You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Wyandotte, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 734-284-1224. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.

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

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is running as designed, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning 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 create difficulties if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, as only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it requires a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. Because of that, it might also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your cooling expenses.

Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant repairs can be pricier since there are the low levels available.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re getting lots of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we suggest getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and can even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 734-284-1224 to start today with a free estimate.