Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Brookfield, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

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

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 203-357-5913. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will contain details on what type of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical 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 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 properly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might lead to difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, as only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. As it needs a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

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

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by about 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 energy expenses.

Central Air LLC Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you need repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant can be pricier because of the reduced levels available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing many other requests 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 delivers a trouble-free summer and might even lower your electrical costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Central Air LLC provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 203-357-5913 to start now with a free estimate.