You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, since 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 discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Booneville, plus how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has 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 contain details on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling fine, you can continue to use it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, because only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a result, it could also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers 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 energy expenses.
Booneville Heating & Cooling Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant-related repairs might be more expensive due to the reduced quantities on hand.
Not to mention, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting many other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we advise installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and could even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Booneville Heating & Cooling offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 662-269-8716 to get started now with a free estimate.
