You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it requires refrigerant to keep your house fresh. This refrigerant is bound by environmental regulation, as it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll go over the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Haines City, in addition to how these phaseouts impact you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Phased Out?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 863-216-2923. You can also look at the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also called R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider this chemical to be bad for 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 Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is operating as designed, you can continue to keep it. With regular 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 costs!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be more expensive, as only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the end of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it needs a varying pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it may also eventually be ended. 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 manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming likelihood—about 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 may be passed on to you through your utility expenses.

Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you need repairs. But as we went over earlier, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly due to the restricted amounts that are accessible.

In addition to that, your air conditioner often stops working at the worst time, typically on the muggiest day when we’re receiving many other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we recommend getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a hassle-free summer and can even decrease your utility expenses, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. offers many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 863-216-2923 to get started right away with a free estimate.