Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.

Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may use 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 affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 203-357-5913. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.

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 leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run 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 create a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, as only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. As it requires an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. Because of that, it could also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified 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 may be sent on to you through your utility bills.

Central Air LLC Can Help 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 discussed beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant can be pricier due to the reduced amounts that are accessible.

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

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and can even decrease your electrical expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Central Air LLC has many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 203-357-5913 to get started now with a free estimate.