You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.
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 Ames, 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 possibly uses Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 515-450-8739. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will include information on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, barred its creation 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 properly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting 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 create an issue if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, since only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end 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 strong. Because it needs an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a result, it could also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been communicated 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 initiated 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 lowers 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.
Haselhoff Air Solutions Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we discussed earlier, refrigerant-related repairs might be pricier because of the reduced amounts available.
Aside from that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and may even lower your electrical expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Haselhoff Air Solutions offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 515-450-8739 to begin now with a free estimate.