You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.
Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Pacheco, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 925-233-6238. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your house. This sticker will contain details on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates refrigerants in the United States, banned its production and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It differs. If your air conditioning is working fine, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to work 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 get a new air conditioner, it may lead to an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, as only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the discontinuation of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it requires a different pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. Because of that, it may also sometime be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated 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 begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy use by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be sent on to you through your utility bills.
Clean Air HVAC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In summary, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant-related repairs may be more costly because of the restricted levels on hand.
Not to mention, your air conditioner frequently malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and could even decrease your cooling costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Clean Air HVAC has many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 925-233-6238 to get started today with a free estimate.