290 refrigerant has probably come up.
In this article, we’ll break down what R290 refrigerant is in simple terms, how it works inside your system, and why it’s a game-changer for efficient, planet-friendly cooling and heating.
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R290 refrigerant gas is propane, a natural hydrocarbon used in heat pumps, air conditioners and refrigeration systems. It serves as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP).
R290 boasts a GWP of just 3 which is far lower than many older gases. It also delivers excellent heat transfer efficiency. Systems using it consume less energy while complying with UK environmental regulations.
| Property | Value | What does this mean? |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Name | Propane | Natural hydrocarbon gas |
| Formula | C₃H₈ | Simple molecular structure |
| Global Warming Potential (GWP) | 3 | Very low environmental impact |
| Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) | 0 | No harm to ozone layer |
| Boiling Point | -42°C | Effective at low temperatures |
| Critical Temperature | 96.7°C | Supports wide operating range |
| Flammability | A3 (Highly flammable) | Requires safety-designed systems |
| Efficiency | High | Excellent heat transfer |
As briefly mentioned, R290 refrigerant is used in heat pumps, air conditioner and refrigeration systems to move heat from one place to another. In simple terms, it helps your system cool a room, warm a home, or keep food and drinks at the right temperature.
You’ll most often see it in newer, energy-efficient models designed to reduce environmental impact. Since R290 is a natural refrigerant with a low global warming potential, it is becoming a popular choice for modern heating and cooling technology.
It's also worth mentioning that it's used in a closed system, so it is sealed inside the unit and reused again and again. That means it does not get used up like fuel. instead, it keeps circulating to carry heat in and out of the system.
Common uses include:
Heat pumps.
Air conditioning units.
Commercial and domestic refrigeration.
Chillers and cooling cabinets.
R290 refrigerant circulates in a closed loop within your heat pump or air conditioner, absorbing heat from indoor air and releasing it outside. It starts as a low-pressure liquid that evaporates when warm air passes over the evaporator coils, turning into gas and cooling your space.
The compressor then squeezes this gas to raise its pressure and temperature, pushing it to the condenser coils where a fan blows outdoor air over it, releasing the heat. The high-pressure gas cools back into a liquid, expands through a valve and repeats the cycle for continuous efficient cooling or heating.
Key steps in the cycle:
Evaporation: R290 absorbs indoor heat and turns to gas.
Compression: Compressor pressurises the gas, making it hotter.
Condensation: Hot gas releases heat outside and becomes liquid.
Expansion: Liquid expands, drops pressure and restarts the loop.
R290 refrigerant offers several clear benefits which is why it became a popular choice in modern heat pumps and cooling systems. It combines strong performance with a lower environmental impact, making it a practical option for homeowners looking for efficiency and sustainability.
It also works well in systems designed to make the most of its natural properties, helping deliver reliable heating and cooling without the same environmental drawbacks as older refrigerants.
Below are some more advantages:
R290 has a very low global warming potential compared with many older refrigerants. That means it has far less impact on the climate if released into the atmosphere.
R290 transfers heat effectively which helps systems run efficiently. In practice, that can support lower energy use and better overall performance.
R290 is a natural refrigerant as it is derived from propane. This makes it an appealing alternative to synthetic gases used in older systems.
Since R290 has a low climate impact and does not harm the ozone layer, it is seen as a more environmentally responsible choice. That makes it well suited to modern low-carbon heating and cooling systems.
R290 is used in equipment designed specifically for it, where it can deliver dependable heating and cooling performance. This helps make it a practical option for newer, well-engineered systems.
R290 refrigerant has clear benefits, but it also has a few limitations worth understanding before you choose a system that uses it:
R290 is classified as a flammable refrigerant, so it must be handled carefully. Systems using it are designed with safety in mind, but installation and servicing should always be done by trained professionals.
Due to its flammability, systems often have limits on how much R290 can be used in one unit. This can affect the design and size of the equipment.
R290 systems cannot be fitted or serviced in the same casual way as some older refrigerants. They need installers who understand the gas and follow the correct safety procedures.
Some older units or larger commercial applications may not be designed for R290. That means it is mainly used in equipment made specifically for it.
If you already have an older system, switching to R290 is not always straightforward. In many cases, you would need a new unit rather than a simple refrigerant change.
| Feature | R290 | R32 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Natural refrigerant (propane) | Synthetic refrigerant |
| Global warming potential | Very low | Lower than many older gases, but higher than R290 |
| Efficiency | High | High |
| Flammability | Flammable | Mildly flammable |
| Common use | Heat pumps, air conditioning, refrigeration | Heat pumps and air conditioning |
| Environmental impact | Lower | Lower than older refrigerants, but not as low as R290 |
It’s helpful to compare R290 and with another refrigerant known as R32, so you can see how they differ in efficiency, safety and environmental impact.
R290 and R32 are both used in modern heating and cooling systems, but they are not the same. R290 has a much lower environmental impact (as we've covered), while R32 is often seen as a practical step up from older refrigerants because it is efficient and already widely used.
The main difference is that R290 is a natural refrigerant with a very low global warming potential, while R32 is a synthetic option that still has a higher climate impact. Both are flammable so they must be used in systems designed and installed with care.
R290 is often chosen for its stronger environmental credentials, while R32 is sometimes preferred because it is more established in the market.
Several leading heat pump brands now use R290 refrigerant in their modern, eco-friendly models. These systems are designed to take full advantage of R290's low GWP and high efficiency.
You will find R290 in both air source and ground source heat pumps from manufacturers focused on sustainable heating solutions:
Popular heat pump brands using R290:
Vaillant – their Arotherm series features R290 for efficient home heating.
Grant UK – Aerona R32 models incorporate R290 technology.
Rinnai – selected low-carbon heat pumps use R290 refrigerant.
Panasonic – newer Aquarea models with R290 for UK installations.
Mitsubishi Electric – some Ecodan units optimised for R290 performance.
As one of the UK's leading heat pump installers, Glow Green proudly fits the Vaillant aroTHERM plus. Contact us today for answers to your questions and a free, no-obligation quote.
R290 refrigerant is safe when used in modern systems designed specifically for it with built-in safety features and proper installation by certified professionals.
R290 improves energy efficiency through better heat transfer, which can lower your running costs compared to older refrigerants, especially in well-insulated homes.
Heat pumps using R290 qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant of up to £7,500, as long as they meet the scheme's efficiency and installation standards.
R290 leaks are rare in sealed systems, but if one occurs, it dissipates quickly due to its natural properties. Professional servicing ensures any issues are addressed promptly.
Retrofitting R290 into older systems is not recommended or usually possible, as it requires equipment specifically engineered for its properties and safety requirements.
