You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Savage, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 952-373-0377. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will have details on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.

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

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It varies. If your air conditioning is operating as designed, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can create difficulties if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. As it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a result, it may also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have begun 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 reduces energy expenditure by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be sent on to you through your utility expenses.

Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you have to have repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly due to the low amounts on hand.

Aside from that, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and may even lower your utility costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 952-373-0377 to begin now with a free estimate.