You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is bound by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.
Depending on when your air conditioner was installed, 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 Michigan City, in addition to how these phaseouts have on influence on you.
What’s R-22 and Why Is It No Longer Being Made?
If your air conditioner was added before 2010, it likely has Freon®. You can learn if your air conditioner has it by reaching us at 219-872-2198. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will include info on what kind of refrigerant your AC has.
Freon, which is also known as R-22, has chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be harmful to the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which controls refrigerants in the United States, barred its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?
It varies. If your air conditioning is running correctly, you can continue to keep it. With routine air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your air conditioning to work 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 expenses!
If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can cause a problem if you have to have air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, because only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is on hand.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now rely on Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer healthy. Because it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that need R-22 for cooling.
However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. As a consequence, it may also ultimately be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated 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 possibility—around one-third less than R-410A. And it also reduces energy consumption by about 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 cooling bills.
Paniccia Heating & Cooling Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you greatly until you have to have repairs. But as we talked about earlier, refrigerant repairs might be more expensive since there are the restricted quantities on hand.
Aside from that, your air conditioner usually breaks down at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re experiencing many other appointments for AC repair.
If your air conditioner relies on a discontinued refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise upgrading to a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a stress-free summer and could even reduce your cooling bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Paniccia Heating & Cooling offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 219-872-2198 to start today with a free estimate.