You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was installed, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Fredericksburg, plus how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 540-675-4306. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will include info 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 leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It varies. If your air conditioning is running properly, 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 notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may cause difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, because only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it requires a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be discontinued. 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 phaseout, some companies have initiated 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 use 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 energy bills.
Childress Heating & AC Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you need repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant might be pricier because of the restricted quantities that are accessible.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re getting lots of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and may even decrease your utility expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Childress Heating & AC offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 540-675-4306 to get started right away with a free estimate.