You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Lake Worth, 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 likely contains Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by reaching us at 561-533-6066. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will have information on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It depends. If your air conditioning is operating correctly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run 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 bills!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it might cause an issue if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, because only small levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it requires an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it might also sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers 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 utility bills.
Smyth Air Conditioning Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant-related repairs can be pricier due to the restricted levels available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner typically malfunctions at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we recommend installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and can even decrease your electrical expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Smyth Air Conditioning offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 561-533-6066 to start now with a free estimate.