You might not think often about how your air conditioner functions, but it requires refrigerant to keep your residence cold. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was installed, it may need R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Haines City, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?
If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it probably contains Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner contains it by contacting us at 863-216-2923. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your home. This sticker will contain info on what type of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also called R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider R-22 to be damaging to the earth’s ozone layer and one that prompts global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its production and import in January 2020.
Should I Replace My R-22 Air Conditioner?
It differs. If your air conditioning is running fine, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy says that replacing 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 can lead to an issue if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be more expensive, as only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.
With the end of R-22, most new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. As it calls for a varying pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. Because of that, it might also ultimately be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.
What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?
In preparation of the discontinuation, some companies have started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming potential—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 could be forwarded on to you through your energy costs.
Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In brief, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you a whole lot until you require repairs. But as we discussed previously, refrigerant repairs can be more expensive since there are the restricted amounts available.
In addition to that, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, frequently on the hottest day when we’re receiving a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on an outdated refrigerant or is aging, we recommend getting a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and might even lower your electrical bills, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 863-216-2923 to get started now with a free estimate.