You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Lansing, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 913-845-9463. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will include info on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might lead to a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it calls for a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. Because of that, it might also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy use by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be forwarded on to you through your cooling costs.
Everest Heating & Cooling Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we discussed previously, refrigerant repairs may be more expensive due to the restricted levels on hand.
Not to mention, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re getting many other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and may even reduce your cooling expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Everest Heating & Cooling has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 913-845-9463 to begin now with a free estimate.
