You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.
Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Arlington, as well as how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it possibly uses Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by reaching us at 360-255-5857. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will include details on what kind of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It differs. If your air conditioning is cooling properly, you can continue to use it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that removing 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 might lead to a problem if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be more expensive, since only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the phaseout 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. Because it calls for a different 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. Because of that, it might also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s anticipated sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming potential—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy consumption by about 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.
Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you require repairs. But as we went over previously, refrigerant repairs may be more costly since there are the restricted amounts on hand.
Not to mention, your air conditioner typically malfunctions at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re receiving many other requests for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we suggest upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and might even decrease your electrical bills, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning has many financing options to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 360-255-5857 to start now with a free estimate.