Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Zelienople, as well as how these phaseouts impact 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 uses it by calling us at 724-425-5852. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.

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

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might create a problem if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it could also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—around 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 utility expenses.

Knoechel Heating Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we discussed beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs may be more expensive since there are the restricted amounts available.

Not to mention, your air conditioner typically stops working at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re receiving lots of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and might even reduce your utility bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Knoechel Heating provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 724-425-5852 to begin now with a free estimate.