Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner operates, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, because of the chemicals it contains.

Based on when your air conditioner was installed, it may require R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Hodgenville, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 270-358-3167. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is found outside your home. This sticker will include info on what model of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

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

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may lead to difficulties if you require air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, as only limited levels of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it needs an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to create global warming. As a result, it might also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been mandated 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 companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy consumption by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be forwarded on to you through your cooling costs.

Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you need repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant repairs may be pricier because of the low quantities that are accessible.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually stops working at the worst time, typically on the muggiest 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 lower your cooling costs, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Phelps Heating & Cooling, Inc. provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 270-358-3167 to begin now with a free estimate.