You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Savage, 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 probably has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 952-373-0377. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its creation and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It varies. If your air conditioning is operating correctly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
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 could be more expensive, as only reduced quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it needs a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a result, it could also sometime be ended. 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 discontinuation, some brands have started 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 decreases energy consumption by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your energy bills.
Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant repairs might be more costly due to the restricted quantities available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re receiving a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we advise installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and might even lower your utility costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning has many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 952-373-0377 to get started today with a free estimate.
