Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your house cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, 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 go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in South Beloit and Belvidere, as well as how these phaseouts affect 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 discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 877-389-2465. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will include details on what kind of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also called R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls 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 fine, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work 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 costs!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it might create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be higher-priced, since only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the potential to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it could also eventually 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 initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your energy costs.

Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you have to have repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant-related repairs may be pricier due to the restricted amounts available.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and can even lower your utility bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 877-389-2465 to begin right away with a free estimate.