Which Air Conditioning Refrigerants Are Being Phased Out?

You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your home cold. This refrigerant is subject to environmental laws, as it contains chemicals.

Subject to when your air conditioner was installed, it may use 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 No Longer Being Made?

If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it probably has Freon®. You can find out if your air conditioner uses it by contacting us at 863-216-2923. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your home. This sticker will contain info on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains 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 governs refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its manufacture 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 properly, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to work around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it may cause an issue if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs may be pricier, since only reduced amounts 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 referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer in good shape. Because it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the likelihood to contribute to global warming. As a consequence, it could also sometime be phased out. Although it hasn’t been disclosed 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 started using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming potential—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that may be sent on to you through your utility expenses.

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

In summary, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t concern you very much until you require repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant repairs may be more expensive since there are the low amounts on hand.

Aside from that, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, frequently on the muggiest day when we’re experiencing lots of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise getting an up-to-date, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and might even reduce your utility costs, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. has many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 863-216-2923 to start now with a free estimate.