You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Circleville, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 740-474-5940. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will contain info on what model of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to 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 creation and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It differs. If your air conditioning is operating as designed, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might cause difficulties if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, since only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. As it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it may also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by around 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 cooling expenses.

Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you need repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant repairs might be pricier due to the restricted amounts on hand.

In addition to that, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we advise getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and could even decrease your electrical expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 740-474-5940 to start right away with a free estimate.