You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Heflin, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 256-270-1196. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, as only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end of R-22, most new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. Because of that, it could also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your utility costs.

Bain Heating & Air Conditioning Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you need repairs. But as we discussed earlier, refrigerant-related repairs may be pricier because of the reduced quantities that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re getting a lot of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and may even decrease your electrical bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Bain Heating & Air Conditioning offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 256-270-1196 to begin today with a free estimate.