Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

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

Depending 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 Brookfield, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 203-357-5913. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will have info on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production 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 as designed, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might cause difficulties if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, because only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. Because of that, it could also sometime be discontinued. 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 end, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your utility costs.

Central Air LLC Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we went over previously, refrigerant repairs may be pricier because of the low levels on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re getting lots of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and could even decrease your utility bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Central Air LLC provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 203-357-5913 to start right away with a free estimate.