You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Thedford, plus how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 519-296-4437. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will have information on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

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

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

It depends. If your air conditioning is operating correctly, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling expenses!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might cause a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, as only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it requires a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it might also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

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

In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by approximately 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 utility costs.

Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant repairs might be more costly due to the reduced quantities that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we recommend upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and could even decrease your electrical costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 519-296-4437 to begin right away with a free estimate.