You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your house cool. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, because of the chemicals it contains.
Depending on when your air conditioner was put in, 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 Haines City, in addition to how these phaseouts affect you.
What’s R-22 and Why is It Phased Out?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it possibly has Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 863-216-2923. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your residence. This sticker will have details on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, includes chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that contributes to global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It varies. If your air conditioning is working properly, you can continue to run it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that removing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on annual cooling expenses!
If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it could create an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, as only small quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the phaseout of R-22, a lot of new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also known as R-410A, this refrigerant was developed to keep the ozone layer strong. Because it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been announced yet for residential air conditioners, it’s expected sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the end, some brands have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by about 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 energy bills.
Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the changes to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about earlier, repairs connected to refrigerant might be more expensive because of the reduced quantities on hand.
Aside from that, your air conditioner often malfunctions at the worst time, often on the warmest day when we’re receiving a lot of other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires a discontinued refrigerant or is aging, we suggest getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and could even decrease your energy bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 863-216-2923 to start right away with a free estimate.