How Does Air Conditioning Refrigerant Phaseout Affect Me?

You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 877-389-2465. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will contain details on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts 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 running correctly, you can continue to keep it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on summertime cooling costs!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may lead to an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, because only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.

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

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. Because of that, it might also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Replace R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some brands have started 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 expenditure by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be forwarded on to you through your utility expenses.

Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly because of the reduced quantities available.

In addition to that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the warmest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is aging, we recommend installing a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a stress-free summer and may even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc provides many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 877-389-2465 to get started today with a free estimate.