You might not think much about how your air conditioner works, but it depends on refrigerant to keep your residence fresh. This refrigerant is controlled by environmental laws, since it contains chemicals.

Based on when your air conditioner was put in, it may use R-22, R-410A or R-32 refrigerant. We’ll discuss the differences and which air conditioner refrigerants are being phased out in Eastland, as well as how these phaseouts impact you.

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

If your air conditioner was put in before 2010, it possibly contains Freon®. You can discover if your air conditioner contains it by calling us at 254-355-3833. You can also examine the name plate on your air conditioner condenser, which is located outside your residence. This sticker will contain details on what type of refrigerant your AC needs.

Freon, which is also known as R-22, contains chlorine. Scientists consider Freon 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, outlawed its creation 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 running correctly, you can continue to run it. With regular air conditioner maintenance, you can expect your system to run around 15–20 years. However, the Department of Energy notes that replacing a 10-year-old air conditioner could save you 20–40% on yearly cooling expenses!

If you don’t install a new air conditioner, it can lead to difficulties if you require air conditioning repair down the road, specifically for refrigerant. Repairs might be higher-priced, because only limited quantities of recycled and reclaimed R-22 is accessible.

With the discontinuation 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 strong. As it requires an incompatible pressure level, it doesn’t match air conditioners that use R-22 for cooling.

However, Puron still has the possibility to create global warming. As a result, it could also eventually be ended. Although it hasn’t been communicated yet for residential air conditioners, it’s likely sometime this decade.

What Refrigerant Will Take the Place of R-410A?

In preparation of the end, some companies have initiated using R-32 in new air conditioners. This refrigerant is classified low for global warming likelihood—approximately one-third less than R-410A. And it also decreases energy expenditure by approximately 10%, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report. That’s savings that could be sent on to you through your energy bills.

J & J Air Conditioning Can Assist with All Your Air Conditioning Needs

In short, the alterations to air conditioner refrigerant probably won’t affect you greatly until you require repairs. But as we went over beforehand, repairs connected to refrigerant might be pricier since there are the low quantities on hand.

Aside from that, your air conditioner often breaks down at the worst time, typically on the warmest day when we’re getting a lot of other appointments for AC repair.

If your air conditioner relies on a phased out refrigerant or is getting old, we advise installing a modern, energy-efficient air conditioner. This delivers a trouble-free summer and could even lower your cooling expenses, especially if you select an ENERGY STAR®-rated system. Plus, J & J Air Conditioning offers many financing options to make your new air conditioner work with your budget. Contact us at 254-355-3833 to get started today with a free estimate.