You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.
Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Temple/Belton , plus how these phaseouts impact 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 learn if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 254-307-9572. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will have details on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also called R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for 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 manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It depends. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling bills!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it might lead to an issue if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, because only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the discontinuation of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. As a result, it could also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be sent on to you through your cooling bills.
Bell Air Conditioning Inc Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you require repairs. But as we talked about beforehand, refrigerant repairs might be more costly due to the reduced amounts available.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re receiving a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and can even decrease your cooling bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Bell Air Conditioning Inc offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 254-307-9572 to get started now with a free estimate.