You might not think much about how your air conditioner functions, but it relies on refrigerant to keep your home fresh. This refrigerant is subject to environmental rules, as it contains chemicals.

Depending on when your air conditioner was added to your home, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll review the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Michigan City, as well as how these phaseouts affect you.

What’s R-22 and Why Is It Discontinued?

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it likely contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner uses it by calling us at 219-872-2198. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is situated outside your house. This sticker will have details on what model of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also referred to as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon to be bad for the earth’s ozone layer and one that results in global warming. The Environmental Protection Agency, which manages refrigerants in the United States, outlawed its production and import in January 2020.

I Have a R-22 Air Conditioner. Should I Replace It?

It depends. If your air conditioning is operating properly, you can continue to keep it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your AC to operate around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy reports that substituting a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling costs!

If you don’t replace your air conditioner, it may create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair later on, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be pricier, since only reduced amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation of R-22, many new air conditioners now use Puron®. Also called R-410A, this refrigerant was made to keep the ozone layer strong. Since it calls for an incompatible pressure level, it isn’t compatible with air conditioners that rely on R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to lead to global warming. Because of that, it could also ultimately be discontinued. Although it hasn’t been mandated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take Over R-410A?

In preparation of the discontinuation, some manufacturers have begun using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant rates low for global warming likelihood—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy use by around 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be passed on to you through your energy bills.

Paniccia Heating & Cooling Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In summary, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you very much until you require repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant-related repairs can be more costly because of the reduced levels on hand.

Not to mention, your air conditioner usually malfunctions at the worst time, often on the hottest day when we’re receiving a lot of other calls for AC repair.

If your air conditioner uses a phased out refrigerant or is more than 15 years old, we advise upgrading to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner. This provides a hassle-free summer and may even decrease your electrical bills, especially if you choose an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, Paniccia Heating & Cooling has many financing programs to make your new air conditioner even more affordable. Contact us at 219-872-2198 to start now with a free estimate.