You might not think a lot about how your air conditioner works, but it needs refrigerant to keep your residence cool. This refrigerant is subject to environmental regulation, since it contains chemicals.
Subject to when your air conditioner was added to your home, 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 Croydon, 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 installed before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner has it by calling us at 215-741-5505. You can also inspect the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your house. This sticker will contain information on what model of refrigerant your AC uses.
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 manages refrigerants in the United States, banned its manufacture and import in January 2020.
I Use an Air Conditioner with R-22. Do I Need to Get a New One?
It differs. If your air conditioning is running correctly, you can continue to use it. With yearly air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to last 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 replace your air conditioner, it may create difficulties if you need air conditioning repair in the future, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs can be higher-priced, since only small amounts of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is available.
With the end of R-22, many new air conditioners now have Puron®. Also referred to as R-410A, this refrigerant was created to keep the ozone layer healthy. Since 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 contribute to global warming. As a result, it could also sometime be phased out. 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 phaseout, some brands have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant ranks low for global warming possibility—about one-third less than R-410A. And it also lowers energy expenditure by approximately 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 cooling costs.
Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC Can Provide Support with All Your Air Conditioning Needs
In short, the modifications to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t impact you very much until you require repairs. But as we talked about previously, refrigerant repairs might be more expensive because of the low quantities that are accessible.
In addition to that, your air conditioner frequently stops working at the worst time, typically on the hottest day when we’re experiencing a lot of other calls for AC repair.
If your air conditioner requires an outdated refrigerant or is getting old, we recommend installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This ensures a trouble-free summer and might even reduce your electrical expenses, especially if you get an ENERGY STAR®-rated model. Plus, Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC provides many financing solutions to make your new air conditioner fit your budget. Contact us at 215-741-5505 to start now with a free estimate.