You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.
Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Litchfield Park, plus how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 623-208-6444. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will have information on what model of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also called R-22, includes 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 governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC 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 get a new air conditioner, it might create difficulties if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, since only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. Because of that, it might also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—approximately 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 might be passed on to you through your utility expenses.
Cooler Tymes LLC Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we discussed earlier, refrigerant-related repairs might be pricier since there are the low quantities on hand.
Aside from that, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and could even lower your electrical expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Cooler Tymes LLC offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 623-208-6444 to get started today with a free estimate.