You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it has to have refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Bloomfield, plus how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 812-825-8695. You can also check the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what type of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, barred 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 operating properly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting 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 could create difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, as only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it needs a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a result, it could also sometime be discontinued. 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 of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your electrical costs.
Stanford Heating & Cooling Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you need repairs. But as we mentioned beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs could be more expensive because of the reduced amounts that are accessible.
In addition to that, your air conditioner typically breaks down at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re experiencing many other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and may even reduce your energy bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Stanford Heating & Cooling provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 812-825-8695 to begin right away with a free estimate.