Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.

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 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 likely has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 877-389-2465. 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 referred to as R-22, has 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, barred its manufacture and import in January 2020.

Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?

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

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it may create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, as only reduced quantities 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 healthy. As it calls for a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it may also eventually be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be sent on to you through your cooling costs.

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

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you require repairs. But as we went over beforehand, refrigerant repairs may be pricier since there are the restricted quantities available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, often on the muggiest day when we’re getting many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we suggest upgrading to an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and can even decrease your utility costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc has many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 877-389-2465 to begin now with a free estimate.