You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, 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 Yukon, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 405-494-7444. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will contain information on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 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 creation and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It varies. If your air conditioning is running as designed, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling expenses!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, since only limited quantities 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 developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it calls for a different pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. As a result, it might also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the phaseout, some manufacturers have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your cooling bills.
Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help 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 discussed earlier, refrigerant repairs may be more expensive since there are the low levels that are accessible.
Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re getting a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise getting a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and might even lower your cooling expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Comfort Concepts Heating & Air Conditioning offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 405-494-7444 to get started today with a free estimate.
