You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Reinholds, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 717-216-0846. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will have details on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling fine, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can create difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, as only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. Because of that, it could also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be passed on to you through your energy costs.
County Line Mechanical LLC Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant-related repairs can be pricier due to the restricted amounts available.
Aside from that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing many other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and may even reduce your cooling expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, County Line Mechanical LLC offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 717-216-0846 to begin right away with a free estimate.