You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.
Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Mechanicsburg, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 717-220-4502. You can also check the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to run it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to last around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it could lead to difficulties if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be higher-priced, since only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it requires a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a result, it might also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your electrical costs.
H & H Service Company Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant-related repairs may be more costly since there are the low amounts available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and might even reduce your utility bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, H & H Service Company provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 717-220-4502 to begin right away with a free estimate.