Are Air Conditioning Refrigerants Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your home cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, since it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Crown Point, plus how these phaseouts have on influence on 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 has it by calling us at 219-292-0956. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its creation and import in January 2020.

I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?

It varies. If your air conditioning is cooling as designed, 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 notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!

If you don’t get a new air conditioner, it can cause a problem if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, as only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.

With the phaseout of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it needs a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with 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 sometime be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some manufacturers have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming possibility—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by about 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that might be passed on to you through your utility expenses.

Struven Heating & Cooling Can Help with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you a whole lot until you need repairs. But as we discussed earlier, refrigerant repairs may be more expensive because of the restricted quantities on hand.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re receiving a lot of other requests for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and might even reduce your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Struven Heating & Cooling provides many financing programs to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 219-292-0956 to start today with a free estimate.