Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need 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 Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 540-675-4306. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will have info on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may lead to a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, because only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the phaseout 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 healthy. As it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it could also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption 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 costs.

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

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you need repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant repairs may be more expensive because of the reduced levels that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re getting many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and may even decrease your cooling 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.