You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.

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

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses 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 house. This sticker will contain info on what model of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, barred its creation and import in January 2020.

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, 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 yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can lead to a problem if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, as only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it needs a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it could also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases 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 energy costs.

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 require repairs. But as we talked about earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant might be pricier because of the reduced amounts available.

Aside from that, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re getting a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and can even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Stephen Hurst Pack Heating and Cooling has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 740-474-5940 to start right away with a free estimate.