You might not think much about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, because of the chemicals it contains.

Subject to when your air conditioner was put in, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Lake Worth, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner has it by contacting us at 561-533-6066. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will have info on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that leads to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling correctly, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can create an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be pricier, as only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Since it calls for a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it could also eventually be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy use by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be passed on to you through your cooling costs.

Smyth Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we went over beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant may be pricier because of the restricted levels that are accessible.

Not to mention, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a trouble-free summer and can even reduce your utility costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Smyth Air Conditioning provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 561-533-6066 to begin now with a free estimate.