You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.

Subject to 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 Fredericksburg, plus how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 540-675-4306. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will contain information on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.

Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful 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.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, 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 says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling bills!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it might create difficulties if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, as only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. As it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. As a result, it might also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be sent on to you through your energy bills.

Childress Heating & AC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant repairs might be more costly due to the low levels on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re receiving lots of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we advise getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and might even reduce your utility bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Childress Heating & AC has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 540-675-4306 to get started today with a free estimate.