How Does Air Conditioning Refrigerant Phaseout Affect Me?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, 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 discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Newton, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 641-316-9803. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will contain information on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 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, barred its production and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It depends. If your air conditioning is running properly, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might lead to a problem if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, as only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the end of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Because it needs 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 may also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected 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 rates low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your energy bills.

Brookwood Inc Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we discussed earlier, refrigerant repairs may be pricier because of the low amounts that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re experiencing lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and might even lower your electrical expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Brookwood Inc has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 641-316-9803 to begin today with a free estimate.