You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, 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 Wyandotte, in addition to 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 possibly uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 734-284-1224. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling bills!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, because only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it may also eventually 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 end, 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 lowers energy use by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be forwarded on to you through your energy expenses.
Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly since there are the reduced amounts that are accessible.
Aside from that, your air conditioner typically malfunctions at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re getting a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and can even reduce your cooling costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 734-284-1224 to begin right away with a free estimate.
