You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Muldrow, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 918-212-8943. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It varies. If your air conditioning is operating fine, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work 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 bills!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may lead to an issue if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be pricier, as only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. Because of that, it might also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by about 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 cooling expenses.
Air Service Co. Can Help 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, repairs connected to refrigerant can be more expensive since there are the low amounts available.
Not to mention, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we recommend getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and can even lower your utility bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Air Service Co. offers many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 918-212-8943 to begin today with a free estimate.
