You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Mechanicsburg, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 717-220-4502. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will have info on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It varies. If your air conditioning is operating properly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate 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 bills!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may create an issue if you require air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, as only limited amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

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

However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. Because of that, it could also eventually be ended. 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 phaseout, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your utility bills.

H & H Service Company Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs may be pricier since there are the reduced amounts on hand.

In addition to that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re getting many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we advise installing an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and could even lower your electrical expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, H & H Service Company offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 717-220-4502 to begin right away with a free estimate.