You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Belton, plus how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 816-249-1619. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling fine, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC 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 expenses!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it can create an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, because only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it might also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your cooling expenses.
Myers Furnace Company Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant repairs can be pricier due to the restricted quantities that are accessible.
Aside from that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re receiving lots of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and may even decrease your utility costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Myers Furnace Company has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 816-249-1619 to get started today with a free estimate.