You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Muldrow, in addition to how these phaseouts impact 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 find out if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 918-212-8943. You can also inspect 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 uses.
Freon, which is also called R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It depends. If your air conditioning is running as designed, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning 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 replace your air conditioner, it might cause difficulties if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, as only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it calls for a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a result, it may also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been announced yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—approximately 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 could be forwarded on to you through your energy expenses.
Air Service Co. Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we mentioned previously, repairs connected to refrigerant could be pricier due to the limited levels available.
Aside from that, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving lots of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we suggest installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and could even lower your energy bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Air Service Co. provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 918-212-8943 to start today with a free estimate.