You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was put in, it may need 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, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 256-270-1196. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will include information on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling costs!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may lead to difficulties if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, as only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it requires a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a result, it may also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be sent on to you through your utility expenses.
Bain Heating & Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you need repairs. But as we went over previously, repairs connected to refrigerant may be more expensive because of the reduced quantities available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re receiving a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and could even reduce your cooling expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Bain Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 256-270-1196 to get started right away with a free estimate.
