You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.
Based on when your air conditioner was put in, 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 East Bernard, plus how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 979-335-4262. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will contain information on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It varies. If your air conditioning is operating fine, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause difficulties if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, since only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. As 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 contribute to global warming. Because of that, it might also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your cooling expenses.
E.B. Air Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant repairs may be more expensive because of the reduced amounts on hand.
In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re receiving lots of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and may even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, E.B. Air has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 979-335-4262 to get started right away with a free estimate.