You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Troy, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on 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 reaching us at 937-558-9478. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will have details on what type of refrigerant your AC uses.

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

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

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

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may create a problem if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, as only limited levels 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. Because it calls for a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to 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 Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure 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 costs.

Edington Heating & Cooling Inc Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you require repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant-related repairs can be pricier due to the reduced quantities that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and can even lower your utility bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Edington Heating & Cooling Inc has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 937-558-9478 to get started today with a free estimate.