You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Mount Hope, plus how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by calling us at 304-707-0600. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, barred its production 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 keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to last 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 costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it might cause difficulties if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, since only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Because it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your energy bills.

Appalachian Heating Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant-related repairs may be more costly since there are the reduced quantities available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and might even lower your cooling bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Appalachian Heating offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 304-707-0600 to begin right away with a free estimate.