You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it needs refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.
Based on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Florissant, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 314-325-7552. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will contain info on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, banned its production 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 running fine, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause difficulties if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, as only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. As it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. Because of that, it might also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed 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 brands have begun 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 reduces energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your energy costs.
B & B Heating & Cooling Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant repairs can be more costly since there are the restricted quantities that are accessible.
Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re receiving a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and can even lower your utility expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, B & B Heating & Cooling provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 314-325-7552 to begin right away with a free estimate.