You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Arlington, plus how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by calling us at 360-255-5857. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your residence. This sticker will have information on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also called R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in 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 working as designed, you can continue to keep it. With annual air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning 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 yearly cooling expenses!
If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it could create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs could be more expensive, as only reduced levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the phaseout of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it requires a varying pressure level, it doesn’t work with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the potential to create global warming. As a consequence, it may 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 phaseout, some companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy expenditure by approximately 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 electrical bills.
Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you require repairs. But as we mentioned previously, repairs connected to refrigerant could be more costly since there are the reduced levels available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re receiving lots of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a hassle-free summer and can even reduce your utility costs, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated air conditioner. Plus, Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 360-255-5857 to get started now with a free estimate.