You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Huffman, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at (832) 501-3419. You can also look at the nameplate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what type of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its creation and import in January 2020.
I Have an R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It varies. If your air conditioning is working correctly, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run for around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes 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 could cause a problem if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for the refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier since only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. As it needs a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still can create global warming. As a result, it might also ultimately be phased out. 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 for the discontinuation, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified as low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your electrical expenses.
Air Houston Mechanical LLC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the changes to the air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you need repairs. But as we mentioned beforehand, refrigerant repairs can be more expensive since there are limited amounts available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently breaks down at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a phased-out refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and might even decrease your electrical costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Air Houston Mechanical LLC offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at (832) 501-3419 to begin now with a free estimate.
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