You might not think often about how your air conditioner works, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may use 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, plus how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 734-284-1224. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include information on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has 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 manages 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 running fine, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to run 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 expenses!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might create difficulties if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, because only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it requires a varying 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 may also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy use by about 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 cooling bills.
Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you need repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant repairs can be more costly because of the restricted levels available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re getting lots of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a stress-free summer and can even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 734-284-1224 to start now with a free estimate.
