You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Booneville, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.

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

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 662-269-8716. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

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

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes 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 can cause an issue if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, as only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a result, it might also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be forwarded on to you through your energy expenses.

Booneville Heating & Cooling Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be pricier since there are the reduced levels that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner frequently breaks down at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re getting a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we recommend upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and might even lower your electrical costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Booneville Heating & Cooling provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 662-269-8716 to get started now with a free estimate.